Saddle Oxford Shoes
One of the most blessed events that ever occurred in my life was when I was
given permission to go and live with my grandmother. I was only 13, and had
recently given my heart to Jesus.
However, I had been taught the Word by Granny Spooner since I was a child. I can
remember back when only 3 years old, I would ask her at bedtime to read me the
story of Elijah, and the widow’s meal barrel and cruse of oil (1 Kings, ch. 17).
She lived, moved and had her being in Jesus Christ! Oh! What a lady and witness
she was to the Grace and Goodness of God! One of the very first scriptures she
taught me was Psalms 37: 4-5. It became a cornerstone in building my faith in
God’s goodness and willingness to provide for His children!
You’ve read it, and possibly can quote it from memory, but let’s go over it one
more time! Psalms 37:4-5... “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give
thee the DESIRES (not needs only) of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass!!!”
Shortly after coming on board with Granny we were offered free rent to stay with
a little ole’ lady, whose children really didn't want to be bothered by her.
Incidentally, granny and I had financial assistance from the welfare department
to the sum of $1 6.23 a month! Man, could that do something to your dreams if
that was your total source of supply! Thankfully, we had other resources Satan
couldn't put a lien on, which was the ever living Word of God!
To better understand the Grace of God in this particular situation, you really
should have seen the house we were living in. It was a four-room house, an
enormous hallway separating the rooms, two on each side. With a sagging roof
plus the front porch roof was falling in, and our kitchen and living room were
one in the same.
When we ate, we would pull the table out, I would slide behind it into the
corner, and granny would push it back in place so she would have room to get up
and down, if necessary.
Our bedroom consisted of two beds and a dresser. Anyway, we had tons of love for
each other, and that made up the difference for the lack of conveniences we had
to indulge!
To get to the crux of the story, one day after coming in from school, I asked
Granny if she thought the Lord could help me get a pair of saddle oxford shoes
for Mayday festivities at school?
Looking at me with those loving eyes (as only she could) she smiled and said,
“Well, sweetheart, you know nothing is impossible with the Lord!
If we ask in prayer, believing, then nothing is out of reach to those who
believe!” I said, “It ‘s seven weeks until the festival, and I believe He will
do it for me." So, I asked her to let me pray each lime we ate, so I could
praise and thank Him for the shoes! I want you to keep in mind, here is a 13
year old living on free rent with his grandmother, and the only income was
S16.23 a month. However, it was still 7 weeks to May day, and I felt that was
plenty of time for God to do anything!
Little did I realize even at such an early age that I would be setting a pattern
for my faith to grow on, and that I personally would experience my first real
encounter with a Wilderness experience. I shall never forget something Granny
Spooner once said about God’s timing. “Son, the Lord may appear to be slow, but
He is never late!”
Anytime you lay a petition before the Lord, and see the fulfillment of that
desire, you will have ample time to question God’s willingness to provide. Also,
there will be suggestions from Satan that God doesn't care, you can forget
hearing from Him and the best thing for you to do is forget it. Tough it out and
do the best you can!
This is what Satan would have you do. God puts it another way “Cast all of your
care, your anxieties, frustrations, fears, desires and anything that has to do
with you living the Copious and abundant life through Jesus Christ, My Son, and
I will provide whatever necessary to see it complete for you!!!"
Well the first week went by and no saddle oxfords, the second, third and
forth still no manifestation of the shoes. I still had plenty of time to say,
“forget it Lord.” But I kept my confession, and continued thanking Him for my
new shoes! Every time we had prayer over a meal, in the morning, and any other
time, I would steadfastly thank God for answering my request!
Time moved on, and so did the weeks. The fifth, and sixth weeks had come and
gone, still no saddle oxfords! And now we were coming down to the final leg of
the seventh week. No money had suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, and we
were still living off a tight $16.23 a month budget. Yet I knew that had nothing
to do with God’s ability to provide and fulfill my desires.’
As Monday rolled around it was apparent we had only 6 shopping days left before
May-day festivities. Granny sat me down that evening and said she wanted to talk
with me. Concerned about my young faith in the Lord and His Word, she said,
“Sweetheart, often times we can ‘t understand God’s way of doing things, or why
He does things sometimes. However we do know He loves us, He proved that through
Calvary. Now, just in case the Lord doesn‘t see fit to provide you your shoes
right now, I’m sure He will in His own good time. I just don ‘t want you to be
hurt at God in case He does not see fit to do it right now.” As we sat and
talked, my mind went back over Psalms 3 7:4. “Delight thyself also in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart!”
I said, “Granny, I’m not going to have any reason to be hurt at the Lord,
because I know He will get me my shoes, I just know it. He said he would give me
my desires, so let ‘sjust wait and see how He does it!”
Monday was soon gone, Tuesday and Wednesday came and went by, still no
manifestation of His Provisions! Only three shopping days left.’ I still held
onto my confession that God will provide, and I didn't change it! It was not my
responsibility to figure out how God was going to work, I only had to take His
Word at face value, and He would do the rest!
Before you could say, “scat Crusoe,” Thursday was history, and now it was
Friday! I went on to school, I said, “Granny, God will provide, and I’m going to
keep praising Him for my shoes!”
That night at supper, I asked Granny if I could say the blessing, and she said
that would be fine. As we sat down to eat, it was between 9- 9:30. I bowed my
head, and began to pray. I said, “Jesus, I thank you for loving me, and giving
your life that I might be saved, and enjoy living for You. I thank You for the
Bible, and the many promises You gave us. I know we have only one more shopping
day left and I thank You for my saddle oxfords! Amen and Amen!” While we were
eating, we heard the phone ring in the other part of the house, and didn't pay
any attention to it. However, it wasn‘t long before the little ole lady with
whom we were staying with, called out, “Ms. Spooner Ms. Spooner (that was my
Grandmother ‘s last name,) you ‘re wanted on the telephone!” Granny looked at me
and said, “Raleigh, son, who in the world could that be wanting me at this time
of night?” I said, “Grandma, I don ‘t know, in fact, I don ‘t even know anybody
who owns a telephone.”
She went on up to answer the phone, and in a few minutes she called me to come
up there. Well, a pile of things went rushing through my mind, and one was that
it could probably be my teacher calling to talk about me. Satan is always ready
to put his last shot in just before the victory, but it was too late!
When I got there, she was smiling, and handing me the phone, she said, “Here
son, your brother wants to talk with you!” My brother! Man, he was overseas, and
he wanted to talk to me, wow! Now are you ready for it?
My brother was on board a ship, anchored in Honolulu, about 6,000 miles from us.
The first thing he said to grandmother was, “Boy, granny, am I glad to finally
get through to you! You, and Raleigh have been on my mind for several weeks, but
the weather has been so bad I couldn’t make the connections.”
When it comes to the several weeks he was talking about, I can tell you exact&’
how long. It was 7 weeks, because that was when I first placed my petition
before the Lord! It reminds me of Danie4 when he had fasted three weeks seeking
the face of God for wisdom and understanding!
In Daniel, the 10th chapter, the angel told him that his prayer was heard the
very first day he set his heart to find God, however, the Prince of the Kingdom
of Persia withstood him for 21 days. But Michael, one of the chief angels of God
came to help him, and now his answer had manifested itself!!!
Anytime you claim a provision of God, Satan will do his best to cause you to
doubt in some fashion, or form about it being the right time, or if it is for
you. But like Daniel, I held to my confession of faith, and God, as always, was
faithful!!!
Now, are you ready for the blessing? After talking with granny for a bit, the
very first thing J. B., my brother, said with regards to me was, “Granny, I’m
wiring you S 100 tonight, and I want you to get Raleigh a pair of
shoes!!!!!!!!!” Oh, Praise God, for His faithfulness to His Word and our
faith!!!!
But wait, I haven ‘t finished! Always remember, when you stand fast in the Word
you not only get what you asked for, but that and much, much more! You not only
get blessed, but also others associated with you! J.B. continued, “And granny,
along with Raleigh’s shoes, get him a pair of slacks, and also, get you a dress
and a pair of shoes!! !“ Neighbor, Granny and I were walking in tall cotton on
the last shopping day before Mayday festivities!.’! Hallelujah!!! It’s like the
old gospel song of several years back, “I was there when it happened, and I
guess I ought to know!” God will provide, He will, He will, He will provide! I
am a living witness to God’s faithfulness!!
Dr. Raleigh D. Jenkins, With Permission, God Will Provide! p. 241 - 249.
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