Nuggets 61: Never Bored Again
- B. Shelburne
- Mar 16, 2007
- Series: Nuggets
Dr. J. Miller Forcade was not an imposing man. He was short, round and balding. But as God sees things he was a giant. He and his wife Esther were both doctors and they used their practice as a ministry. Miller learned much about godliness from Esther. I have never known a couple who loved Jesus more simply and purely. They walked in God's presence.
When Ruth and I were called to serve in Malawi, as part of our preparation we instinctively paid a visit to the Forcades. Later overseas God brought Dr. Forcade across our path at several critical times. Once the doctor and I did a 10-day circuit of Malawian village churches over bad roads in a rattly old Landrover. The first church we came to gave us gifts of eggs and unshelled peanuts. These sustained us over many miles between stops.
Before one church visit, Dr. Forcade asked me, "Do we love God first or does he love us first?" After some discussion he quoted John: "We love because he first loved us." For Dr. Forcade this was not just a theological exercise. He told how he started out as a selfish, hot-tempered, pugnacious young man. The only way he knew to change was to believe in the grace of God and let grace into his life. God already saw him as righteous because of the blood of Christ and he would live up to that righteousness.
Dr. Forcade began each day with a prayer: "Lord, I don't know what will happen in my life today, but you do. Please bring across my path the people whom you want me to help, and make me able for that ministry." If you sincerely and regularly pray that prayer, life can never be boring again. You are constantly watching to see what God will do next.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Samuel 16:7; Genesis 5:24a; Romans 8:28; 1 John 4:19; Romans 7:14-26; 8:1-14; 3:21-25; 1 John 1:7-9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 6:11-14; Mark 1:35; Ephesians 6:19,20
--------
TO SUBSCRIBE free, email ; TO UNSUBSCRIBE send a blank email to To communicate with us directly, email
Past issues of Nuggets are archived at www.shbi.org/content/nuggets/nuggets.htm.
Copyright 2007 by G.B. Shelburne, III. May be freely reproduced or forwarded for non-commercial purposes provided content is unchanged and this copyright notice is included. These shepherding messages are sent to members and friends of New Beginnings Church (www.nbchurch.com), to students and alumni of South Houston Bible Institute (www.shbi.org), and to other interested persons.
Scripture quotes are from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION © 1978 and 1984 by the New York International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Tuition-free evening classes: www.shbi.org
Free Distance Learning Bible courses: www.shbi.org/content/distance/distancelearn.htm
To support SHBI's ministry: www.shbi.org/content/finances/finances.htm
