Tom Dempsey passed away last week. In case you don't know who that is, Dempsey played football in the NFL from 1968- 1979. He was a record-setting kicker for the New Orleans Saints NFL football team.
Now Tom Dempsey was no ordinary kicker. He set the record for kicking the longest field goal ever back in 1970. His record has since been tied 3 times. Amazingly, Dempsey was born with only half of his right foot and no fingers on his right hand.
During that record setting game in 1970, his team (the Saints) was playing against the Detroit Lions and they were down 16 – 17. When Dempsey entered the game for this foolish attempt at a 63-yard field goal, the Detroit players on the bench jeered and laughed but the rest is history! The Saints won the game, 19 – 17!
Don’t tell me God can’t use you to do big things in spite of your big excuses!
Look at how God used some people with their excuses and mistakes.
King David was a murderer and an adulterer
Moses was a murderer and had a speech impediment
Peter was weak and afraid
Jonah was stubborn and disobedient
Thomas was a doubter
Saul/Paul murdered Christians.
Noah was a crazy old man (according to is neighbors) and a drunkard
James, John, Andrew, Simon Peter, were uneducated, rough fisherman
This is just a short list of some people who God used with their short comings and excuses for his glory! Whatever your excuse is today, it doesn’t matter. God wants to use you!
Here are some words of encouragement for you today from God’s word.
Psalm 9:9-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28 English Standard Version (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 3:17-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Lamentations 3:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Romans 8:38-39 English Standard Version (ESV)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Deuteronomy 33:26-27 New Living Translation (NLT)
26 “There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. 27 The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’
Romans 8:31 English Standard Version (ESV)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Bill McLellan
Vero Bible Fellowship Elder Team