After being honored so highly by the super-talented gospel music artist and pastor, John P. Kee, my former high school student, in Charlotte last Sunday, I was both humbled and a bit ecstatic. “You don’t know how long I have been waiting to do this!” Kee said to the congregation, while adding that I was one of his “amazing influences.” Not stopping there, he asked my wife, Betty, to stand and surprised her with a large, framed portrait that he sketched of Betty and me and called it “Saturday Night with Alton.” Later that evening, he texted, “I’m paying for the ‘Saturday Night with Alton’ dinner” and added:

“You’ll never know the impact you had on me and the other students. Thank you also for the guidance in the early part of my career. You will definitely be Uncle Al for life!!!”

“And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 NKJV).

Dealing with Life’s Ups and Downs

Pastor Kee’s gracious gesture of kindness in presenting me with “The Lifetime Achievement Award,” was one of the greatest highlights of my life! Then I returned home. The plane came down and I spent the entire night writhing in excruciating abdominal pain–no sleep, just tossing and turning all night with no relief. It was like a lightning bolt out of the blue! The enemy wanted me to believe it was some catastrophic illness that could take me out. Like Elijah exulting in a great victory on Mount Carmel then coming down and sinking into depression after learning that Jezebel had called for his assassination within 24 hours, I too felt like saying, “It is enough” (1 Kings 19:4c).

During the night it seemed I experienced Elijah’s godless windstorm and earthquake (1 Kings 19:11-12). And the LORD was definitely not in the fire in my abdomen, sides and back. It was painful and devilish. But Betty had been praying for me all night. And as the light of morning shone through my bedroom window, I could sense a gentle whisper, like “a still small voice” letting me know that all was now well.

The holy scriptures are replete with stories of life’s ups and downs. They are there to encourage us not to allow the downs to cause us to be depressed.  And Jesus said: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Focus Quote: “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.”

                                                            –Psalm 34:19

                                                                       @altonesumner.com

Special Note: Please lift Mother Marion Farmer longtime Calvary member and Dr. Mary Hunter Young, a dear friend and former professor at Virginia Union University Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man [or woman] availeth much” (James 5:16b). Please note the prayer list is attached below.

And please continue to join us for our 5:14 pm prayer. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). Just pause and pray wherever you are. There is no call line or zoom link that you need to remember or retrieve and connect to. Just connect to God and pray! We and many others will also be praying with you. There is power in agreement! 

Blessings, Peace, and Love,

Dr. Alton E. Sumner, Author, 

Standing on the Promises: Defeating Fear and Breaking Barriers

(301) 921-6060

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