Waiting for the Train

Stan and I were again at the Twelve Baskets Cade for breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. While we were enjoying our first cup of coffee and waiting for Ricky to bring breakfast, Stan mentioned he’d been talking with a neighbor who told him he’s very thankful for patience.”

“Thankful for patience,” I replied. “Patience is not easy and it’s a good think to be thankful for when we have it.”

“While my neighbor may or may not be thankful for his own patience, that’s not what we were talking about.”

“What’d you talk about?”

“How thankful he is for God’s patience.”

“God’s patience? In what way?”

“In the way of a personal application of what Peter wrote about in his second letter concerning how God is patient in not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

“A personal application? You mean like your neighbor is thankful for not perishing before he came to repentance?”

“Exactly,” Stan replied. “He’s thankful for God’s patience that allowed the time for him to come to repentance before perishing apart from God.”

“That seems like a really good thing to be thankful about. Maybe we should all do that.”

“Maybe?” Stan asked with raised eyebrows. “We should all be thankful for such patience!”

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Bible verses to consider:

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

. . . whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to come to repentance and not perish so I have  life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I’m not involved in helping others come to repentance and not perish as you patiently desire. Please forgive that foolishness and help me follow every step of your lead in helping others just as you want. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you come to eternal repentance so you know you will not perish? If no, why do you choose to perish rather than have life with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with helping others come to repentance and not perish? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only to personally come to repentance so you won’t perish apart from God, but what does He know you need to be involved with helping others not perish by coming to repentance? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

For those who may have missed it (or want to spend more time with it), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that got the most attention. The one for this week was posted on Wednesday. It deals with what Jesus said about being where two or three are gathered in His name. Link — October 28, 2026 — Jesus was there

Stan’s main takeaway for each posting this past week. Each posting can be accessed by clicking the link for that day.

Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian who is pursuing discipleship.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com

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Monday, October 26,  2026 — “All” have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. That’s who we are to reach with the truth of God’s redemptive work through Jesus by going into “all” the world. Reaching “all” can be intimidating. Stan offers a perspective. Link — October 26, 2026 — God will take care of the rest

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 — Is the church growing? Are you a part of helping it grow? Link — October 27, 2026 — If then and there, why not now and here?

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 — Jesus said that when two or three are gathered in His name He will be there. Isn’t that an amazing commitment that should drive us to gather in His name in everything we do, so Jesus will be there? Link — October 28, 2026 — Jesus was there

Thursday, October 29, 2026 — When Andrew found Jesus, the first person he told was his brother Peter, who then went on to tell others who, in turn, went on to tell others. Who did we tell first? Have we told anyone? Link — October 29, 2026 — Has there been a first?

Friday, October 30, 2026 — When Paul was in Athens, he saw an altar that said, “To An Unknown God.” What’d he do then? He told them about the God they didn’t know. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Link — October 30, 2026 — Tell them about the God they don’t know

Stan and I were again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe to enjoy breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. As we waited for Ricky to bring what we wanted for breakfast, Stan mentioned that earlier in his journaling time he’d been focusing on when the apostle Paul was was in Athens on Mars Hill, and how what Paul did is the same thing we’re supposed to do today.

“Wasn’t that a long time ago?” I asked. “How’s that supposed to apply to us today?”

“It’s what Paul saw and what he did that applies to us,” Stan replied.

“What’d he see?”

“An inscription that said, ‘To an unknown God’.”

“What’d he do about it?”

“He told them about what they didn’t know, that the only true God had given His only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him can have life with God.”

“And that’s what we’re supposed to do? Right?”

“Right, indeed,” Stan replied. “There are a lot of people who don’t know God and what He’s done for them in providing Jesus. We’re to go and tell them about the God they don’t know!”

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Bible verses to consider:

For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, “To An Unknown God.” What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. Acts of the Apostles 17:23.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those who told me about what I didn’t know about you. Even though I now know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone anything about what they don’t know about you and your provision for them. Please forgive that foolishness and help me follow every step of your lead in going and telling others what they don’t know. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you know God in the sense you’ve accepted His provision of Jesus as the way to Him? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling others what they don’t know about God and His provision for them? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only to know Him and His provision for you, but what does He know you need to go and tell others what they don’t know about Him? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know other who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

It was another morning at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. Stan and I were together for breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. Ricky had poured our first cup of coffee and taken our breakfast orders. Stan began the conversation by asking, “Has there been a first one?”

“A first one for what? I’m not sure what you’re asking.”

Without elaborating, Stan said, “The other day, I was talking with a neighbor about sharing our faith.”

“You mean like telling other people about God, what He did through Jesus, how you came to faith, and that sort of thing?”

“Yeah, that’s basically it,” Stan replied. “My neighbor had an interesting thing to say about how he was encouraged to begin telling other people about his faith.”

“What’s that?”

“He said that he had been a Christian for quite some time when one day he was reading in John’s gospel about how Andrew had told his brother about Jesus.”

“Who was his brother?”

“Peter.”

“Okay,” I replied, “What about it?”

“My neighbor said that when he read the part where Peter was the first person Andrew told about having found Jesus, he was immediately convicted by the Holy Spirit.”

“Convicted of what?”

“That there was no first person in his life like that because he hadn’t told anyone.”

“Oh,” I responded. “He hadn’t told anyone, so nobody could be the first one he told. Then what?”

“He said he was changed so there soon became a first person he told, then a second, and now there’s an uncountable number of people he’s told the same thing that Andrew told Peter.”

“That he’d found the Christ?”

“Exactly,” Stan replied. “And that brings me back to my original question: has there been a first one for you?”

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Bible verses to consider:

He found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). John 1:41.

. . . whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence because I accepted what someone told me about Jesus, I confess I’ve not told anyone about your provision for them. Please forgive that foolishness and help me follow every step of your lead in telling others, not just the first one, but all you bring before me to be told. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s provision of life with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why? Is it because no one has told you about His provision, or is it because you have chosen to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling others about God’s provision for them through the finished work of Jesus’ cross? If you sense the desire for change in any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only to have the life Jesus came to give, but what He knows you need to tell others about His provision for them? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

Stan and I had again gathered at the Twelve Baskets Cafe for breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. Between bites of the delicious breakfast he was enjoying, Stan said, “Earlier this morning in my journaling time I focused on something Jesus said that reminded me of what a neighbor once told me about how his church changed.”

“What’d Jesus say that reminded you of your neighbor and his church?”

“In a simple statement in Matthew’s gospel,” Stan replied, “Jesus said that when two or three are gathered in His name He will be there.”

“So? What’s that have to do with your neighbor and his church?”

“My neighbor told me that for a long time he had gone the same church. Week after week he would go to a church service that grew increasingly shallow.”

“Shallow?”

“Yeah,” Stan replied. “My neighbor said there just wasn’t any substance. The truth of the gospel wasn’t being preached, the church wasn’t growing in size, people weren’t growing in their faith, there wasn’t much praise and worship. Things like that.”

“Then what?”

“One Sunday he realized it was all because Jesus wasn’t there.”

“Jesus wasn’t there? Why?”

“They weren’t gathering in His name.”

“What’s that have to do with it?”

“That’s the verse I was focusing on,” Stan replied. “Jesus said that where two or three have  gathered in His name, He will be there.”

“So,” I said, “if they weren’t gathering in Jesus’ name and He wasn’t there, I guess that’s why the service was kind of shallow.”

“Good guess!” Stan replied with a laugh.”

“So what’d your neighbor do? Did he find a different church, one that gathered in Jesus’ name?”

“No,” Stan replied. “He said he got together with another person in the church to talk about what he was sensing. He and this other person began to pray about it along the lines of something else Jesus said.”

“What’s that?”

“That God knows what we need before we ask Him.”

“So,” I said, “they prayed and asked God to show them what He knew they and the church needed in order to be gathering in Jesus’ name. Is that it?”

“Exactly,” Stan replied.

“Then what?”

“The Lord moved to cause a revival in that body. Some other people heard about what was going on, the pastor got involved, Jesus showed up, and pretty soon the church was totally different from what it was because Jesus was there!”

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Bible verses to consider:

For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst. Matthew 18:20.

Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, that when we gather in His name, He is there. I confess that too often, my “gatherings” are not in His name, but they are in the name of self, the world, the flesh, and/or the devil. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead to always gather in Jesus’ name, regardless of where I am and what I’m doing, so He will be there. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Can you gather in the name of Jesus because you have accepted what He accomplished on the cross — and you have life with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with gathering in Jesus’ name so He is in your midst wherever you are and whatever you are doing? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does God know that you (and others) need for a gathering to be in Jesus’ name to assure He’s there? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

Stan and I had again gathered at our favorite place for breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. As we were enjoying the breakfast Cook had fixed for us, Stan mentioned that in his morning journaling time he’d focused on a verse that brought back a memory of something he’d been told when he first became a Christian. “What’s that?” I asked.

“I was looking at a verse in the Book of Acts,” he replied, “that says that at the time of the early church the word of God was growing and spreading.”

“So,” I asked, “what’d that remind you about?”

“Soon after I became a Christian,” Stan said, “I spent quite a bit of time with a fellow from the church who helped me grow in my faith. At one point, he talked with me about that same verse and asked a question.”

“What question?”

“If it happened then and there, why not be a part of making it happen now and here?”

“Oh,” I replied, “be a part of growing and spreading God’s word. Is that it?”

“That’s it,” Stan agreed. “If it happened then and there, why not now and here!”

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Bible verses to consider:

So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Acts of the Apostles 19:20.

And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Acts of the Apostles 19:10.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone anything about the truth of your provision for them. Please forgive that foolishness and help me follow every step of your lead in going and telling. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen .

Think on this: Is the word of God prevailing in you in the sense you’ve accepted God’s provision of life with Him and you’re growing in that life? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with going and telling others about what God has done for them through the cross of Christ? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need not only to accept His provision of life with Him, but what He knows you need to go and tell others about that provision? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

I was again with Stan one morning for breakfast and conversation about growing in our faith. We were at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. Ricky had poured our first cup of coffee and taken our orders for what we wanted for breakfast. As we were waiting, Stan said, “Earlier this morning in my journaling time I was reminded of something I’d like to pass on to you.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“In the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he wrote that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.”

“Yeah,” I responded, “I remember that, along with God’s provision for redemption through Jesus and His finished work on the cross. What’d you remember from that?”

“Not to be overwhelmed.”

“Not to be overwhelmed? By what?”

“The all,” Stan replied.

“How so?”

“If all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, and if we’re to go into all the world with the truth of the gospel to all creation, trying to reach ‘all’ might seem to be overwhelming.”

“Oh,” I replied, “I can see that. So, is there something we can do to not feel overwhelmed by trying to reach everyone with the truth of the gospel?”

“There is,” Stan said. “Do my part, one person at a time. I may not be able to reach all who have sinned, but I can reach some. God will take care of the rest!”

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Bible verses to consider:

. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way for all who have sinned to have life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone anything about your provision for all who have sinned and fall short of your glory. Please forgive that foolishness and help me follow every step of your lead in going and telling. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you still a part of the all who have sinned and have not accepted God’s provision of redemption through Jesus? If so, why do you want to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling “all who have sinned” about God’s provision of redemption? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need, not only to accept His provision of redemption, but what He knows you know you need to go and tell about His provision? Spent time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about what He knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

For those who may have missed it (or want to focus on it again), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that got the most attention. The one for this Sunday was originally posted on Tuesday and deals with prayer. As you will have noticed, Stan often focuses on the truth of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:8 about God knowing what we need before we ask Him. In Tuesday’s WFTT, Stan combines that with what the apostle Paul wrote concerning God supplying all our needs. Knowing and living those two truths should make a difference in how we pray! Link — October 20, 2026 — God not only knows what we need, He will supply it

Stan’s main takeaway for each posting this past week. Each posting can be accessed by clicking the link for that day.

Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian who is pursuing discipleship.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com

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Monday, October 19,  2026 —Having faith is one thing, demonstrating that faith by what we do is another. If we tell other people (or ourselves) about our faith, but there is no demonstration of that faith, isn’t that something about which we should talk with God? Link — October 19, 2026 — Don’t just tell them about your faith

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said that God the Father knows what we need before we ask Him. In Paul’s letter to the Philippines, he wrote that God will supply all our needs. If we combine those two things, doesn’t that mean we should ask God for what He knows we need? Link — October 20, 2026 — God not only knows what we need, He will supply it

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 —Jesus was hated and persecuted. Satan and the world don’t care much for Christians. In this devotional, Stan talks about how to avoid being persecuted. Link — October 21, 2026 — How to avoid persecution

Thursday, October 22, 2026 — Jesus told the disciples to go and spread the truth of the gospel, beginning in Jerusalem. Why did He say to begin there? Because that’s where they were. Isn’t it the same thing for us? Link — October 22, 2026 — Where to begin

Friday, October 23, 2026 — At one point, Jesus sent out the disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healings. When they finished and came back, they gave an accounting  to Jesus of what they had done. When we’re done here, we, too, will give an accounting of what we’ve done. Something to think about. Link — October 23, 2026 — The accounting