Beauty for Ashes

Ignoring Life’s Dream Breakers One of the principles of staying young has to do with clinging to your dreams. Dr. Forrest never lost sight of this fact. He wrote, “What dreams I dreamed for the school.” This statement was included in Achieving The Impossible with God, the book he wrote with the help of Lorrene Moothart in 1956. His dreams were as bright for Toccoa Falls then as they had been fifty years earlier. The school that began with a handful of students in 1907 had grown to be a respected college with hundreds attending classes and many more serving

Dare to Trust Him! During a week long revival at the Gospel Tabernacle in New York City, Dr. Forrest could not shake the thought of a debt that had to be paid when he returned to Toccoa. He prayed that while he was there someone would offer financial help, but this had not happened. Then as the revival was coming to an end, he received a beautifully written note on engraved paper. It was from Mrs. William Borden, whose family owned Borden Dairy. She had heard Dr. Forrest speak the previous Sunday morning and wanted to know if he would

Lights that Burn Brightly Luke records an incident where John the Baptist was answering questions from those who came to be baptized. “Some soldiers were questioning him saying, ‘And what about us, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14 emphasis added). In other words, be happy with what you have been given. Period. These men were concerned not only about the positions they held but also about the money they were receiving for the work they did. When

What Became of Judas? The first vacancy in the apostolate was a tragedy. Here is one who had had all the privileges as a follower of Jesus Christ. But sadly, his friendship with Jesus did not change his heart. It was closed to the Savior. Amidst a holy atmosphere, he kept his heart tightly shut. He was not a backslider. He was one who never truly believed. He did not have God’s vision in mind when he plotted Christ’s demise. He also allowed his greed and thirst for power to motivate him to betray the One who offered him unbridled

Achieve The Impossible Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible? Most of us have. We look at the task and say, “I can’t do that.” Or “It is beyond my ability.” Mrs. Forrest once wrote concerning the early days at Toccoa Falls College, “Lord, we need Your help because we are not equal to the task.” In other words, “We can’t do this without you.” In Achieving the Impossible with God, Dr. Forrest recalled the beginning of their ministry together, “Just two days after our marriage a letter arrived from Mr. J. W. Anderson, chairman of the group

No Explanation Needed “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning.” (Mark 13:35) Have you ever stopped to think how many times God does not explain why some things happen? Sure, there are moments when He provides insight, and we suddenly understand a portion of what He is doing. But for the most part, He calls us to walk by faith. We find ourselves praying more because we are driven to Him in desperation. We need

Mingled with Joy The 1930’s were years packed with anxiety, dread, and fear. Like today, there was very little security to be found in worldly possessions. Yet, the students, faculty and staff at Toccoa Falls College saw these years as being times that were “mingled with joy.” And we can do the same. “To be sure,” writes Lorene Moothart in Achieving the Impossible, “the college was affected by the years of depression and drought. There were the times, especially in the early thirties when life at the college was tough. [At one point,] Rev. Forrest sold his new Buick so

A Present Good Often, when we think of Joseph’s situation in Egypt where he was “shut up in faith” to God, we pray to be more like him. We love reading the account of his steadfast spirit and unwavering hope. But when we drift out on to stormy seas, we cry, “Lord, take away this pain and pressure. It is too much.” Though he may have wondered why God rewarded his faithfulness with separation and sorrow, Joseph did not waiver in his faith. His circumstances may have seemed dismal, depressing, and no more than a dead end, but they were

Be Still There will be times when God has not given you the freedom to go forward or to turn back. He has only given you the reassurance that you can do one thing: stand still and know that He is God. For the most part, we are people of action. We hear a rumor and we can’t wait to pass it on to the next person. We learn of a tragedy, and we reach for our cell phones. A problem comes, and we turn to a friend for advice. To the Lord, it must seem as though our hearts