The young man was a fine artist, commissioned to do portraits, murals, and still life drawings by many in his home town. He had been commissioned to do a life-size oil portrait of the pastor of a very prominent church in town. The trustees gave the young man a color photo of their pastor to be used by the artist to produce the drawing.

The young man lost the photo before he had an opportunity to begin his work. He was embarrassed to tell the trustees of his carelessness, and afraid it might hurt the possibility of future commissions. He told his mother of the mishap. She responded, "You have been faithful to the Lord in the stewardship of time, talent, and treasury, so you have a right to go to the Lord and ask for His help." She reminded him that he volunteered his time as the local church elder, used his musical talent to direct the large accomplished choir of their church, and that he was a faithful tithe payer.

The young man and his mother began a prayer vigil. He pleaded with God to help him find the photo, but his mother begged the Lord to restore his memory of the photo image and the countenance of the minister, whom the artist had met personally. She recited a familiar passage of Scripture: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).

Early the next morning, the young artist sat before his easel and bowed his head once again to pray. Then he began to draw the large circles in pencil that announced the beginning of an oil portrait. Soon, there was the faint outline of a man's head and shoulders. Later, he took palette in hand and began to mix the many colors that were to be used.

In a day and a half, he finished the oil painting, and the trustees were amazed at the likeness. When the painting was unveiled the following Sunday at the church, the members sprang to their feet in applauded approval. The pastor also smiled his approval, and the deed was done. The young artist was relieved that he was never asked to return the lost photo. I know this story to be true because the young artist was my oldest brother, Dale Monroe Wright. His mom was our mom, Willa Lee Wright. The pastor was J. Welby Brouddus of Dayton, Ohio.

God hasn't changed a bit. He still fulfills His promise to the faithful steward today. He opens the windows of Heaven and pours out blessings that there is not room to receive them.