Caution God at Work
After a full day yesterday and a good night of sleep, I was pleased to be fresh and alert this morning. This is certainly a good sign and show some improvement in my level of endurance and stamina. With a winter storm forecast for this weekend, I got in a earlier-than-usual workout at the fitness center.
I am continuing a process of adjusting down on the few prescriptions that I have been taking. This will take several weeks, but is another sign of improvement for which I am thankful.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:23) “I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
These two verse are ones that come to mind and set the backdrop for a couple of interesting connections that I have made the last two days. When you meet someone, who in sharing their story, challenges you, it gets your attention. When it happens again in close proximity it really gets your attention.
I have had that happen in less than 24 hours. Late yesterday afternoon I dropped off our van for some service work. The dealership shuttle driver gave me a ride back to my mother’s house where I left my car. David is 75, and works 55 plus hours a week at his job. He has a professional background as a developer and a forensic accountant.
He was sharing how that in his neighborhood there are a number of men 65 and older that need connection and community. David is a follower of Christ and he shared a little of his spiritual journey. For many years he, “walked away from his faith” before recommitting his life to Christ. He made a great statement in sharing his story. He said, “I know what sin is, but I know much more what grace is.”
David shared with me his dream, if the Lord provides the funds, of acquiring a vacant building and turning it into a place where men can come and connect through games, activities and friendship. He also has some ideas on how to meet other practical needs that he has become aware of.
I couldn’t help but think, “here is a guy in his mid seventies with a vision of using God-given resources to meet the needs of others.” That challenged me, because recently my goal in life was just to “make it to 75!”
Today during my workout at 24 Hour Fitness I found myself in a conversation with Ben. When I made a reference to having been a pastor, Ben shared his spiritual journey with me. One that included a “religious” background but then coming to a powerful encounter with the Lord’s presence and a surrender of His life to Christ.
Ben shared how he knew what it was to struggle in life, especially financially. One day he was on his knees cleaning a tile floor on a job and felt the Lord speak to hm, “if you will be faithful to me, I will bless others through you.”
Ben is now the owner of a successful janitorial service specializing in cleaning medical facilities. His next step is to franchise his business model and empower others to achieve the success that his has attained. The word the Lord spoke into his heart is coming true.
So many look at others and think, “how can this person help me be successful?” Ben is one who looks at others and asks, “how can I help this person achieve the success, with which I have been blessed?”
Both these men in sharing their stories and their heart challenged me to remain faithful and as I grow older; not to view the greatest years of impact as behind me. Before the common era of text messages and codes there was a phrase connected with the letters, “PBPGINFWMY” A father explained to his daughter those letters stood for, “Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.” She was pleased to be in on the code and when someone asked her what those letters meant she proudly said, “Please be patient, God is not finished with my daddy yet!”
We all need to be patient with God’s ongoing work in our lives. That is why Paul reminded the Philippians that “what God starts, He finishes.” We can be confident and encouraged by that. What I am reminded of today is that God is not finished working in us, and He is not finished working through us until the day of His return.