A Day On the Job...Our Father Provides
Greetings sisters!
I pray you are all standing strong in the Lord in the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)
The seasons are passing fast and we can't believe that it's going to be August soon! Let us remember to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16) and stay on the narrow path.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
We are so thankful the Lord always provides for us either by helping us eliminate the unnecessary or providing work to keep us going in the ministry. The past week and another week ahead we are here in Missouri carving enough orders to fund us for the rest of the summer into fall, and today we were blessed to have a nice job which I thought I'd share it with you.
When we got to our job we saw 3 fawns walking around the area.
Oh, you have to see this picture...
Yup...
...that's my van house. Brother Jim piled all his carving stuff in it and partially on the bed.
There was a little flesh killing going on today if you can imagine sisters:-)
So, we had a 45 minute drive to get to our onsite job and it was to put a big eagle on a man's stump, by a lake. Here's the eagle...
And because brother Jim is pretty inventive, he found a way to get it up on top of that stump.
While we were setting up the scaffolding he smashed his finger and I watched him keep working but I could tell he was in a lot of pain.
The swelling moved up his finger into his hand and we hope that it's better tomorrow because he's got a lot of carving to do. Chainsaws are heavy and vibrate a LOT so that won't be fun but he's thankful that it isn't worse.
After we were done with our job, we were invited to walk down to the lake and on the way I was enjoying the stone walkway and wanted to video it for you sisters.
This man that hired us was in a motorcycle accident years ago and was paralyzed from the waist down but he was a very kind, joyful man. Not bitter or angry, just thankful to be alive. He was riding his motorcycle 70 miles per hour and hit a 30 mile per hour corner, it's a miracle he's alive.
Brother Jim and I were touched by him because we know professed believers who have lives that are nowhere near as challenging and they are not as joyful. Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is my strength, is that true for you? Or are your life circumstances what give you strength? (That would be living in the flesh.) Brother Jim was able to give him the gospel and as that was happening I was thinking, maybe God had us here to share that with him? I don't know these things but I will give God glory for all things good:-)
During our job I was thanking our Father who always provides for us just at the right time and usually all our jobs are with people who are nice to work with. Brother Jim tells the brothers that if they are obedient and working hard to set themselves free, God will open doors and make a way for them. God made a way for this man to have more days, and in one of those days some of God's workers were in his life telling him the truth and way to eternal life. I pray he seeks the truth because one day God will make a way to take his life.
Brother Jim said that by seeing him, it shows you how fleeting life is and we need to be diligent in our own lives. Much has been given us and much will be required. Let us not become stale and stagnant, lazy or complacent. Each day is important, it may be our last.
This is interesting....we stopped at McDonald's on our way home from the job because brother Jim wanted me to get an audio up on our ministry site (our reception at the house is slow) and so I finished that and as I said, he's talking on the phone with a brother. I just now looked up, over brother Jim's shoulder, and see this man videotaping their conversation about the Lord. Praise God, Halelujah! Let the word go out! (God blessed brother Jim with a BIG voice :-) You never know who's watching and listening to you.
So it was a joyful, thoughtful and productive day, I hope yours was the same.
I have to go because my 'house' is still full of brother Jim's carving things and we need to get going so he can empty it before it's too late.
May God bless you sisters.
Love in Christ,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...