Smaller bites

(A post from 5 years ago)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ” Romans 6:23

I believe that I will live forever but at the same time I’m not sure that I will survive the next China project at work. Does that make sense? Sometimes the pressures at work feel like they are crushing the life out of me. Always demanding more than I possess.

I need my faith to effect not just my eternity, I need more of Jesus in my here and now. Right now Jesus as I pull on my boots for another day, fill my deflated lungs and strengthen my weak arms. Give my brain clarity, make my heart compassionate. Let me continue to see the eternal significance of my daily life.

That was my post back then.

I posted this 5 years ago so I did make it through this rough patch of work and both facilities we built are now running smoothly and are profitable enterprises. Life is hard sometimes and I can make it harder on myself by taking too big a bite of it. I try and figure out too much at a time. God provides for us daily, not weekly or monthly. The manna that was provided for Israel in the wilderness was enough for a day. God got me through the construction in China. Can I trust God to get me through the current COVID crises? Yes, but he will do it as he always has, one day at a time.

Today I read Nehemiah 1. When Nehemiah was given a report about how things were going back home, and they were going poorly, he took immediate action, in that he mourned and fasted and prayed.

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: “ Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.”

Nehemiah 1:4-11 – NIV

What has been my reaction and what have I been doing? Is There room for me to do something beyond social distancing and masking up and washing up? Yes. I can take action. I can go to my Father in heaven, humble myself and pray and seek his face and pray for his mercy and his healing.

It’s not my place to sort it all out and figure it all out. I can pray, pray for the sick, pray for a vaccine, pray for the souls of men and women who are lost and looking for help, like sheep without a shepherd, pray that they may find Jesus the good shepherd.

Will you join me?