As you are probably aware, we provide a lot of programs and services at our two shelters and our two transitional supportive houses. Things like meals, shelter, clothing, case management, chapel services and classes. So, you can imagine where my mind goes when someone asks me what we need. There are pantries and shelves to fill, laundry to do, meals to cook, gas tanks to fill, utility bills to pay and on and on I could go. It seems to never end.
But the truth is, we never do without. Why? Do we have some secret oilwell somewhere pumping in the money? No. We have something better.
God has never failed us. And here is why. When we find ourselves in need of something, we pray.
Well, I should say, most of the time we pray. I’ll admit that I sometimes forget where my supply comes from and try to handle things on my own. I get too busy fixing the problem to pray. But guess what. I was reminded by my pastor recently that I am too busy not to pray. In other words, if my business and striving distract me from God and prayer, I’m too busy. And prayer needs to become my priority.
We are in the business of life change. If God brings someone here to meet Jesus, do you think He is going to neglect their physical needs while they are here? I don’t think so. As long as we are faithful stewards of what He provides and we use them with life change in mind, I trust that He will provide.
And my part, more than anything else is to pray. To search for His will and His plan. To make sure all my efforts are following His guidance.
There’s an old story about two lumberjacks who decided to have a woodcutting contest. One was young and inexperienced and the other was a veteran to the trade. The rules were simple. Whoever chopped the most wood during their shift would win. They were working on opposite side of a little ridge, so they could hear each other, but couldn’t see their progress. The younger lumberjack noticed veteran taking numerous breaks. Over and over, he just sat on a stump, axe on his lap. At the end of the day, much to the surprise of the younger lumberjack, the older man had a pile that dwarfed his own. “How could you have won? I saw all the breaks you were taking! “The experienced lumberjack chuckled. “You thought those were breaks? I was sharpening my axe. “We can’t be too busy to sharpen our ax. We are too busy not to pray.
