Lessons in PATIENCE!!!!!

There it was. What looked like the biggest storm in months coming straight toward our little piece of land. Land that had just been drilled to receive re rod and concrete.

We had had several months of completely dry weather during which time we were waiting for an approved blueprint. That document has arrive but along with it the rainy season is coming too. In fact this morning as I walked toward the construction site the wind was in my face. The clouds were there. Yet it seemed that they were moving to the right and away from our work. It would have made a cool story. Angry clouds and nary a drop on the postage stamp work site.

As I looked at those ominous clouds I began to sing the old song, “I the God of wind and fire”. It wasn't until after the downpour that I discovered that I had misquoted the lyrics to that 1981 Daniel L. Schutte song, Here Am I Lord. In that song it isn't until the 5th verse that the following is proclaimed: I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will send the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.

But wait a minute, there was a downpour? Yes there was! It was a gully washer, a cloudburst, cats and dogs coming in sheets and whatever other hyperbole you can think of. It was the type of rain that just a few weeks ago the whole country was praying for. This morning, however, was different. We had just paid 1300.00 bucks for 36 seven meter deep holes. There were thirty six of them with their mouths gaping heavenward saying, “DON’T FILL US!”

Pray and scramble as I might the rain let loose. It was one of those, “There is absolutely nothing that you can do about this so STOP worrying” moments. It was another lesson in patience.

Our construction is in its infancy and I had forgotten how much of it is in God’s hands. All of it. There can be worrying, miscommunications, misunderstandings and outright lies but all of it is in His able hands. He already knows what happened, what is happening and what is going to happen. He knows where we can go with the money He has supplied and how we will get there. It is all part of His patience building plan.

Just the other day someone asked me, “How far do you think that the money we have will take us?” The question begs an answer from everyone even slightly involved in the project. How should I know? I have no little crystal ball. Imagine the headlines if I did, “Baptist pastor uses crystal ball to predict end of construction!” I am not God. He is though. So, I answered my questioning friend, “We will build until the money runs out. It might not run out until we are done. But if it does we’ll stop.”

Physical construction brings a certain excitement, enthusiasm or attention that little else does. Everyone is wanting to know when we’ll be done. And we JUST started. Funny. Where is the PATIENCE? I heard this comment yesterday, “Humans are by nature impatient!” I am one so I already knew this. We want more velocity in our Internet connections. Why? Because we don't even want to wait milliseconds for our cyber stuff!

Our church is starting with less money than I have ever started with. What am I talking about? I have never started a construction project. However, I am so confident that God is going to supply money like He did the manna in the wilderness. It lasted until the people didn't need it any more. It wasn't a random “lasting” because it came with certain rules. When the people were patient and obeyed God’s rules they had full bellies. When they tried to rush ahead they suffered the consequences. We’ll wait. Sometimes biting our nails. But we’ll patiently wait.

Keep us in your prayers!

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