Finding God in ordinary places Part 7
- Part 1: Finding God in Ordinary Places
- Part 2: Think of These Things
- Part 3: Searching the Heart
- Part 4: Failure and Forgiveness
- Part 5: Hearing His Voice
- Part 6: Meeting God at Church
- Part 7: God at Work
- Part 8: I Know God Cares
It had been two years since God assured me that he could reach my husband and that he was working in his life. The problem was, although I believed God, I just wasn’t seeing anything encouraging. It was a Wednesday morning and I was talking to God. I told him I’ve prayed daily for my guy for years and I was discouraged. I believed God would bring him to faith but I wanted a break from praying for him. Each time I prayed it just brought into focus the lack of progress.
I asked God for a positive sign sometime from Wednesday through to Sunday. If he showed me something encouraging I would continue to pray. If not, I would take a break. I knew that God keeps his promises and believed that my husband would one day open his heart to Jesus, but the time frame was wearing me down.
At noon that day my husband called me like he often did. He asked what I was doing that evening. Now he knew that I went to a local Bible Study every Wednesday evening. So… my answer was a little flippant. I said “I am going to Bible study. Why? Do you want to come?” You cannot imagine my shock when he said “Sure”. He wasn’t hostile toward church but was sometimes hostile about me going to church. That had improved gradually over the years but this was a huge leap. I just about dropped the phone.
That evening he went to Bible study with me. We always sang a couple of songs before we got into the lesson. The pastor heard my husband sing and after the study talked to him about music. He played guitar and used to sing in a Christian trio. The pastor invited us to come to his house Sunday night. He was starting up a music group and wanted to jam with a group of musicians to see where it might go. My husband agreed to give it a try.
Sunday evening when we showed up, there were a few from the Bible study there and others from the church. I’d guess about 10 people. The pastor was hoping to form a group that would sing in churches and put on concerts. They played and sang. I listened. During the course of the evening, someone told me that my husband had showed up at their church for a few morning services recently. I was stunned. It seems that after the kids and I left to go to our church in Dartmouth, he got on his motorcycle and went to the local church to check them out. God had been moving his heart and he gave no indication. I will admit to being a little overwhelmed with the faithfulness of God. I had asked for one sign and I got three. I got three big and very definite signs!
My husband continued to go to Bible study and to jam with this group. I offered to leave my church in the city and go to the local church with my husband if he would attend regularly. He started to go to church and to learn more about Jesus. He became part of a band called The Tribe of Judah that sang in churches throughout the Maritimes. Later as members of The Tribe moved away, he and two other members of the group became Manna and sang together for years.
God works from the inside out and often we can only see the outside. Just remember he is working even when we don’t see it. He is an awesome God! He is worthy of our faithfulness and obedience. He is worthy of our thanks and our praise.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty –
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works –
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness. – Psalm 145:3-7
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