Here we go again. The semester begins and I’m still learning how to do my job. I’ve got more help than I’ve ever had and I’m going to need it.
It’s the 13th of January; we’ve poured the concrete and the framing crew is supposed to arrive this afternoon. My job foreman, Mike, says that the framing crew will be done in 11 days. Is that going to be amazing or what? I cannot believe that this dream is about to become reality. It’s all part of God’s timing.
For so long I’ve questioned God about this building. I wondered why it’s taken him so long to lay this burden on the hearts of people that would get the task completed. We’ve had the numbers that justified the expansion but we didn’t have the funds. It completely frustrated me.
And then the project began and I questioned God again. Why now? Why would we attempt to build a million dollar project during one of the most difficult financial periods in the history of our country? This morning it dawned on my why. Why not? Why wouldn’t God move people to extend themselves now? When would this bring more glory to His name? When would it be more obvious that it would have been impossible without Him?
My mind was jogged by the events of the last few days. I’ve hired interns during the last three semesters. This semester I planned to hire three. It takes $2000 to pay each intern for each semester. The problem was my treasurer informed me that we didn’t have any money left to pay them.
I need the help. I know that God wants me to help train these young ministers. I’m sure this is the right thing to do but how are we going to do it without any funds.
So I had a conversation with the three guys and told them that they had a job but they might not have a salary. I was going to raise the money but they might not get paid at all. This was a total faith jump on all our parts.
I relayed this information to my treasurer and he said as long as the guys knew what was going on, he was fine with it. All I had to do was ask permission from the church to make the hire.
So I walked into church Sunday night with no money in my fund and a lot of faith. Before I got to my seat one of our men stopped me. I’d shared the need with him and asked him to consider helping. He asked me if he could some money each month and I assured him that anything he gave would be appreciated. Then he dropped the bomb on me. He said, “I’ll send a check for $1000 each month for three months and if, at the end of three months, you don’t raise the rest of the money I’ll take care of the rest.” I started to cry and I hugged him and all I could say was thank you.
“As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD – the Lord of all the earth-set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
The first time God parted the waters and the people stepped in. The second time God asked the people to step in and then He would part the waters. Are you crossing your first stream or your second? Is there some project that God wants you to tackle? Step into the water. If you’re sure it’s His voice you’re following, step into the water. If you know that His will is for you to cross over, step into the water. Don’t wait on the shore. Step into the water.