Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 10

Being Stress Free Amid Strife---God is At Work

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose.

John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too,
am working."

When Support Systems Stop Working


Were you one of the millions of people that was terrorized by the threat of Y2K?
As the days prior to midnight on December 31, 1999 decreased one by one, so the
fearful anticipation increased more and more. Warnings were announced on the
Television, by e-mail, in newspaper advertisements, and by greedy merchants who
hoped to increase their sales to the perplexed public. Yes, people were given long
check-lists of what to acquire in order to be ready if the computerized support
systems had to fail. People were horrified by the thought that at midnight
December 31, 1999, their power would suddenly be cut. Panic dominated their
thoughts as they imagined what would happen if the stores couldn't supply them
with food and basic essentials. Many felt desperate as they saw no way out if the
water supply was cut off when the computer calendars clicked over from 1999 to
2000. Would the computers controlling all these essential support systems have
been adjusted to cope with this new time frame that computer programmers never
thought of programming into their programs. For the first time, millions of people
were made aware of how many support systems are constantly at work to make their
lives safe and comfortable. The People in the Northern Hemisphere countries would
face death if the natural gas and power supplies were cut off in the middle of
winter. All peoples without water supplies, especially those in the Southern
Hemisphere, in the middle of summer, would die of thirst. The tales and rumors of
a global catastrophe grew way out of proportion, and many even thought that the
Y2K threat was synonymous with the end of the world.

(The Y2K dilemma sent panic throughout the world---people everywhere thought that
all computer-controlled support systems would shut down and society would face
severe setbacks)

Perhaps it was good that Y2K actually came around with all the drama and dread
that surrounded it. It taught the world how dependent the man on the street is on
the support systems that are at work to make his life safe and comfortable.
Irrespective of what you and I are doing--whether we are working, sleeping,
entertaining friends, exercising, on vacation, or studying for a test--these
support systems are at work. Irrespective of what we are doing, the power company
provides power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

(Power Stations provide electricity for us to keep warm, operate our appliances,
have light and perform the many tasks at home and at work that keep our society
functioning efficiently)

So too, the Water Purification Works are at work to supply water to every single
home. The Natural Gas Company also supplies gas, the Telephone Companies supply
essential contact between people, and many food stores are open to supply food and
basic essentials. The Police Department, the Fire Department and the Hospitals are
staffed around the clock in case of an emergency. Yes, irrespective of what you
and I are doing, millions of people are at work to keep the support systems in
place in order to keep our world functioning in a productive and protected manner.
We Need More Than Societies Support Systems to Work For Us
With the Y2K ordeal now far behind us, it is good to pause and appreciate the
presence of all the support systems that are at work, '24-7,' that each one of us
benefit from. It is good to feel secure in a society that is committed to the
funding and the functioning of these support systems. But my dear friend, the
support systems that society put in place for our safety can only serve us up to a
point. They cannot serve us in every regard. Where are the support systems that we
need to help us in our intimate personal needs? Where is the help we need with
personal addictions, loneliness, financial problems, broken relationships, loss of
a loved one, spiritual confusion, emotional upsets, family disputes, divorce,
betrayal, facing terminal illness, and the list goes on and on. Yes, in a world
that has been infected with evil, there are so many personal needs that each one
of us have. You and I are caught in the middle of a titanic struggle between good
and evil. Evil has infested every area of our lives and we feel it's sting no
matter where we turn. Whether we realize it not, we are part of this global war
between good and evil. The forces of evil would annihilate every living creature
from the face of our planet if they could. All around us we see the effects of
their efforts--they seem to be in control and far too effective in their work. As
a result, each of us have needs that we haven't found answers for from any source
or any support system. We have been brain washed and mill about totally
disorientated and confused about where to turn and how to go about finding the
correct answers to the dilemmas we face amid the onslaughts from the unseen forces
of evil.

(Can the support systems that society provide answer the intricate and intimate
problems we face from time to time? Problems like loneliness, poverty, low self-
esteem, doubting God, fear, feelings of abandoment, addictions, guilt and on and
on)

The Ultimate Support System is 'At Work' so We Can Rest Amid Turmoil
What are you and I facing today, this very moment, that we need desperate help
for--the kind of help that the 911 emergency cannot even to give us. Is there
something in your life that no family member, no friend, no church pastor, or
counselor can help you with? Do you need a support system that is 'at work' to
help you with something so personal and so private that no-one else can help you
with? If so, I have wonderful news for you. The same God that is 'at work' in
controlling the infinite universe with all it countless stars and planets, is 'at
work' to control every small detail of our lives--yours and mine. By the same word
that 'made the heavens' and the same breath of His mouth that created the 'starry
host,' (See Psalms 33:6) God says in His Word that, 'He works for the good of
those who love Him." (See Romans 8:28). He goes even further to say that He who
watches over you 'will neither slumber nor sleep.' (See Psalms 121:3, 4). Wow,
what amazing encouragement! What positive hope! What reassuring comfort! No matter
what I am going through, or what I have to face, an All-Powerful, All-Wise, All-
Knowing God is 'at work' night and day on my behalf. I forget this, and so I am
stressed out to 'the max,' as people these days say. No, no, no! I cannot be. I
look up to the sky at night, or at the blinding sun during the day, or at the
beauties of nature around me and I remind myself that a wonderful and mighty God
is 'at work,' with all this under His control. I ask myself, "What is more
difficult to do--keeping the universe and the cycles of nature in control, or
solving the dilemma I have to face in my personal life?" Of course my personal
dilemma is nothing in comparison to the massive tasks of controlling all that God
controls. So, I can rest in peace knowing that God will act in His perfect timing
to bring meaning and purpose to my apparent disaster. Note the following beautiful
promises that God spoke for His servants to record:
Psalms 16:7,8
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not
be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will
rest secure.

Psalms 62:1, 2, 5, 6
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock
and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall never be shaken. Find rest, O my
soul, in God alone; my hope come from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.

Let's go back to the Y2K dilemma again. When the support systems that we depend on
for our survival were threatened, many of us could not rest. When they are back is
place, we are all at rest and carry on with our normal day to day lives. Why can't
we do the same with God. Why can't we rest in the secure knowledge that it is God
who makes it possible for our County's and our City Works to provide the
electricity, water, gas, transport systems, garbage and sewage disposal, etc, to
function? Why can we be at rest with the fact that our planet is in it's fixed
orbit and that it is safe from collisions with asteroids and other planets, but we
cannot rest due to the seemingly insurmountable problems in our personal lives?
God's Word plainly states that He is 'at work' and never rests.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us.

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on
to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:12, 13
Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who
works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Hebrews 13:20, 21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with
everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us, what is pleasing to
him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and every. Amen.

Unfortunately Satan is Also At Work


Knowing God is at work is wonderful, but to really get motivated to find out how
God works and to build our lives around Him being at work, we need to stop and
realize that Satan is also 'at work'--that he never rests, and that his work is to
destroy you and me. Scary thought! Yes, Satan led a rebellion against God because
he coveted the status of God's Son and wanted His position in heaven. He loathed
the thought that Jesus the Son was one with God and could create with and for God.
Now, banished on this earth, he is surrounded with evidences of the Creators
handiwork. Every plant and tree, every bud and blossom, every animal and insect,
every fish and bird, and every human being, whether a follower of God or of Satan,
is a living testimony to the Creators brilliant work. Satan is at war against God
and anything that He has made. He wants it destroyed and wiped out from his sight.
If Satan had his way, the entire planet would be annihilated in a global nuclear
explosion. Every part of this earth is a painful, festering reminder that he will
never be equal with God, he will never be able to create life, and he will never
control the universe. He is livid with evil ambition and contempt. People pursuing
pleasure and living lives of lust and luxury, blindly believe that they are safe
in their search to satisfy self. Little do they realize that Satan has lured them
by lethal lies that will eventually lead to their loss of life.

(Satan is 'at work' with one goal and one goal only---to destroy every part of
God's Ingenious and Incredible Creation . . .)

This is Satan's work. He has no rules or fair plans in his game. He goes straight
for the jugular--eternal death and destruction is his determined desire. Take the
lives of people, whether they have been deceived by him or not--people who found
fame and lost their lives due to the destroyer being 'at work.' Jimmy Hendriks, a
world famous rock guitarist----dead from a drug overdose. Andy Gibb, younger
brother to the Bee Gees, an Australian founded Pop Band--dead from alcohol
overdose. Marilyn Monroe, a beautiful movie star--dead by an apparent self induced
drug overdose. Karen Carpenter, a singer with an angelic voice, talented beyond
expectation--dead from eating disorders. Elvis Presley, a singer catapulted into
stardom at an early age--dead from alcohol and drug abuse. John Denver and Jim
Croche, both talented singers and songwriters--dead in airplane accidents. So the
list goes on and on. Whoever people choose to follow makes no difference to Satan,
he wants them dead anyway. Those people who have found the precious truth of
knowing God personally, Satan presses against with a lot more persistence. This
fact is good enough reason to find out how allow God to be at work in each one of
our lives.

How Does God Work?


Our minds will never understand how God works. God works in dimensions that we
will only begin to comprehend when we are living with Him in eternity. God can be
everywhere at the same time, He can travel infinitely faster than light, He knows
everything, and He creates life--these attributes of God are beyond the
understanding of the most advanced human mind. In order for us to benefit from
this awesome and magnificent God we must 'believe that He exists' and 'that the
universe was formed at His command.' (See Hebrews 11:6, 3). Just like we rest
securely in the knowledge that our human support systems are 'at work' night and
day to give us a comfortable and safe life, so God is 'at work' night and day in
the smallest details of our lives. God's Word, in the Scriptures and through His
servants, gives us as much information as we can comprehend as to how God is 'at
work' in our lives. These are listed below:

1. God is 'At Work' Through the Holy Spirit - Before Jesus left His disciples He
gave them a detailed explanation of how His work with them would continue.

John 14:16; 16:7, 13, 14


"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever--the Spirit of Truth . . . It is for your good that I am going away.
Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him
to you . . . But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all
truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will
tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is
mine and make it known to you.
In Ephesians 1:13, 14, Paul states that we were 'marked in Him with a seal, the
promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the
redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.'

Wow, from the time we accept God unconditionally into our lives, we have a
guarantee that 'works' constantly until our day of redemption. Can it be? Oh yes
it can! Listen to this! Ellen White, an anointed servant of God writes:

"The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He
take the things of Christ and show them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on
Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His
image" E.G. White, Desire of Ages, page 302.

2. God is 'At Work' Through His Word - To illustrate how the Word of God is to
'work' in us, God compares His Word to food.

(As food feeds and nourishes our bodies, so the Word of God nourishes our souls,
our minds and our spiritual fortitude)

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which
neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
John 6:51, 53-57
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread, he
will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the
world . . . Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh
and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him us at the last day. For
my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks
my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live
because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

As food is broken down, and each nutrient enters the living cells of the body, so
the Word God enters our minds and works to fortify and nourish our thoughts and
decisions. The 'Spirit of Truth' makes the Word of God alive and active so that it
can 'work' in us to bring tangible renewal and reform into our actions. Note what
God's own word says about how His Word is 'at work' in our lives:

1 Thessalonians 1:13
When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as
the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you
who believe.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Now go through and read these texts again. A miracle happens when an unspiritual
human builds his or her life around spending time alone with God, through His
Word, before their day starts. When the Word of God is opened with a true hunger
for God, God promises not only to satisfy that hunger but to make His Words
'living and active' in that persons life, allowing God's power to be 'at work'
constantly. The bible contains overwhelming evidences of how God was 'at work' in
the lives of people. The stories that are recorded there clearly outline how God
worked to make their lives a success. When the people chose to submit to God's
work in their lives, they were successful--people like Joseph and Daniel. When
people chose not to submit to God's work in their lives, they were lost--people
like Saul and Judas.

3. God is 'At Work' Through His Creation - Psalms 19:1, 2 tell us that "the
heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day
after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." Why
does the sky above and all of our surroundings shout that there is a God? Because
the universe and all of the cycles of nature would fall apart if there wasn't a
Genius Creator and Controller constantly 'at work' to synchronize all of the
functions that are necessary. Any person who has the ability to grasp that the
universe is not within man's capabilities to explore or understand, is convinced
that God is the only one who can operate in such inconceivable vastness.

Man cannot create life, and the miracle of new life amongst humans and animals is
truly God's miraculous work. The precision of the seasons and the balance in
nature is evidence of God being 'at work' from one day to the next. Even in a
world where evil is present, God still works to lavish man with unspeakable beauty
and grandeur in nature.

Paul says quite bluntly in Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's
invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made, so that men are without any excuse."

God made provision for man to be reminded of Him being the Creator of everything
and being constantly 'at work' in nature and the universe. He gave man a day of
rest every week, dedicated to restore man's confidence in Him as not only being
able to create the universe and all of nature, but being able to create solutions
to any and every dilemma in all aspects of his life.

4. God is 'At Work' Through Small Insignificant Details - A quote from 'My Utmost
for His Highest,' by Oswald Chambers in his devotion for February 7, is the best
way to explain this point:

"We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God's power.
Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize
that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around
us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we
will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn
that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of
Jesus Christ."

(God works in the smallest and seemingly insignificant situations---He brings a


deep and lasting satisfaction that people without Him struggle to find)

All I can say is "WOW!" God is not only 'at work' in the titanic tasks of
controlling the universe and all of the cycles of nature, but He is 'at work' in
the smallest detail of my life every day, no matter how insignificant they may
seem. When I have given my life to God, He works through any and every
circumstance for my good. Let me ask you this. If God advises us in Luke 16:10 to
be faithful in the smallest details of our lives, would God Himself not be super
faithful in every small detail of each of our lives? Of course He will be. God is
constantly 'at work' in every situation, no matter how insignificant and
irrelevant it may seem to us.
What Happens When I'm At Work?
Oh, how hard it is for us to stop being at work to solve our problems and find
security and happiness in our own lives! Our natural tendency is to be in control
of every aspect of our lives and determining the outcome of our futures. It is
such a part of our makeup that it is practically impossible for us to just 'let
go' and let God be at work in our lives--to let Him work out our problems, to let
Him work out who our marriage partner will be or be at work in changing certain
things in our marriages, to let Him work out which would be the best job for us,
to let Him work out how to run our finances, and most importantly, to let Him make
us into better people--to be more like Him. When we are 'at work' we crowd God out
and tie His Hands from being 'at work' on our behalf. When we fail to submit and
be like a child, He fails at being able to be our Father. When we fail to submit
and be like a sheep, He fails at being able to be our Good Shepherd. When fail to
submit and be soft clay, He fails at being able to be the Master Potter. Our work
cancels out His work. When we are at work there will always be terrible mistakes,
but when God is at work there will always be awesome precision.

(Even though God has given us incredible abilities to achieve and prosper, when we
work without Him we always 'mess up')

When I try and be at work when it come to being a better person and overcoming
weakness and bad habits, there will always be repeated failures and frustration.
Then to top it off, many of us try not only to be at work in every part of our own
lives, but also in every part of other peoples lives. How often don't we try and
correct others when it comes to the way they dress, or to the type of music they
listen to, or to the places they go. We even go as far as trying to correct the
spirituality in the lives of others. How absolutely senseless when God says that
He is 'at work' in each persons life. Who are we to try and be 'at work' in
anyone's life? What am I to do? What is my work when it comes to the lives of
others? I need to be 'at work' on my knees petitioning God to initiate and
continue being 'at work' in the life of that other person. I need to be 'at work'
loving and supporting those who are struggling along with me in the battle against
our mutual enemy who is trying to destroy all of us. My work is to unconditionally
love my fellow combatants as they suffer casualties along with me.

What is the Most Important Work I Have to Do?


Oh how my heart aches as I reflect on all my years as a Christian. I think of all
the years I have gone through trying to 'work' at being a better person and
'working' hard to solve my problems and being 'at work' in the lives of those
around me. I think of how my friends and other Christians I have known have also
stressfully worked at getting their secular and spiritual lives together. Life can
be such a struggle if people haven't found the simple formula for happiness and
contentment. Do you want see what it is? OK, here it is. Here is what the most
important work I am to do. It is found in the gospel of Matthew chapter 11 and
verse 28 and it is spoken by Jesus Himself:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Allow me to paraphrase it in the context of what we are talking about here today:
"Come to me, all you who are 'at work' trying to make sense of your lives. You can
just sit back and rest and allow me to be 'at work' for you. Your work is to learn
of me, for I made you, and I know that when you learn of me you will be humble and
gentle like me, and only when you are like this, then you will find complete
happiness and contentment."

The word 'come' demands a decision to stop what we are doing and to go in a
specific direction. We need to make a conscious decision to stop being 'at work'
in our own lives and to go to Jesus. When we come to Jesus we rest because He told
us that He would be 'at work' on our behalf. The word 'learn' calls for discipline
to build our lives around doing just that--learning. We need to be 'at work,'
learning of Christ--constant, and continuous. This alone will give us the ability
to rest and to 'let go' in order for God to be 'at work.' Before each day starts,
like a student studying for a degree, we need to come to Jesus to learn of Him.
More and more of Him. The more we learn of Him, the more we will rest. The more we
will let go of being 'at work' in our own life, the more room He has to be 'at
work' on our behalf. When we come to Jesus, He can work through the four main
channels that we discussed earlier. As Mary came and sat at the feet of Jesus,
hungering to learn more of Him, so we are to build our lives around coming to Him
daily and hungering to learn more of Him. The sophisticated, hurried lives we live
tend to crowd Jesus out. There is just no time for quiet 'togetherness' with Him,
no time to bathe in His word, no time for the still small voice of the Spirit to
whisper His guidance and instruction to us. How life changing it will be when we
take God's offer seriously to be 'at work' on our behalf as we keep learning of
Him.

Fourteen years ago I started working as a trainee manager and fitness instructor
in a fitness center, situated in a small coastal town on the east coast of South
Africa. I felt called by God to this work as I had such strong convictions about
healthful living, and I loved working with, and helping people. I was fortunate
enough to take ownership of this fitness center a year or so after beginning my
work there, and I directed this fitness center for twelve years successfully,
thanks to God's continued blessings.

Over the twelve years the center prospered and it developed to a fairly high
standard as for a privately owned center. Then it happened. The dreaded bomb that
I had feared throughout my whole business career, was dumped on me. "What could be
so devastating?" you may ask. Well, news began rippling through the small coastal
town that a brand new branch of a massive national chain of fitness centers was
opening up across the road from my little fitness center. It just couldn't be. How
could a massive chain come to a small coastal town? How could they dare to open up
across the road and deliberately put us out of business? Well, to cut a long story
short, they were coming and would be opening their doors in about ten months!
Unbelievable! My stomach turned as I thought of the prospects of closing down,
sitting with many unpaid debts, and losing the twelve years of blood, sweat and
tears that I had investing in this project. I prayed earnestly about this dilemma
that I was facing and pled with God to show me a possible way out of this dead end
street.

(After two years in the premises shown in the photo above, God blessed me to where
I was able to buy out my competition and move into their premises. I gained a
massive amount of equipment for relatively little money)

There's Just No Way!


My staff and I were overwhelmed. We just couldn't see ourselves making it under
these circumstances. How? There was just no way. We had heard rumors of countless
other small, privately owned fitness centers "folding" under the pressure when
this very same chain moved into town. There was another privately owned fitness
center in town that had been my direct competition. In the past, the owner of this
fitness center, Charles, wasn't very secretive about the fact that he was out to
hurt us. When he opened his new fitness center--after having been a trainer in my
center--he called it "New Attitude," with strong undertones that my center had the
wrong attitude. Six months before the new state-of-the-art "Health and Racquet
Club" was to open, Charles called me up and asked if he could come around and meet
with me. Well, I agreed and he came over, really friendly, and as I had thought,
it was because he was also frantic about the effects that Health and Racquet would
have on his business. "We need to combine our centers," he said, "buy me out or
let's establish a partnership or something." "Sorry Charles," was my reply, "it
wouldn't be wise to combine our centers before we really know what the true
outcome will be when Health and Racquet opens. Besides, if we combined now, both
our sets of members will be upset and probably leave anyway due to overcrowding in
my premises--we're simply not big enough to cater for both memberships." Charles
left and we both just continued operating as best we could. We spoke from time to
time, but I was not prepared to talk a deal with him.

A Glimmer of Hope
I was stressed, I was restless, and I was in turmoil. How could this be? Why would
God allow me to start and run this center if He knew that I would just close down
at this point. "Oh well, it must just be another lesson in humility," I thought.
The countdown began. Newspaper advertisements appeared, massive display boards
were erected and sales offices were opened to begin selling the new "upmarket
memberships." The spirit in our center changed, as staff and management
anticipated the approaching defeat. "Oh God, let your will be done in this
situation," I prayed everyday. Then one day something happened. In retrospect it
was the turning point of this whole dilemma. Get this. One of our members, a very
friendly, redheaded, outspoken kind of fellow by the name of Roger, was standing
talking out loud about the current events in town. "I don't need no Health and
Racquet," he blurted out, "I have everything I need at this fitness center and at
the country club where I'm a member--and at half the price! I have the aerobic
classes, weight training and cardiovascular equipment here, and I have the
swimming pool, tennis and squash courts at the country club." Enough said. This
was enough to send my mind was racing at the speed of sound. "Do you think there
is room for a fitness center on the country club grounds?" I asked. "Sure," he
said, "I know that they're having problems with renting out their community hall.
People are just trashing the place when they rent it on the weekends. I'm sure
they'll be interested in a permanent tenant. Here, let me give you the chairman's
telephone number." Well needless to say, an idea was born that was just too
amazing for words. What better way to make a comeback at Health and Racquet. The
country club had all the facilities that Health and Racquet had to offer, and
more. Another plus would be that my rent would be minimal in comparison to what I
was paying at the moment. In the following weeks I met with the country club
committee, and to summarize a few months into a sentence, soon after Health and
Racquet opened, I negotiated a lease for the community hall. I had one major
problem. Money. The community hall was forty three years old, and very run down.
How was I going to keep my fitness center running, pay to renovate the new
premises, and then move my members over to the new facility? I was cash strapped
"big time." I had overspent on improving many aspects of my fitness center and in
advertising for new members. A big obstacle indeed, in spite of the marvelous way
out of this insurmountable dilemma.

Oh Yes, There is Always a Way--God is at Work


Can you believe it? What used to be my fiercest opposition now became a miraculous
stepping stone to surviving the storm staring me in the face. Charles gave me
another call. By this time Health and Racquet had opened and the pressure was on
both the two small privately owned centers. "Andre,' please, we need to do
something together. I have lost most of my members. I have about seventy five
members left from over five hundred. It is over for me." It was then that the next
major piece of the perilous puzzle was pushed into place. My simple answer to him
was this, "Charles, I have a lease for new premises on the grounds of a country
club in our area. If you are prepared to set it up and move all your equipment
over there, I will buy out your equipment." The plan was just too easy and too
simple to be a coincidence. This was a divine masterpiece that was carefully
engineered long before the crises had closed in on me. I was overwhelmed. This was
a solution that I would never have dreamt could come about. Now, I won't waffle on
about how ecstatic and relieved I was. Let me tell you what happened. I got a
letter drafted by the country club that we could proceed with the renovations and
Charles, being a very, very practical man, along with his son, came in with
cannons blazing. Needless to say, our relationship improved a hundred fold and I
decided to chip in as often as possible to help Charles with the work. Charles and
his son Tyron did everything I wanted done and they spared nothing to make the
project top class. What miracle! A stage was broken out, change rooms and
ablutions built, old doors and windows replaced, walls and ceilings painted, new
carpets put in, the old hardwood floors sanded and varnished, and on and on. It
was real history in the making. God worked in that situation to answer that what
was a totally impossible in my mind.
Wow!

The Miracle Today


Yes, today there is still a cozy, friendly, family fitness center in a small
coastal town on the east coast of South Africa called Fifth Factor Fitness Center.
The director, Will, is a personal friend of mine that came in to take over the
operation so that I could come to the USA. The health work and the vision of how
it can minister to the urgent needs of the people in that community still goes on
to where God wants it to go. I praise Him for being 'at work' even though I
thought it was all over.

Вам также может понравиться