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- Apr 25, 2006
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Renovation Work (3)
''And He ... said, "Behold, I make all things new"'' Revelation 21:5
The best part of Sonia and Keith's dream (see last two days' readings) is saved until the end of the programme. Through the marvel of editing, the director switches from one shot of a run-down, dilapidated dump to the next shot of a sparkling first-time buyer's dream home, complete with new kitchen, sanded floorboards and magnolia walls. The transformation is evident.
The house viewers are oblivious to the tempers and tantrums and breakdowns that Sonia and Keith have sweated through to renovate their pile of bricks. Christian biographies can sometimes use the director's clever editing trick too.
We read stories of these heroes of faith who have conquered the world for Christ in their lunch hour. And we look at the pile of bricks of our lives and feel disheartened. Well, books condense a lifetime of God's work in someone's life to twelve chapters. And believe it or not, four chapters of Billy Graham cutting his toenails or Jackie Pullinger paying the gas bill won't sell books.
Heroes of faith have to plod through the mundane moments and discouragements of everyday living as much as we do. They're as faithful in the small things as the public things.
So you didn't raise the dead in your coffee break? But did you dare pray for your mate's headache? Honour God in the smaller things and He'll take you one step at a time to the bigger things. He'll turn your pile of bricks into something really impressive.
written by Bob Gass
''And He ... said, "Behold, I make all things new"'' Revelation 21:5
The best part of Sonia and Keith's dream (see last two days' readings) is saved until the end of the programme. Through the marvel of editing, the director switches from one shot of a run-down, dilapidated dump to the next shot of a sparkling first-time buyer's dream home, complete with new kitchen, sanded floorboards and magnolia walls. The transformation is evident.
The house viewers are oblivious to the tempers and tantrums and breakdowns that Sonia and Keith have sweated through to renovate their pile of bricks. Christian biographies can sometimes use the director's clever editing trick too.
We read stories of these heroes of faith who have conquered the world for Christ in their lunch hour. And we look at the pile of bricks of our lives and feel disheartened. Well, books condense a lifetime of God's work in someone's life to twelve chapters. And believe it or not, four chapters of Billy Graham cutting his toenails or Jackie Pullinger paying the gas bill won't sell books.
Heroes of faith have to plod through the mundane moments and discouragements of everyday living as much as we do. They're as faithful in the small things as the public things.
So you didn't raise the dead in your coffee break? But did you dare pray for your mate's headache? Honour God in the smaller things and He'll take you one step at a time to the bigger things. He'll turn your pile of bricks into something really impressive.
written by Bob Gass
