A Bad Day

Ever have a bad day? Sure you do; and so do I; in fact I had one just the other day. I discovered that the water heater had to be replaced; after all it was 28 years old and was starting to leak water. I picked up a new water heater and made some calls to get assistance from a friend of mine who is a plumber. “This should be a “walk-in-the park”

I thought as we started the work at 6:00 at night; I had planned on the whole project to take 1-2 hours. As we were coming into the home stretch; a pipe broke, and then another, and then another. It should not have surprised me because our house is almost 100 years old and most of the plumbing is still the orginal pipes. Again, not a big problem because I had my friend who is a plumber working with me.

When we broke off a pipe at a joint our patience levels began to shift. Part of this was due to the fact that I hadn’t felt well all day and my friend hadn’t eaten. Part of this was because we were wondering; “God are you still there?”

After 4 trips to the local hardware store, we started to “lose faith” in our ability to get this done before my friend had to leave; the time was now 10:00 at night. I could feel my anger rising up as pipe after pipe would be replaced and then we would discover another leak. Frustration set in as I was facing a house with no hot water for those who had to go to work the next day.

To my friends who live outside of the USA, I realize that it may be a normal situation to have no hot water or to live in flooded areas. But here in the USA, we are used to being pampered and can’t imagine going through life with any “hardships”. I admit it; we are wimps.

When I hit my wall; God came through in the form of my brother Rick who joined the team at 10:30 and stayed with me until all was completed at 1:15 in the morning; actually it was 2:15 when I finally cleaned up.

So, what is the point of my rambling? I am amazed at how quickly we can lose our focus on the LORD and start to look to ourselves to get us out of all of our jams.I admit that there are times in my life when I forget that the LORD is always with me. I forget that I have a covenant with Him that is based upon what He has done, not me. I forget that if He wasn’t with me; all hell would literally break loose.

Fortunately, the LORD is also at my side to remind me of others who have faced obstacles and wondered where God was. The Holy Spirit is there to bring me back to His Word to remind me that He is always good. King David of the Old Testiment found himself on the other side of a terrible event in Psalm 124. We find David explaining to those who are in his midst that as bad as their situation had been, it would have been so much worse if the LORD had not been on their side.

Psalm 124 A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say— 2 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; 5 Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.” 6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (NKJV) My friend, I don’t know what trials, testings, “broken pipes” you are currently facing; but take hope. Look up; your salvation is near. And, if the LORD is on your side; you will get the victory! Our challenge is to learn to live in Him. “When Will I Ever

Learn To Live In God” Phil Keaggy
The sun was setting over Avalon
The last time we stood in the West.
Suffering long-time angels enraptured like Blake,
Burn off the dross, innocence captured again.
Standing on the beach at sunset,
And all the boats keep moving slow.
In the glory of the flashing lights,
In the evening's glow.

When will I ever learn to live in God,
When will I ever learn.
Cause He gives me everything I need and more,
When will I ever learn.

You brought it to my attention,
That everything was made in God.
Down through centuriesOf great writings and paintings,
Everything was in God.
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals,
Down through the history of time.
Is and was in the beginning
And evermore shall ever be.

When will I ever learn to live in God,
When will I ever learn.
Cause He gives me everything I need and more,
When will I ever learn.

Whatever it takes to fulfill His mission,
That is the way we must go.
But you've got to do it in your own way.
Tear down the old and bring up the new.
Up on the hillside it's quiet
Where the shepherd is tending his sheep.
And over the mountains and the valleys,
 And the countryside is so green.
Standing on the highest hill
With a sense of wonder,
You can see everything is made in God.
Head back down the roadside
And give thanks for it all.

When will I ever learn to live in God,
When will I ever learn.
Cause He gives me everything I need and more,
When will I ever learn.