I remember years ago when I was single and thought I was spiritual because I had no conflict or schedule challenges. \u00a0 Eight wonderful hours of sleep each night, uninterrupted. \u00a0Hours in my Bible every morning and night. \u00a0I went to church several times a week and on my free nights I was out evangelizing. \u00a0 I had hired Merry Maids to clean my apartment, and I recall thinking how much more time I could spend soulwinning if I had a wife so I wouldn’t have to do laundry. \u00a0I prayed for a wife telling God if he found me one I would go into full time ministry.\u00a0 It seemed my ducks were in a row and I just needed the right duck keeper so I could get back to the pond and fish.<\/p>\n
God has a sense of humor. \u00a0The bible says He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing.<\/em> \u00a0My wife is an amazing woman, but it is a challenge to constantly see your shortcomings. \u00a0Especially when you thought you were all that and a bag of chips when you said “I DO”. \u00a0I was excited I was getting a bride, but I think I was even more impressed with the catch my wife was getting.\u00a0 Now I see that not only was I not what I thought I was quacked up to be, but all my ducks flew south for the winter and have yet to return.<\/p>\n I see now that laundry was the least of my problems. \u00a0And I have started to see how much growing up I needed to do. \u00a0I remember being hard on my married friends back then wondering how they couldn’t be out on the streets giving out the gospel like I was. \u00a0Today I am heading to the University at Buffalo (UB) to do some one-on-one witnessing and hand out some gospel tracts. \u00a0But I didn’t feel like it. \u00a0I would have been more than content to stay home and watch Master Chef with my wife. \u00a0 It was not because of me, Mr. Spiritual, that UB will be hit with the gospel. \u00a0It is because my wife encouraged me to get out there.<\/p>\n Most men get weary\u00a0with the battle.\u00a0 I’m getting weary with the bottle.\u00a0 Last night our 2 month old would not settle down even after feeding her.\u00a0\u00a0 I took my daughter from my wife about midnight so my wife could get some sleep. \u00a0I walked her for about an hour. \u00a0I had her laying on me perfect and she was sleeping soundly. \u00a0Then our 1 and a 1\/2 year old woke up crying. \u00a0I had to put her down, walk him asleep, and by the time I went back to her she would not settle down.\u00a0\u00a0I walked her some more.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Then my wife wakes me at 716 am because I overslept, and I was to get up to get my oldest son\u00a0to school.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We flew Josiah through the morning routine, and I drove him barely on time to the church academy where he attends 1st grade. \u00a0At 215pm, I am about to fly out the door when\u00a0his 2\u00a0younger brothers want to come, Elijah and 3 year old Zechariah. \u00a0But Zech is wearing firemen pajamas ready to depart!\u00a0\u00a0It is Operation Get Zech in Normal Clothes, fly out the door and pick up Joe.<\/p>\n Welcome to parenthood 101. \u00a0It is wonderful but it is painful on the flesh as it shows how weak and selfish you really are. \u00a0 Especially when I am about to head out to church, but\u00a0suddenly all chaos breaks loose and I can’t get out the door.\u00a0 It is scary to see a devil deep within kick up.<\/p>\n I had this thought though on the way. \u00a0The Bible says in Mark 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life<\/em>.<\/p>\n I always thought of that verse as someone saying “Adios Honey!” and leaving for the hills to start a church somewhere and never coming back. \u00a0The verse today encouraged me because that is what I did for the evening. \u00a0I could be home in my comfort zone. \u00a0Instead I left my wife, and children, and home behind. \u00a0For his sake, and the gospel’s.<\/p>\n Why that is encouraging is today we think if we can’t be out in the mission field we might as well not even bother. \u00a0We have these grand plans for God and miss the opportunities right before us because we think\u00a0they are\u00a0not as earth shattering. \u00a0Yet if everyone of us did something, and did something on a consistent and persistent basis, we just may see this world once again turned right side up.<\/p>\n I left my wife behind today to give out the gospel. \u00a0And I am returning later today. \u00a0I might leave her behind again tomorrow. \u00a0But I will return again, unless I die out in the battlefield.<\/p>\n Many of us are willing to do the grand and heroic things for God. \u00a0 Are we willing to do the small things as well?<\/p>\n And who knows. \u00a0A Mission trip across the street to tell my neighbors about Jesus for 10 minutes might turn into a life long journey. \u00a0It is said a journey of 1,000 miles starts with\u00a0a single\u00a0step.<\/p>\n I might start across the street.<\/p>\n I might end across the ocean.<\/p>\n Christian, who lives on your road? \u00a0May I challenge you to leave your comfort zone and visit them today?<\/p>\n Maybe leaving your comfort zone one day will put you in a brand new one,\u00a0with a brand new time zone.\u00a0And a\u00a0new culture and language as well.<\/p>\n Not too\u00a0bad for\u00a0just being willing to take a single step.\u00a0 Not bad at all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I remember years ago when I was single and thought I was spiritual because I had no conflict or schedule challenges. \u00a0 Eight wonderful hours of sleep each night, uninterrupted. \u00a0Hours in my Bible every morning and night. \u00a0I went … Continue reading