Air conditioner is repaired and
the house is once again habitable. I am
can remember growing up in Central Oregon where no one had an air
conditioner. You just opened up a couple
of windows and a door or two and let the house cool.
‘course I was a ‘bit’ younger at
the time, Central Oregon has no where near the humidity we have here, and while
it would get as hot or hotter during the day, it cooled down in the evening.
And while air-conditioning was
invented it wasn’t well distributed, and I would imagine a bit expensive for
most of us. But while hot and maybe
complaining of the heat, we were able to live and work in it without a great
deal of stress. Our bodies were
acclimated and we ‘didn’t know better.’
It is more difficult to handle
the heat anymore, just wears me down. I
definitely am thankful for the addition to my house’s temperature controls.
1 Peter 3:14-16 But and if ye suffer
for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror,
neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear:
16 Having a good
conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in
Christ.
I was sitting in the waiting
room listening to the conversation between two women.
They younger said something to
the older about looking good or something of that nature, the older one asked,
“meaning I am alive?”
As they talked they talked about
their families, the younger one mentioned she was 68, the older said her oldest
son would soon be 69. She then stated
she was 87.
The younger – who looked much
older than her years – asked the older, who looked younger than the younger one
- how she kept in such good health.
The older said, ‘I am a
Christian.’ The younger said, that is
good, He helps you. The older than
started talking about Christ and her relationship as well as how she could rest
at night knowing she was one of His.
As the younger made some comment
about the state of the world, the older said she doesn’t worry about it anymore,
then she talked about how she felt before she accepted Christ and then the peace
she had afterwards.
The younger woman was one of
those who just likes to talk, and will comment about most anything. Her comments were pretty superficial, I am
not reflecting on her a as person, just her style of conversation. It was obvious, though, while she thought she
shared a common bond, she did not.
She said, ‘Well, I believe God
won’t let anything bad happen to us.’ (I
do not who the ‘us’ was) The older woman said something to the effect, “I am not
so sure.”
There was silence. Before the older could elaborate the techs
came and took them to their her appointments.
This started as a simple how are
you, I am fine, kind of conversation.
Yet the Christian took advantage of an opportunity to share her testimony
with the other.
There was no deep philosophical
depth, just an honest witnessing. I am
not sure what all might have transpired if it hadn’t been broken up by the techs
– but I AM confident that God used the conversation to touch the heart of the
younger woman.
We sometimes think we must make
dramatic statements, that we must have an elaborate scheme to sell others on
their need for salvation – and we lose out on opportunities like these where a
simple profession of faith given in a non-assertive manner can help change the
life of someone listening.
We don’t know if this was a seed
planted, where she had never considered her salvation; or watering and nurturing
where she has heard the gospel, but needed more encouragement to accept
Christ.
It doesn’t matter.
The Christian did her ‘job,’ she
professed her faith and the reason for it and gave the younger woman some
serious ‘meat’ to chew on.
It was not what either had
thought it would be when they woke up that morning, but God places us in
positions where we but have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Later, Art :-)
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