Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 God causes all things to work together for good….

Yesterday I had decided to stay in. The weather wasn’t the best and I just wanted to hang out at home. A couple of families in the church are struggling financially and have asked for help with food. We are not in a position to help them and that is difficult for me. I know they need to seek God for provision as do we. I had gotten a call that some visit cards I had ordered, through another church youth group doing a fund raiser, were done and ready to be delivered. This required going to the bank for cash. I REALLY didn’t want to go. At first I even put it off by telling them I didn’t have the cash and asking if it could wait. My loving wife reminded me that integrity is not ordering something I am not ready to pay for. So I reluctantly went to the bank for the money. Adding to my concern that this had been a short month financially and waiting to see God’s hand in all this. I went to the branch near the house, as opposed to the closer ATM, thinking the little extra walk would do me good and give me some alone time. I got to the bank and tried the ATM there and it wouldn’t work. I wish I could say this did not affect my attitude…but that would not be true. So, I went to wait in line for the teller to retrieve the 15 euro. The guy at the window seemed to take FOREVER. I waited patiently for him, no really I did not allow my frustration to show. The manager, who had just returned from lunch and whom I have a casual relationship with, came and asked if I had been waiting long. I told him the ATM wasn’t working and so I was waiting for the teller. He went over and looked and the machine was working. As I walked toward the machine he said he wanted to ask me a question when I was finished taking money. After I took half, 15 euro, of what we have for the rest of the month, I was battling to keep my focus on all God has provided for us and how He has made promises of providing for our needs, there stood the manager with a very serious look on his face. He and his colleague have asked in the past, “do you always smile” to which I have been able to plant seeds for the Gospel, but this look was serious. He said” do you know where I can get a Bible in Shqip?” All the previous concerns were destroyed as I knew God had sent me there. So of course I said yes. He insisted he would pay for it which led me to believe he wanted to study it for comparison to the Koran. I walked to the house to drop off the money for the cards then proceeded straight to the church where we had some brand new Bibles. I also included some other literature and put it all in a bag that could not be seen through, for discretion reasons, and headed back to the bank. The manager met me at the door and asked if I had time for a coffee. I said yes and we went around the corner to a local restaurant and spent about an hour visiting. He said he wanted a Bible in Shqip because even though his English skills are good the KJV he has is confusing. I gave him the Bible as a gift and told him that if he found the same truth in it I have that would be payment enough for me. Through our conversation I found out he had graduated high school in Pennsylvania and was there 2 years. He had been exposed to Christianity but was claiming to be Muslim. As of late he has been searching out different religions such as Bektashi (specific sect of the Muslim religion), Christianity, etc. I was able to share the Bible and some of why we are here but mostly I felt I was to listen and not try to convince him of anything. He responded very well and shared much of his story and his family with me. His brother lives in Cleveland, Ohio and has converted to “Christainity”. His brother had recently visited and stirred even more questions in him. I told him if he had any questions to call me which he responded very positively to. When I suggested getting together on a regular basis he responded with “I would like that very much”.
On my way back to the house I realized I had been set up by God for this very important meeting. I wondered about whether or not I should have more assertively presented the Gospel and got a peace that what I shared was exactly what he needed to hear. I also realized that God has a way bigger plan for us than we even know or see. His timing in all this was interesting. Our financial …..issues…are so small in comparison to His plan. Please be praying for wisdom on how to continue with presenting the Gospel to this man who, as a bank manager, has much influence in the community.
He, the bank manager, has recently had some interesting conversations with his 4 year old son. His mother died in 2005. His son asked “dad where is grandma?” He responded, she lives in the sky now, not knowing how deeply he should go with a 4 year old and being a little confused himself. His son seemed to be ok with this answer for a few days, but then came back to his father accusing him of lying. He was confused when the son said,” dad grandma doesn’t live in the sky.” He responded, “she doesn’t?” The son said,” no, only the white thing inside her goes up to the sky.” He laughed at the understanding of a 4 year old and figured he had seen something on TV that led him to such a conclusion. A few days later his son came to him and said, “dad, I don’t want to go to the sky and live with grandma right now.” He said, “son you have a long time to go before that happens. You will grow up, get married, have children and be a grandpa before that happens.” His son replied,” O.K. then it will be good; but, for now I don’t want to live in the sky cause sometimes I wet the bed and I don’t want to make the clouds all yellow”. I laughed very hard when he shared that story with me.