Today is my Birthday. I always dread this day, because traditionally something bad has always happened on my birthday. Deaths of friends and family, friends arrested for D.U.I., getting fired from a job. It's always something. Well today, my family and I get in the car to go to church. Driving the mile to church, I notice that car is handling like garbage. We get to church and park. Get out of the car and *BOOM* there it is. A flat tire. "Yup. It's my birthday alright." My wife and I agree to go into the church and then I would change the tire after the service. We go in to the service and new friends and old friends greet us as worship is going on. Now, a little back story. If you read the first blog from the Fisherman Soldier, you will know that I have been running from God for a long time, and have recently come back to the fold. For a few weeks now I have been struggling with this dream, a thought; that I am supposed to become a Pastor. Terrifying right? Thats a heck of a call to receive from the Lord. So back to todays service. Our Pastor gets up and begins talking about faith. Having faith and the fact that God uses Abraham to illustrate faith in the most profound ways. As the pastors words sink into my brain, I start to get this feeling. Something that I haven't felt in a while. Peace. That's when my mothers favorite bible verse pops into my head. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse has meant so many different things to me throughout my life. Sort of like a Swiss Army knife, this verse has a thousand and one uses. Even though I was running from God, I always carried this verse with me wherever I went. ANd it has gotten me through some of the roughest patches of my life. I thought it was because it was my Mothers favorite verse. I now think that it was because it was God's safety line. That one thing holding me to him so he could pull me back when I was ready. After service we had a soup luncheon and reception. We sat with our good friends Ken and Kat and their family. We talk and laugh, and then the Pastor comes up. He asks to sit and places himself in front of me. We begin to talk, and the topic of my dilemma comes up. The whole time we are speaking this bible verse is running through my head. At the same time, everything the Pastor is saying is making this verse scream louder and louder at me. "God has a plan for you Spike!" the voice in my head is saying somewhat like a Drill Sergeant. Our Pastor, whether he knew it or not, was the nudge I needed, the push from God, the swift kick in the pants to get off of the sidelines and get onto the playing field. We leave, and I start changing the tire. When two deacons from the church come over and begin to help me change the tire. They didn't have to. But they did. It was as if God was once again telling me, "I have a plan for you. I'll take care of you. I have got your back." As if I needed any further motivation to follow the calling I had received all those years ago, God does what he does best. He gives me another sign that he is there. We get to the only tire place that is open on Sunday. We check in and hand over our keys. The gentleman takes the car in and twenty minutes later proceeds to finish our paper work. I reach for my wallet and ask "what's the damage?" "Nothing." He replied. After scraping my jaw off of the floor, I ask "Are you serious?". He smiles, and states "that 'Goodyear' doesn't charge to fix a flat tire". Once again, God is screaming at me " I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU SPIKE! Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" God not only saw fit to get me through another year, but he gave me the best gift he ever could have given me. A renewal of Faith. I am off to search the web for Bible Schools now, I have a calling that I was supposed to fulfill a long time ago.
25 Comments
John Schur
10/16/2016 02:28:02 pm
Thanks for sharing that, Spike. A lot of folks come through the doors at Calvary; some do it every Sunday; some do it only once, or maybe twice and—for whatever reason— are never seen again. You may recall, the first time you came to Calvary you and I had a very brief introductory conversation in the social hall. Right from the start I had a feeling that you belonged there. I have been delighted each subsequent week to see you and your wife return. I sincerely hope you feel welcomed and that you have found a spiritual home that continues to draw you back.
Reply
9/11/2022 01:10:50 pm
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://kurma.website/
Reply
9/12/2022 01:10:15 am
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://odemebozdurma.com/
Reply
9/14/2022 06:29:39 pm
Really informative article, I had the opportunity to learn a lot, thank you. https://bit.ly/site-kurma
Reply
9/30/2022 05:51:46 am
It's great to have this type of content. Good luck with your spirit. Thank you. https://bit.ly/site-kurma
Reply
10/5/2022 12:09:40 pm
It was a post that I found very successful. Good luck to you. https://escortnova.com/escort-ilanlari/yozgat-escort/cayiralan-escort/
Reply
10/6/2022 02:37:10 am
I follow your posts closely. I can find it thanks to your reliable share. Thank you. https://escortnova.com/escort-ilanlari/hakkari-escort/
Reply
10/6/2022 02:50:52 pm
I support your continuation of your posts. I will be happy as new posts come. Thank you. https://escortnova.com/escort-ilanlari/balikesir-escort/edremit-escort-balikesir-escort/
Reply
10/7/2022 07:34:06 am
I think the content is at a successful level. It adds enough information. Thank you. https://escortnova.com/escort-ilanlari/konya-escort/yunak-escort/
Reply
10/7/2022 02:54:33 pm
Thank you for your sharing. I must say that I am successful in your content. https://escortnova.com/escort-ilanlari/sakarya-escort/
Reply
10/8/2022 05:34:41 am
Thoughtful and real content is shared. Thank you for these shares. https://escortnova.com/escort-ilanlari/corum-escort/oguzlar-escort/
Reply
11/22/2022 03:15:00 pm
Sitemizi ziyaret et ve evden is imkanina bak: https://sites.google.com/view/evden-ek-is/
Reply
12/10/2022 12:46:36 pm
Düşmeyen bot takipçi satın al: https://takipcialdim.com/
Reply
12/10/2022 03:15:14 pm
Garantili Tiktok takipçi satın al: https://takipcialdim.com/tiktok-takipci-satin-al/
Reply
12/10/2022 03:15:53 pm
İnstagram beğeni satışı yapan firmamıza göz atın: https://takipcialdim.com/instagram-begeni-satin-al/
Reply
12/16/2022 08:46:18 am
takipci satın almak için tıkla: https://takipcim.com.tr/
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorSpike Bowan is the Pittsburgh, PA born Writer and Fiction Author. He is a Veteran of the US Navy, retired Paramedic, Husband, Father and Christian. BECOME A PATRON. CLICK BELOW!
Archives
April 2017
Categories |