Jenny
was anxiously pacing the floor. She had just arrived home from eight
hours of work and two hours of commuting time. During the prior twenty
minutes she had quickly served Ryan and Rachel a quick dinner of Mac
& Cheese, bread and butter and a glass of milk. Jenny's pacing was
due to the late home coming of her salesman husband, Jason. Jason's
new insurance agent job demanded a very erratic schedule, often
bringing him home at odd hours of the evening.
Jenny's impatience was due to the
events that were scheduled at their church that week. Pastor Sam had
invited Larry and Corinne Silverman in for special meetings for the
week, and here it was already Thursday night and thus far their busy
family hadn't been able to make even one meeting! Jason and Jenny had
spoken over the weekend and made a pledge to themselves that they would
try to get to every meeting, as Pastor Sam had said that Larry and
Corinne were Revivalists and that they had a heart and passion on
seeing God move once again in the American Church. He also said that
there would be a strong personal prophetic flow of ministry during
these meetings, and Jenny and Jason acknowledged to each other how
spiritually dry they really were. Normally this couple made a
successful effort to attend their church faithfully every Sunday
morning, but making any other church functions was becoming very
difficult.
In spite of their conversation over
the weekend, Jenny and Jason's great plans of attending as many of
Larry and Corinne's meetings were completely frustrated. Monday night
was missed due to Jenny's unexpected district manager showing up at the
office that day. He had brought her accounting department to a frenzy
as he told the entire staff exactly how dysfunctional they really
were. Jenny drove home late Monday afternoon with a killer headache.
Church was out of the question!
Then Tuesday.... hummm... what was
it? Oh yes, Jason had a late afternoon sales appointment with a
interested potential client. He and Jenny prayed together about this
appointment before he left the house that morning, as the commission
from that sale would more than take care of the immediate financial
pressure. It seemed lately that closed sales and commissions thereof,
were becoming fewer and fewer as the economic slowdown in their State
was making his prospective clients very nervous about spending any new
money. So Tuesday morning came and Jenny and Jason did pray together
about closing that deal. Jenny found this emergency prayer session
rather awkward as they no longer found too much time to pray together
lately. The plan was for Jason to get home early enough so the entire
family could attend the Silverman's meeting. Jason pulled into the
driveway around 6 p.m. with just enough time to grab a bite to eat and
head to the meeting. However, when He opened the front door, Jenny saw
the disappointment and rejection on his face. The "hot client" turned
out to be a "tire kicker." After a tremendous presentation of a
product that Jason aptly demonstrated would work far better and be less
expensive for the potential client, Jason was greeted with the words,
"I want to think about it!" Using every sales closing technique that
Jason had ever learned, plus some that he had just invented, he could
not close that very much needed sale! There was no going to church
Tuesday night!
Jenny's Wednesday lunch was
interrupted by a incoming text message on her cell phone. The "SOS
Message" was from Rachael..."Mom.. Coach just called a special
volleyball practice.. It's mandatory!" Over the weekend Jenny and
Jason had spoken to Ryan and Rachel and had informed them that they
felt that going to these meetings at church and having Larry and
Corinne minister to them was most important, so all extra activities
would be curtailed for the week as getting closer to God would be more
important than Ryan's cross country and Rachael's volleyball. They
would take a week long hiatus from all school extra-curricular
activities so that they could get a good impartation of God into their
lives. those plans were placed on hold Wednesday, not just due to
Rachael's 911 text message, but also by Ryan's 3:00 P.M phone call to
his mom. Ryan needed a ride to Steve's house as he and his lab
partner, Steve, were planning on working on a very important Biology
term project that they had to turn in next week. The project had been
assigned 3 weeks earlier, but for some strange reason, it just didn't
get worked on then. Jenny became "Taxi Cab Mom" once again! By the
time she walked into the house after all of her shuttle bus work, the
time was already 6:50 P.M. With nothing to eat since lunch Jenny
decided that she and Jason would stay home once again and order a pizza.
So here it was 6:30 Thursday
evening, Jason still wasn't home. She couldn't get too upset with him
as maybe he was able to get back with his Monday client and finally
convince him to sign on the dotted line. At least that's what Jenny
was thinking when suddenly Jason pulled into the drive way. He made
his way to the front door with his laptop in one hand and his briefcase
in the other. As he came through the front door he said, "No church
tonight Honey... I've got some very important work to do!" Jenny's
dejected look was soon replaced by a smile as she thought, "Oh well,
tonight won't be so bad after all.... "Survivor" is on TV!"
When Sunday came there was a buzz in
the air at church from the small group that actually was able to make
some of the special meetings. Pastor Sam seemed refreshed as his
ministry calling had been confirmed and God had given him new direction
for the church. Several other families seemed to glow like they had
been in the presence of the Lord.
On the way home from Sunday's service, Jason said to Jenny......"Maybe next time!"
What says the Lord?........
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (New Living Translation)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation
copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishing.
The Dangers of the Last Days
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2
For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be
boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and
ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3
They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and
have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
1 John 2:15-17 (New Living Translation)
15
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love
the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving
for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.
These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Luke 14:16-24 (New Living Translation)
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
21 “The
servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was
furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So
his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges
and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Kingdom blessings ~ Larry the Revivalist!
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