My Time Frame

I'm a doer. A pusher. Usually, I'm a "let's get it done yesterday" kind of guy. I like to know what needs done, get on it, and finish it well and as quickly as possible so I can move on to the next important (or not so important) project. I'm that way with work at the CE office. With the lawn at home. Doing construction. (Okay, maybe I don't finish all of the new construction projects as quickly as I have just described, but you get the idea...)

I was thinking the other day: While I may like to work this way, God doesn't work in this kind of fashion. He has His timing, in His way with whom He will. Here is what made me think about it:

Were were just at The National Institute Cross Cultural module last week at Urban Hope Training Center in Philadelphia. Tim Clothier was the TA. He and Zach, after the Friday night youth meeting our class was a part of, started talking with some guys from there in Philly. One of the guys was a Christ follower. Together, the three of them talked with this other guy who has been coming around UHTC for a while about the need to know Jesus. Long story short--this young man prayed and asked Christ to save Him and change his life. Very cool! Lots of things had been talked about with this young man at other times at UHTC. But it took one more conversation. And that prompted him to say he wanted Jesus to run his life. In my timing, he should have responded the first time. But that's not God's timing.

Courtney went on the trip as well. She helped drive the bus and took care of logistics and meals. Same story. Started talking to two girls on that Friday night. They had been at UHTC for about 6 weeks hearing really good stuff. They both said that they have heard this before and they wanted Jesus to run their lives. How incredible is that!

My son, Nick, and I left Philly and went to CA to see my parents for a few days. I got to speak at my old home church--to the youth group--on Wednesday evening. I didn't know many of the kids there that night. But I shared and at the end, I asked if there was anyone who wanted to have Jesus forgive them of their sin and run their life. One gal responded and the youth staff followed up with her immediately. That was really neat.

My time frame idea works like this: everyone should respond to the gospel the first time. But that isn't God's timing--it's only my idea of what timing should be. In looking back at it, I guess it encourages me to keep talking to people I know who have not yet responded to Jesus yet. For some , it takes 6 weeks, for others less time, for others a little more. But I'm trying to shift my thinking from my idea to God's perspective on the subject. I guess I just have to keep talking and bringing the subject up to them and to God.