On becoming a Proud Workman Who Handles the Word of Truth
2 Timothy 2 I don’t know about you but I’ve been ashamed more than once of how I not only handled the word of truth but of the work that I did when no one was watching. I’m getting some tile put in my bathroom and yesterday morning I was talking to the installer. As we talked he shared that he moved here from Vietnam 14 years ago when the government kicked him out of the country. He has 3 children and he does whatever it takes to provide them with opportunity to proceed. This man’s father was taken away when he was very small and he has never met his father. He does not speak English well but he does not have to for anyone to experience the almost magnetic sense of peace and purpose from this man. He spent several minutes showing how what he does is different than many tile installers and how many customers may never notice the difference. He warranties his work for 10 years while most are only 1 year. He pointed out some of the intricate cuts that he had made that up until then I had been unaware of. Installing tile for this fellow is clearly a form of art. As I gazed at my tile with a new appreciation for the quality and care that it was being installed with, it was like he heard the question that I had let slip from my mind - why bother? He then walked to my front door, pointed up to the sky and said - “Some days good, some days bad, God always watches”. What a wonderfully unexpected lesson! A reminder that yes, God is always watching and every moment and all that we do is an opportunity to honor God and ourselves. For the past year I have talked about, dreamed about and wrote about being able to take what I loved about my many years in management and then living my dream by creating a life lead by God and filled with purpose and passion; A life that supported others in being who they were created to be and manifesting the glory of God that is within us all. This past Monday, my company laid many people off including me and my team. What first came to mind was that I must be more careful as God may just give me the opportunity that I ask for (and it may look different). So, I am terrified and I am confident and I am anxious and I am at peace. The past three days have given me the opportunity to live in my Faith and I am humbled and in awe of His generosity, His mercy and His grace. I have been reminded mightily that I am nothing without Him. And as I started to send this note, my eyes wandered and raised slowly to be met with Psalm 23 on my wall, and the tears now flow as I feel His awesome grace wash over me and cleanse my soul: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. So, I am up to becoming a workman, not ashamed, and who correctly handles the word of truth, to live a life filled with passion and purpose. Thank you to everyone for the HUGE difference that you have made for me by being in my life.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.