Gary Chester- Helping men to win

Only One Thing Harder than Waiting on God

garychester.org  6/25/09

I'm now dealing with a personal matter that is way out of my control.  I don't feel led to divulge its specific nature, but I want to convey that I am confident God is in control of my situation

(Psalms 139:16).  I am convinced of this.

As I wait on His answer, I am satisfied with what He reveals to me each day.  I have peace of mind (for the most part), assured that he is working in me and through me (Phil. 2:13), and that He is working behind the scenes in ways I am unaware.

I know this to be true for two reasons:

1) His sure and true Word tells me so, so I can stake my all on what it says.  But why do I trust the Bible?  The reason is that more manuscripts and evidence exist for the New Testament than for any other document in ancient history.  If I can't trust it, I can't trust any ancient source of history.  And if I cannot trust any source, I really don't know what I know.  You see, we each have to trust some authority in order to survive.

2) I've experienced how God has come through for me, as well as for those around me, who patiently wait on Him.  The waiting may take months, or even years, but the end result is never disappointing, because all good things come from Him (Psalms 34:8 & 103:5).

Waiting can be hard.  But I've found there is only one thing harder than waiting on God, and that is wishing I had.

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Lose Some, Win Some - Potential Followers of Christ

garychester.org   6/11/09

I've found that during my own one-on-one discipleships of a few men over the years, more of them have slipped off track than have stayed the course.  It doesn’t seem like much of a track record for my ministry.  I would, of course, prefer more impressive results.  I guess that's not my call.  That call belongs to God. 

But since God calls me to this mission field in the Kentucky community where I live, I joyfully press on for the most part - hopefully in the power of the Holy Spirit (Phil 3:10-14).

It is not usually a lonely calling.  I have a few deep-spirited friends who God also has appointed in the same way.   We encourage and build up one another (1 Thess. 5:11).  These men help me keep my chin up, when my spirits periodically droop.

I can be just an impulse from dropping into a little bit of a funk, especially if there's been a little dust-up between my wife and me, or an extra challenging time at work.

In recent days, as my spirits have faltered, I've gone to visit my friend, Marty.  Seeing Marty is a way for me to get my mind off myself and observe what God is doing. 

Marty stayed in our home for awhile when he had nowhere else to go.  Back then Smirnoff and Miller, along with some weed, were his strategies to cope with life.  But a big day of God eventually came to Marty's life.  At that time, he rejected his own agenda in exchange for that of Christ.

Now he's gladly soaking up the Lord's good, perfect and pleasing will (Rom 12:1-2).  Marty is a long way from "having arrived".  He's searching for a job and is practically penniless, but because of the transformation in his heart, my own heart is warmed whenever I see him.  And I'm encouraged enough to stay in the race.