Conquerors

I still remember the first time that I saw the old fire station for sale. It was the winter of 2015. I was looking at properties for sale or rent online, really just hoping to find something that we could use once a week or so to distribute food. I can’t really tell you exactly what I was looking for...I was just looking. We didn’t have any money. We didn’t have much of anything really...well...except a piece of advice. It was Fran Fluhler at the Manna House who told Jennifer and I it was time to look for a building. Her faith was so undeniable, it was like, we knew exactly what we were doing. We didn’t have a clue. 

I still remember walking out of the Manna House with Jennifer, both of us in awe of her faith. It was contagious and we started looking. Something drew me immediately to the fire station. The only explanation would have to be the Spirit of God. I just knew it was the place. That building was perfect for us. The location was perfect for us. The size. The layout. Every detail was perfect for what we were desiring to do. Well...almost every detail. 

I still remember walking into that building for the first time to meet with the members of the Harvest Volunteer Fire Department. That’s when I discovered the “not-so perfect” details. That place needed a whole lot of work. Credit the HVFD for all that they did, but the volunteer fire department has enough to do in the time that they volunteer. Worrying about upkeep in a building that has been around for fifty years is not high on the list, I would imagine. And frankly, it showed. The other problem was the price tag that was north of $200k. Those two details were almost enough to make us walk away. 

It was just a few short weeks later that we would purchase that building for $1. And not long after that, the old run down fire hall would come alive. Today, we use every square inch of it to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community. And I know it helps meet people’s needs, but honestly, I believe that if we weren’t there, those needs would still be met somehow. Maybe not 200 families at a time, but one at a time...200 times. I believe Jesus made that promise in Matthew 6. 

But there are two things I do know. Number one, there are people that would never enter a church building that see God moving every week through House of the Harvest. It’s how they have come to discover He is real. And number two, there are people who have been faithful “church goers” all their life who have come to discover He is real also. And that’s really cool. It’s a place He uses to draw people to Him. I love that. 

I drove home last night after a long day. I won’t call it a hard day. Just a long day. I was tired. I had a meeting late Monday night, worked all day yesterday, and then had an event late last night. Everything about me needed rest. And as I listened to the radio, the lady on WAY FM shares about how hard life is. She shares about us needing to be encouraged because it is so overwhelming and tiring and frustrating and hard and on and on. The message was, “It’s just too much.”

And while I understand and can certainly sympathize, at the same time, it struck a nerve. I thought about this story and how I have a King who conquered death. I thought about how I have a Father who sent His Son off the throne to face the same challenges of life that I face and completely overcome them. I thought about how overwhelmed He must have felt being rejected by His own creation, yet still willing to give Himself for the ones who rejected Him. I thought about Moses and his stage fright leading two and a half million out of the hands of the most powerful man in the world and across the wilderness. And Paul, facing all that he faced, and saying, “We are more than conquerors.”

And here is my point for today, in view of the story above and all the stories of the Bible...you have a Father who created you to thrive on this earth. Not by your body, soul, mind, or strength, but by the undeniable, unshakable, unstoppable power of His Spirit that can do things through you that you would NEVER be able to do on your own. I can testify to that. Jesus Himself testifies to that. My prayer is that we don’t choose to live in how overwhelming life is. If that is where you are, I can relate. But I want you to put that down, in exchange for more of the Spirit of the living God. You were created to witness to what He can do. I don’t know about you, but I want to think, act, and speak in that reality. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33