I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. Rom. 15:28,29
Our pastor this week spoke on the resurrection with a 30-foot-high Christmas tree in the background. He was finishing up a series on Mark which ended just after Thanksgiving so the whole ambience seemed a bit confused as well as the congregants. Therefore, when he said things that deserved a hearty "Amen", it was relatively silent. At one point he had just gone to the 3 verses in Mark where Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection, Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34 (I found it interesting that it was the same verse one chapter apart) and he ended by saying, "God always keeps His promises". Certainly, that deserved an amen but relative silence and he even called us out (in a kind way). It wasn't the confusing backdrop that had me quiet this time, but rather I had just read this passage in Romans 15.
God always keeps his promises! Amen! Paul, you are going to Rome and will meet the Roman Church and refresh them. Promise from God. What God didn't tell him is that he would be arrested, beaten, sit in prison through two regime changes, have assassination attempts planned against him, get shipwrecked, swim to shore, get bit by a poisonous viper, and finally end up in Rome under house arrest. So yes, God always keeps His promises! Amen! But don't assume you know or are even going to like how they are kept.
For me, I would say 2 promises I claim are Prov. 3:5,6 and Rom. 8:28
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will direct your paths "
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose"
So it's an if>then proposition;
if I trust in the Lord with all my heart
If I don't lean on my own wisdom > then He will direct my paths
if I submit to Him
if I love Him > then all things work for good
if I'm called into His service
So here I am in Memphis doing my dream job, which I didn't even know I would like. I work 120 hours a month and have 3 weeks off. I make almost as much money as private practice, I don't have to chart, put up with nurses or demanding ungrateful patients, birthing plans, epidurals that don't work, hiring and firing, insurance plans and denials, etc. Instead, I get to be involved in the lives of student doctors and hopefully make an eternal difference. I can be friends with the nurses instead of fighting the power struggle and just let them win. (like last night) How did God get me to the "all things work for good"? Through my partner losing his privileges, the hospital turning its back on me after being there 37 years, being investigated by the TBI because of a nurse that didn't like us and seeking a 30% "whistle blower" reward, (after 3 years of not finding anything the case was closed) closing the practice which outside of Christ, really was my identity, and doing travelling doctor things in small towns because I felt at 66 I still had a lot to offer.
Then I did a short travelling thing at UTHC in Memphis overseeing residents and med students at night. The first night I delivered twins with a breech extraction that few people do, did forceps to prevent a c/section, turned a baby from breech to headfirst and they offered me a job the next day. God wanted me here, so He put on display, in one night, my total skill set learned over 40 years, and I got a 2-year contract and I'm in the middle of my 3rd year. God always keeps His promises! Amen! Did I like how He kept them - No! But He has a purpose in the pain. I get slight glimpses of why but for the most part I may have to wait until Heaven to understand the plan of getting me to the "directed paths" of Proverbs. All I do know is, Yes, God does keep His promises, and I am so grateful to Him.
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