WilliamCoryStanley
Jan 27th 2010, 10:25 PM
Testimony
Moving my family to Central America was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. God said go, so we packed up and went. There was never an easy day, and to be honest, most days I wanted to quit. After ministering in Belize for almost a year, I began dreaming of going home. I not only dreamed of returning home, but doing so with great blessings. After all, we had just accomplished our single greatest feat in ministry. We were coming home after successfully opening a Bible Institute and managing a 52-acre property. We had witnessed over 150 people coming to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
I was filled with delusions of grandeur. I guess I had envisioned coming home to parades and all the other accolades that would go along with it. I can’t be the only one to make this mistake. Haven’t you ever done something so far above yourself that you just expected great rewards, or at least a pat on the back? This can become a very dangerous time, and more than a sufficient opportunity for God to keep you and me humble.
We arrived home for a Christmas Sunday service. I was quickly taken back by the way things seemed to unravel after such an amazing year. This was my home church of the last eighteen years and the same church organization that sent us to Belize. We sat on the pew and watched as each of the ministers and their families were honored and given a Christmas gift. I was stunned, and I could see the hurt in my wife’s eyes as we were left sitting in solitude. Not one word was mentioned about what we had accomplished. I know that we aren’t supposed to seek the approval of man. I know that God is the giver of true recognition and reward, but we’re human. There is an inner desire in all of us to at least get a “thank you” for the work we’ve done. There we were, our first Sunday back from the jungle, and we watched as all the others were recognized, one by one.
This was far from the dreamy welcome-home party that I anticipated. We were crushed. I was angry and hurt, and so we decided to change churches. We visited another church on a Sunday evening. We had just arrived, and within ten minutes God spoke to me. It was as clear as day, the clearest I’ve ever heard the Lord. He told me to go back and clean the toilets at our old church.
Learning David’s Patience
I spent the next six months or so cleaning the men’s restroom at the church. I actually reminded God that I had done worse jobs while living in Belize. I will never forget the Thursday night when a young man with half my experience, and ten years younger, came in and dirtied the restroom while I was cleaning. As it turned out, he was scheduled to speak that evening. I had the humbling pleasure of listening to him preach while I scrubbed.
God has given me a lot of promises over the years, and this wasn’t one of them. I don’t know where you find yourself today. It could be the shepherd’s field or even the bathrooms of your church. You might be standing at the furthest possible point from what God has promised you. I would like to tell you that cleaning the restrooms was an easy task, but it wasn’t. I can’t look you in the eye and tell you that I liked it because I didn’t. Believe it or not, the most important part in the achievement will be the preparation. I will never downplay the importance that cleaning those toilets played in my life. It is imperative that we learn from the example of David. God delights Himself in those who are faithful.
There is nothing wrong with looking to the stars. I’ve spent countless hours dreaming of destiny and all of my unfulfilled promises. The promises of God are never to be ignored or forgotten. That being said, we mustn’t allow them to cloud our judgment, or hinder our ability to fulfill our destiny for today. No matter how insignificant today might feel, it is a stepping stone to the very promises of God. Soon my friend, all of your preparation will collide with your opportunity.
It is my prayer that the Lord finds us faithful.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Excerpt from "Whisper of Promise"
williamcstanley
Moving my family to Central America was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. God said go, so we packed up and went. There was never an easy day, and to be honest, most days I wanted to quit. After ministering in Belize for almost a year, I began dreaming of going home. I not only dreamed of returning home, but doing so with great blessings. After all, we had just accomplished our single greatest feat in ministry. We were coming home after successfully opening a Bible Institute and managing a 52-acre property. We had witnessed over 150 people coming to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
I was filled with delusions of grandeur. I guess I had envisioned coming home to parades and all the other accolades that would go along with it. I can’t be the only one to make this mistake. Haven’t you ever done something so far above yourself that you just expected great rewards, or at least a pat on the back? This can become a very dangerous time, and more than a sufficient opportunity for God to keep you and me humble.
We arrived home for a Christmas Sunday service. I was quickly taken back by the way things seemed to unravel after such an amazing year. This was my home church of the last eighteen years and the same church organization that sent us to Belize. We sat on the pew and watched as each of the ministers and their families were honored and given a Christmas gift. I was stunned, and I could see the hurt in my wife’s eyes as we were left sitting in solitude. Not one word was mentioned about what we had accomplished. I know that we aren’t supposed to seek the approval of man. I know that God is the giver of true recognition and reward, but we’re human. There is an inner desire in all of us to at least get a “thank you” for the work we’ve done. There we were, our first Sunday back from the jungle, and we watched as all the others were recognized, one by one.
This was far from the dreamy welcome-home party that I anticipated. We were crushed. I was angry and hurt, and so we decided to change churches. We visited another church on a Sunday evening. We had just arrived, and within ten minutes God spoke to me. It was as clear as day, the clearest I’ve ever heard the Lord. He told me to go back and clean the toilets at our old church.
Learning David’s Patience
I spent the next six months or so cleaning the men’s restroom at the church. I actually reminded God that I had done worse jobs while living in Belize. I will never forget the Thursday night when a young man with half my experience, and ten years younger, came in and dirtied the restroom while I was cleaning. As it turned out, he was scheduled to speak that evening. I had the humbling pleasure of listening to him preach while I scrubbed.
God has given me a lot of promises over the years, and this wasn’t one of them. I don’t know where you find yourself today. It could be the shepherd’s field or even the bathrooms of your church. You might be standing at the furthest possible point from what God has promised you. I would like to tell you that cleaning the restrooms was an easy task, but it wasn’t. I can’t look you in the eye and tell you that I liked it because I didn’t. Believe it or not, the most important part in the achievement will be the preparation. I will never downplay the importance that cleaning those toilets played in my life. It is imperative that we learn from the example of David. God delights Himself in those who are faithful.
There is nothing wrong with looking to the stars. I’ve spent countless hours dreaming of destiny and all of my unfulfilled promises. The promises of God are never to be ignored or forgotten. That being said, we mustn’t allow them to cloud our judgment, or hinder our ability to fulfill our destiny for today. No matter how insignificant today might feel, it is a stepping stone to the very promises of God. Soon my friend, all of your preparation will collide with your opportunity.
It is my prayer that the Lord finds us faithful.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Excerpt from "Whisper of Promise"
williamcstanley