When I arrived in Nairobi last week, I was informed that there were no hotel rooms due to a large international conference that the city was hosting. After I spent the first night in a hotel that is best forgotten (see Take That One Off Your List), I decided that God had something better and set out to see what I could find.
The Nairobi Hilton gave me a room but said I absolutely, positively had to be out after three nights. Since I needed a room for 10 nights, I decided to take what I could get and trust the Lord. When the end of my stay came, I went and asked for an extension. The Hilton said I could stay for two more nights, but then I absolutely, positively had to check out, since there would be no rooms available.
When the end of that stay came, I went and requested an extension. They granted my extension until I departed Nairobi for Zimbabwe. When I got my last extension, the desk clerk said to me, "You must have really been praying to God!" I said, "No, I was really thanking Him for what I knew He would do."
TRUST
At no point did I ever doubt that God would provide me a room. I prayed once and then spent my time thanking God for His provision--if not at the Hilton, then any place where I could rest in comfort and do my work.
This story is a typical example of my life the last few years. God has been teaching me to trust Him in large and small ways. I actually feel I am getting better at it! The reason I didn't send a Memo out yesterday was that my computer "froze" after my son tried to load some basic software. I said to the Lord, "If you want me to send out a Memo, then you need to help me get my computer fixed." This morning a friend and brother found the problem and fixed it. He said, "You need to thank God, Bill Gates and me for finding the problem." I was able to thank two of the three on his list.
I can't begin to tell you how much time I have spent as an adult fretting about things that were beyond my control. God has never failed me, yet I have regularly questioned His faithfulness. In fact, God has never failed anyone and He's not about to ruin His perfect record on me--I'm just not worth it!
DO YOU HAVE YOUR TRUST ON?
So how about you? How's your trust coming along? Are you fretting over things over which you have no control? Do you see daily challenges as an opportunity to worry, or as times to improve your trust? Can you see that these challenges are the basis for new testimonies, new stories that speak of God's love and care?
So here I am in Zimbabwe, sending out a Monday Memo not because I have a new system, but because of God's help. I hope that you see God's hand in your current situation, and that you will increasingly entrust your purpose and productivity to a God who never slumbers nor sleeps, who is capable of doing anything. And if you ever need a room in Nairobi, I suggest you go check out the Hilton.
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1. For the last few years, I have sent out a personal monthly prayer letter to those who had expressed an interest in receiving it. When I was sick in Nairobi last week, I was impressed that I needed to increase my prayer covering. So from now on, I will attach my monthly prayer to one Monday Memo every month. You will find the May edition at the end of this Memo. I invite you to pray for PurposeQuest and the message that I carry to the nations of the world.
2. If you need to change your address to which this Memo is sent, hit the unsubscribe link below this automatic Feedblitz mailout. Then go to this link and enter your new email address in the box in the right hand column. You can add a gift subscription by going to the link and adding the new email address of the person you think would benefit from The Monday Memo.
And the archives of past Monday Memos can still be located on my website.
If you would like to receive automatic updates from my daily blog entries, you can subscribe at that site by entering your email address and responding to the confirmation email you will then receive.
3. If you would like to unsubscribe, just click the link below (if you receive this as an automatic message).
4. I have a new updated version of my article How To Survive Working in the Local Church on my website. It now includes a self-assessment tool that can help you understand your ability to function in a local church setting.
5. The weekly Bibles study from Corinthians is up and running, with study six going out last week. I am delighted that it is growing faster than the Monday Memo at this point. Many write to tell me they use it for their small groups and personal devotions. If you would like to subscribe, go to the site and enter your email address.
6. I will be back in Kenya from June 8 to June 18. If you would like to book a profiling/purpose appointment, please email me at your earliest convenience.
7. I will be here in Zimbabwe through June 25, with some side trips booked during that time. If you would like to meet with me or schedule me to come to your church or business, email me as soon as possible.
Monthly Prayer Letter: Download may_prayer_letter.doc
Trust forms the basis of almost every relationship I can think of. The world is brocken mainly because of the breaking of this vital ingredient - TRUST.
Reading of Daniel it seems that their trust of and in God was intact - That no matter what the result of being burnt or saved would be, they still trusted God.
Would it be that they were living lives of conviction rather than convenience? I think that if I was convicted of God's goodness to me all the time and in all things, I would certainly trust Him all ways.
Posted by: Truphie Sumba | May 16, 2006 at 08:45 AM
Dr. Stanko.
I just want to thank you for your memo about trust, My husband and I live in Hampton, Viriginia and work with Pastor Tim. with the children, In fact we all attented the same church in the burgh. Your words about trusting in God brought comfort to me, Just this morning I was telling and writing to God as to why I needed a job after 29 years of being a stay at home wife and mother, forgetting about what God has done for me, HELLO!! He will supply all my needs, I want for nothing. God had me reading about Abraham and how rich he was by just being obedient, and when he wasn't obediant he still walked out blessed.
How quickly we forget and feel that we need to help God along with our situations. After reading about Abraham I went to see what was on the computer there was your memo about trusting, God is so good about confirming His word.
Posted by: JoAnn | May 17, 2006 at 12:52 AM