Pam Padgett ... Member of the body of Christ
The deck on the back of my house is 34 years old and no longer feels solid in one area.
There is a small company that deals with decks and was highly recommended by several people in this area. The owner, Steve, came to look at the deck and said it needs to be completely replaced. As Steve and I talked about the job, he said it was so small that we could probably get by without pulling a permit and having building inspections, which would increase the cost and time to do the project. I told him I didn't care about going through the inspection process on this job.
But then a couple days later I read I Peter 2:13-14 and was reminded of the deck.
I Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
If building code in this area require a permit to be pulled and inspections to be done, I needed to have this done. (Following such a rule obviously doesn't violate scripture.)
I immediately sent an email to Steve asking that a permit be pulled if this was required by building code rules in this area and also told him I understood this would increase the cost of the project.
He replied later that evening saying "Very good - We will do that then.", and told me how much this increased the cost of the project.
I had the revised contract signed, scanned, and sent back to Steve by email a couple days later. In my email, I asked if he wanted me to send a check for the deposit to him, or if he preferred to pick it up when he brought color samples. It seemed that everything was in order and ready to move forward.
But strangely, several days later, there was still no response nor acknowledgement of any kind from Steve. (In the past he had replied within a day or two.)
Thoughts started coming telling me that Steve was upset and has decided he wouldn't do the job ... that I was wrong to have requested that we follow the building code rules ... that now I would need to find someone else to replace the deck.
I turned to God with these thoughts, and was re-established in having requested that we follow the building code rules as my attention was again taken to I Peter 2:13-14.
Then a thought came, which I believed was from the Holy Spirit, telling me that Steve was "on vacation".
Of course! This is the time of year when many people take vacation. Hearing this calmed me immediately.
But then this past Saturday, more than 2 weeks after I had last heard from Steve, I again thought about the deck.
Again, I turned to God. Was I mistaken about the thought telling me that Steve was on vacation being from the Holy Spirit? Should I start looking for someone else to replace the deck and, if so, how should I go about this?
I didn't hear anything right away, so didn't do anything about finding someone else to do the work.
Then a couple hours later, I received an email from Steve. He apologized for the delay in responding, saying he and his wife had been on vacation!
Each time I think of this, it reminds me that God knows everything about each thing that concerns us, and that HE is able to give us any information we need as we deal with those things we face.
Jesus says:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in HIS sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of HIM with whom we have to do.
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