I came to work Friday unaware and unprepared for what the day would hold. I got to work and started my day. Then……………………..Mac. I realize I must tell you more because you don’t know Mac. Mac is an employee at the company I work for. I used to work for him directly, and then Ashley D. took my place, and since she’s laid off, I was the one to do what he needed done. This is what Mac said “All right clown. Get this quote done. Stop playing on the internet.” (All this before I even know what he really even wants me to do.) Please use your imagination in hearing a strong Pakistani accent. If this is the first time you’ve read or heard of Mac, his name is really Maqbool, and he is from Pakistan. In Pakistan years ago, women were lower than dogs. Mac is Muslim. But, if you know me personally, you know the owner of this company is a devout Christian, godly man. You may ask why he would allow this person to be employed at this company. Is it that he puts his business above God? Hardly. In fact it’s quite the opposite. If you’ve ever been to M&M, you’ll notice Christian pictures, the Ten Commandments and even a Bible in the lobby. Marvin knows the wrongness of the “Christian Bubble.” In defense of Mac, I have never efficiently been able to do the things he’s asked me to do. Mac left and came back a bit later. I was on the phone with Mark, and Mac said “get off your personal phone call.” He was sort of joking, but sort of not. I stung with anger. “I’ll have to call you back. I can’t talk right now!” I yell at Mark I am angry. I don’t understand how things are this way. “God, you know I love you. You know what I can and can’t do. Why have you placed me in this moment?” I sent Mark a text with the purpose of him feeling guilty for not being a billionaire. I held back tears, but not by much. I got through with what I’d been demanded to do. I felt like a wreck emotionally. About 4 hours later I remembered I never called Mark back. Well, he was calling to tell me he thought he had kidney stones!! I left and we went to the hospital. After I guess about 4 hours and a cat scan, we found out he did. The doc said they hadn’t moved and that he needed to see a urologist on Monday. Me and Chloe were supposed to spend the night with Holly and the gang. I went at 10:00 and we stayed up until 4:00 (A.M. THAT IS). We already had a Vision cookout planned for Sat. So I had to get ready for that. I got home and Mark informed me that he was going to cut the church grass. What!! I try every manipulative trick and reverse psychology to stop him. “You’ll get in so much pain and then you won’t be able to drive home. You’ve had purcacet. It’s dangerous for you to drive.” It was useless. I then tried to just use anger. “You are absolutely ridiculous!! You are so hard headed.!!” Useless. I told him that Chloe was in bed and probably would be most of the day, and I had to leave to get the stuff for the cookout, thinking that would keep him home. He just said “What time do I need to get home?” He left. I fumed. He arrived back home and then cut our grass and our neighbors grass. He said “I’m getting too old to do this.” I contemplated hitting him in the head with a hammer, but changed my mind. He then decided to go to the cookout. We got there and Ben did the cooking for it, and Mark just sort of rested, as best he could. Cookout was great. We met with the existing and upcoming Vision members who graduated and had a good crowd. We talked for a good while and just shared out hearts. That was over around 8:30. A few people wanted to come over for a bit, but they left at 10:00, because I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Sunday was church-amazing!! God taught me so much. Sunday after church Chloe needed a few more things for camp. So we spent the afternoon doing that, and then Sunday night church, and then home to pack. I was exhausted. Mark’s kidney stone still hanging around. Monday, Chloe left for camp. Monday night, I was toast. Mark still functioning with his kidney stone.

That man!! He’s so……………..well, so……………….DETERMINED. Mark is stubborn. When he believes that something is his responsibility, he’s going to do it, unless there is absolutely no way. When I say no way, I don’t mean a little sickness, or sleep interrupted, or plans changed, I mean literally impossible.

Are you determined today in your walk and function, roll and purpose for Christ? I want to be. But I’m realizing that “determined” is something I haven’t been. I allow circumstances, inconveniences, selfishness, and popular opinion to convince me I can’t, even if God has said “I can.”

See when I had time Friday night to really think about the day, I realized how weak spiritually I really was. See I pray constantly for Mac, constantly. But when I had that golden opportunity to live my prayer out loud, I didn’t. In fact, I did the exact opposite of what I’d been asking God to do for Mac. The words “in and through me” may be somewhat harder than we think they will.

Let’s vow to be determined today. What is God calling you to do that you’ve convinced yourself can’t be done. It may take stubbornness on your part; it may take ignoring that person that say “you can’t.” God doesn’t always ask us to do what’s easy, but he always asks us to do what’s best.

Crossing the Sea
Exodus 13
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. [a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
God will sometimes lead us to that place where our only real option is to follow Him. That place that requires a determined spirit to follow Him.

If you’re in Vision tomorrow night, we’ll talk more about this then.

Please pray for Mark and his kidney stone. But also join me in thanking God for the example of determination.

Love you wonderful hard-headed hubby!!

Please pray for Mac’s salvation.