Five years ago when Tour 29:11 Ministries Inc. started I thought for sure that by now we would be at FedEx Field hosting events and over 20,000 would be coming to know Christ. I envisioned us at the American Airlines Arena in Miami watching God move and thousands seeing the reality of who God is, etc. This isn’t a cocky vision it’s a God vision. I’m not capable of dreaming or doing something like that on my own or in my own ability! However, the reality is that we have grown in many ways since 2006 but not we are not where I thought we would be.
I wonder what Joseph felt when God showed him that he would rule over his brothers only to sit in a prison for more than 13 years? I wonder how Moses felt when he was marching in circles for 40 years with the Israelites who were headed to the promised land? I often wonder what crossed the mind of David after God told him that he would be king only to run from people trying to kill him for more than the next 8 years?
I travel full-time but to supplement my income and provide for my family God has opened a door for me to work construction with one of my buddies who owns a company. Two weeks ago we were installing installation and drywall in a house and for any of you who have ever done it you know that installation is hated by just about every builder. I was throwing a spiritual “hissy fit” in my heart. My thoughts were, “God I’ve been faithful, I’d rather be in an office somewhere, I have a college degree, I shouldn’t have to work like this.” Everything prideful came spewing ever so quickly from the core of who I am. God said something very simple, “Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years, no one knew who He was and He had the most powerful ministry ever known to man.”
I don’t say that because I will have the most powerful ministry or effect on people, or in reference to me being something I’m not. I say that because what you’re doing isn’t useless. You may think it’s not leading anywhere and that you’re dreams are dying with it. Dreams die many times before they’re ever accomplished! If you are at where God has got you and in what God has provided, I promise you that it’s not useless. Remain faithful, He knows where you’re at and what you’re doing. Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years. He wasn’t leading worship at a church, serving as a pastor, working where He could communicate with people at Wal-Mart, AT&T or your local Exxon. He was in a back room building furniture.
