Check the box

So, I finally decided to change my radiator out of my '95 Chevy pickup. It had a small hairline crack just below the upper hose area. Now, it had been this way for quite a while, but I was nursing it along with every "stop leak" I could find. Finally, it was timt to replace it. I had picked this great Friday, right before SheBob was to be born. It was supposed to be in the 70s.

It turned out to be a great day, but I ended up working late and missed being able to change the radiator. I had to do it on Saturday. Like most Saturdays in February, It stayed in the upper 20s and lower 30s. A cold day to work with water. Jordan came out to help me and we were making great progess. The radiator was out and the heater core and block were flushed with about 45 minutes. Jodi and Arden were leaving to go to a baby shower, so Isaac joined us outside. About 20 minutes after they left, I discovered that the fittings for the transmission cooler lines were larger on the new radiator. I didn't have anything I could use to adapt it or provide a temporary loop to get to the auto parts store as I was now without transportation. I called the parts store to see if they had anything and they looked and the little drawer that was suppose to have it was empty. He recommended that I try a hardward store. We have a hardware store with 2.5 miles round trip from home, so I called them. The gentleman on the phone assured me that they had some kind of adapter.

I went back outsire and started putting all of the tools away and getting Jordan and Isacc ready to walk the 2.5 miles to get the parts. took me about an hour to get it all put up. Jordan was getting Isaac from the truck cab and decided to move the box the radiator came in to a different location. After doing this, he came walking up to me with a smile on his face and said, "Hey Dad, what are these for?" He was holding a plastic bag with brass fittings in it. Sure enough, he had found the parts that I needed and had all along. 10 minutes later, the truck was running great, and warm.

This is a lot like what God does for us. He gives us everything we need. We just need to be diligent enoung to look for it and us it properly when we find it.

Rust or Blood?

Growing up in Clyde, KS, I had the opportunity to work for a couple of farmers. While working for Leonard Matson, I got to plow the wheat fields on a tractor without a cab. I remember hooking up the plow the first time and looking at each face of the plowshares. They were a deep rust color. (Ironic in that at the end of the season I had to cake them with grease.) After greasing up all of the fittings, I made the first pass and then checked the plow. I looked at the plowshares and noticed that they were shined up like mirrors. Amazing that just a little work had put a high polish on them.

Last year while at a home school conference, I ran across a book that had a quote by Martin Luther in it. I don't remember the exact quote, but it was something like don't let your Christianity rust, because the evil one will see this and know that he doesn't have any work to do in you.

When Christ was nailed to the cross, the nails and wood were red, not with rust, but with blood. He was not resting even up until his death. Praise God!!

Keep working in God and he'll make you shine at the end.