Author: steve.vesely

Well, when I thought that I certainly had a plan for serving, it completely changed days before.  I was going to assist at a local nursing facility with whatever their needs were and even if it was just to sit and visit with the residents.  Instead, my own dad and stepmom had urgent home repair needs, and so did my mother and father-in-law, and so did my oldest son and his new bride.

Just a couple of weeks ago my son and his wife had just moved in to their new house.  They were there less than a month when a thief kicked in their front door during the day when they were at work.  They stole many important documents as well as electronics and personal items.  Now my kids felt very unsafe in the very house in which they are to build their new life together.  God has blessed me with construction and painting abilities from days of my youth.  So, i was able to replace the front door jamb with an ultra-secure door armor, and then repaint inside and outside in a way that totally hid all reminders of what terrible event took place.  Glory to God!

My in-laws have been in their home for 25 years and had smoke damage to paint and wallpaper from a wood burning stove through the years.  Once again I was able to strip paper, texture walls and paint so that they could once again enjoy the very home they host so many events in for the family.  Glory to God!

But perhaps the greatest gift during my time on sabbatical, has been the ability to “serve” my own dad with plumbing crisis, fence repairs, electrical issues, and any other thing that i could assist with that could let me have more time with him.  Here’s a little to the back story……..We had been estranged for almost 10 years until a couple of years ago.   I was once the middle child of three boys.  My oldest brother, John Jr. died in a car accident in 1981.  My youngest brother David, died after a 12 year battle with cancer in 2003.  My dad, who is not a Christian, has lost two children and has no hope of seeing them again (even though they were both believers).  He feels that when someone dies the lights just go out and it ends.  I tried to “preach” to him so much at the passing of my second brother in 2003 that he felt I was judging him and that angered him.  I was insensitive and not allowing for parental grief either.  I completely botched any evangelistic attempt to reach my dad with unwise words and fueled also by my own grief.  What he really needed was just to be loved on and reassured.  I failed in every possible way.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago when he received one of those scam calls that sounds like a grandchild calling his grandparents saying they are in jail and need $3,000 to get out.  This rattled my dad and forced him to call me after almost a decade to make sure that my son was OK.  We began talking again and most of our dialog has been pretty superficial.  But this month was a time for me to call him every day, see him 3-4 times per week and to just serve and honor my dad the way I should.   We have had some pretty deep conversations (still not about salvation though) and very nostalgic moments of watching home videos, looking at photo albums and him sharing his childhood memories of growing up in south Texas.  We have really deepened our relationship again and the greatest thing is, he is accepting of my love.  He also realized that it was easier for him to shut me out for fear of losing a 3rd son, rather than ever risk having to suffer that loss again.  I have received the second chance to “get it right.”  I will go forward just loving unconditionally with no agenda and leave the rest to God.

For this, Glory to God!   And a big thank you to FDLIC for creating this opportunity.

So many times during my work week, when tasks start or already have piled up, house projects call, the unexpected phone calls come, etc. it seems that time alone with God is the thing that suffers most.  This is the worst possible “sacrifice” of all for me!  When prayer life is strong and regular, my focus on all things is better.  My faith in God in all things is more secure and natural, hearing His voice comes easier.

This month on the “You Version” Bible app, I have been going through a 30 day devotional titled “Prayer, A Holy Occupation” by Oswald Chambers (usually an author way over my head) as part of my renewal.  God has also reminded me through this that He is the Lord of numbers as well since I received the most powerful teachings during day 4, 8 and 12. (I think God loves to throw those types of things in to see if we pay attention)

Recap:

Day 4 – “So many of us limit our praying because we are not reckless in our confidence in God. In the eyes of those who do not know God, it is madness to trust Him, but when we pray in the Holy Spirit we begin to realize the resources of God, that He is our perfect heavenly Father and we are His Children.    Reflection:  What should “reckless belief” cause me to do today?

Day 8 – “It is at first difficult to learn a new and better way of breathing, consequently we are conscious of it for a time, but it is merely consciousness of what will by habit become an unconscious act.  So in the better and new way of breathing spiritually in prayer, we shall be conscious of forming the habit, but it will soon pass into normal spiritual health”  Reflection:  Is prayer as natural to me as breathing? How can I make it less of a conscious act and more of a natural response to God in my life?

Day 12 – “Prayer is not to be used as the privilege of a spoiled child seeking ideal conditions in which to indulge spiritual habits without constraint.  Prayer is the vita breath of Christians; not the thing that makes us alive, but the evidence we are alive.”   Reflection:   Do I pray so that I will be spiritually fit, or do I throw spiritual fits when I pray?

First of All, I was completely humbled at the possibility of a sabbatical, and then the process! To think that so many saints are lifting you up in prayer while on sabbatical! Amazing!

I had a private send-off and prayer from Ray Thompson, thank you Ray! His prayer was powerful and humbling and really set the tone for my start. He prayed that Jesus would become greater and that Steve would become less. That is my heart’s desire as a Christian…………now live up to it Steve and get out of God’s way!

So, God has told me to just serve. Serve like crazy for the next 30 days. Serve my wife, serve my family, serve my church, serve my community. 1) My wife, we sat down and made a wish list of things she would like done around the house. Her list, not mine. 2) my family, my parents need a portion of their fence replaced. What man doesn’t love to swing a hammer! 3) my church, we have some needs at my local church campus and I will be able to help out with those where i usually cannot. 4) my community, the day before sabbatical start I met with a couple who does ministry at local retirement homes. They visit with residents and help the staff with any tasks or chores needed. They mentioned that more men are needed as most of the male residents do no open up to female guests. What an amazing thing to be able to show this generation they are valued, not forgotten, and serve them with whatever need they may have. OK,, who is really getting blessed here?

Finally, thanks to the Armor of God coin (Ephesians 6) I was given by Funeral Directors Life entering into sabbatical, it is a tangible reminder to “put on the WHOLE armor of God.” I am focusing on a different part of this verse every few days. This week was the Helmet of Salvation. What a great opportunity to renew my walk with Jesus, focus on the fact that salvation is secured not by anything I can do, but what Jesus has already done! Thank you Lord and guard my mind against the enemy trying to weaken that assurance.

Thank you again to my awesome company and extraordinary leadership for allowing yourselves to be counter-cultural and having sabbaticals! Can’t wait until my next post.