Today I've been fixing taps, I am staying at some friends' old beach house near my home, and the drip, drip, drip . . .A month ago I found myself fixing taps in Andhra Pradesh, in India.
Last week Trish asked me to finish the repairs on one of our taps at home, it worked well enough, but we knew it would fail one day.
Doesn't our Lord work in amazing and unique ways so we can help one another?
On this trip I brought tools so I could fix some of the problems here, to make the place more comfortable and to help preserve it.
Four taps dripped. Not only is this madly annoying when it you can hear it, but much water will have been lost in the weeks when no-one was here.
So I fixed the taps. One of them was too hard for the tools I brought; it was old fashioned and had corroded. The local hardware store had nothing even similar to replace it, so the store owner said, "if you can manage without it tonight, I'll take it home, use my vice and gas torch, and fit the new washer for you". He gave me a bung to seal off that pipe so I'll have use of the other taps. What a sweet heart that man has!
Today I have spent time with Jesus and my Abba Dad, I've worked on the writing that I'm here to do, and in between times have been a tap fixer and handyman. A very good day.
But the very best bit is this: a month ago I was in India for two weeks. Our church supports an orphanage and many pastors there. This was life changing for me. We taught, we fellowshipped, we encouraged, we played with the children. We also ministered, mostly to Hindus who really seem to accept that Jesus is a God who has great power, compassion, and love, a God who brings healing, deliverance and hope.
While we were in India we stayed at Raja's and Ebba's house. I noticed that some of their taps barely worked. I asked Ebba, "Does Raja not fix your taps for you? Does he not have tools?" Ebba showed me their few tools, clearly Raja is not a handyman. Raja works very hard, he manages, he plans, he pastors, he teaches, he prays, he mentors; besides all this he rises at four o'clock every morning to cook for 40 or more orphan children and for his family. He loves without ceasing. He is a husband to Ebba and father to many.
So I delighted to fix taps. A couple of the guys on our team helped and we fixed five and the washing machine connection! This was so very satisfying. Were we there to minister? Yes.
Today I have been praying and working. All day Raja, Ebba, the 40 orphan children, and the many pastors, have been welling up in my heart. Thank you Jesus. Ministry is about people, it is not just corporate worship, preaching and prayer lines! People, service, meeting needs, compassion, love. This seemingly small thing was intensely personal. It was love in action.
Favourite Scriptures:
(Colossians 3:14) . . and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
(Philippians 2:4) each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Hallelujah.
Permalink To This Post https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2011/04/taps.html
Bless us all. Amen.
