Moved 5 times in 9 months
16 April we moved into the house we are currently renting. The good news is it has two floors and all 5 bedrooms are upstairs. The bad news is it had no nothing… live wires were just hanging out of the wall where light fixtures used to be, no refrigerator, no washing machine, no dryer, no dishwasher, no nothing. We even had to replace the oven and our gas water heater… but we love it here and love having our clothes out of our suitcases
GOD
Our need for electrical and plumbing work allowed us to meet Rueben. He and his father have done most our work… did I mention we’re renting? Welcome to Portugal.
The Stove and the Flood
When the cook top and oven quit working we needed Rueben again to hook up the stove we just bought to our gas line. Rueben never responded. THX Miguel, for helping us out!
Saturday, 3 days later, I was up early to go for a run and came downstairs to “SPLASH” The entire bottom floor was flooded…what is it with us and floods?
“Rueben, it’s phil.”
“Fee-lip, desculpe, I sorry I didn’t call you. I been sick.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I been in the hospital.”
“The hospital!!! What’s wrong Rueben?”
“My heart.”
“Your HEART!!!!! Rueben, what’s wrong with your heart?”
“My veins are too thin. My heart goes too fast, then too slow…fee-lip, quarta-feira in the hospital my heart stopped… I thought I was going to die!”
“Oh Rueben, you need to call me.”
“I know, desculpe.”
“No Rueben, not for the work…for your heart! Rueben, I pray!” :::long silence::: “Rueben, did I just scare you?”
“YES!”
“Rueben, I don’t want you to be alone.”
avoids the emotion “Fee-lip, I can’t help you today, but tomorrow I can. Can you pick me up in the morning at the Sintra train station at 8?”
“Rueben, don’t worry about us. You rest.”
“No, I want to come.”
“OK, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 8.”
GOD
Our need allowed us to re-connect with Rueben. Do you realize that Wednesday, quarta-feira, was the day that I called him to help us with the gas hook-up!
When I picked him up at the train station, I didn’t recognize him…he had lost so much weight. He looked dangerously thin.
Rueben found our problem but had no explanation for WHAT caused the flood. Just then Laina came down stairs, took one look at Rueben and asked, “What happened?” When he finished telling her his story, I put my hand over his heart and began to pray. His eyes were huge, his body ridged, and his hands clenched. Then his body relaxed, his hands opened, and he closed his eyes and bowed his head. When I said, “Amen” he said, “That’s the first time anybody has ever prayed for me!” I said, “That’s not true. Rueben, Laina and I have been praying for you since we met you!” long silence “Did I just scare you again?” “No, thank you for praying for me!” But that wasn’t church!
“I can drive you home, but I have to go open the quinta and set it up. Then I can drop you off.” “OK.” When we arrived Laina had Rueben carry in some light stuff. Everybody started introducing themselves to Rueben. I welcomed everybody and did some announcements… we worshipped, I introduced Art our speaker and prayed for him.
We walked to our van and as soon as he got in he said, “That’s the first time I ever been to church. It was amazing… but that wasn’t church! I mean it was church but not like any church. I mean I never been to church but I know what church is and that wasn’t church… it was amazing!”
GOD
Art had even begun preaching yet Rueben could feel God’s presence! He heard us announce a worship night at our house on Wednesday and he said he wanted to come. He wanted to come early and help us set up. He said, “You start at 7.30 right?” “Yes.” long pause “Pick me up at 12.00!” Rueben was so excited, he couldn’t hardly wait to be with us again! We know it is really God who Rueben is drawn to!
As I was driving Rueben home he remembered that he had to go fix a washing machine. So I took him to the Mercês train station.
I was jumped and stabbed!
Rueben never showed up on Wednesday. He didn’t answer his mobile. He didn’t come to Grace the next Sunday. After that Grace service some of us drove to Madrid for a fundraising workshop and Laina and the kids drove home. We flooded again! This time our electric water heater broke and water was everywhere. Once again we called Rueben. He answered and caught the next train to Sintra.
When Laina picked him up he was all scraped up and bruised. Laina asked, “Reuben, what happened?”
“Remember when fee-lip dropped me off after church? Well, when I got off the train, I was jumped and stabbed! These 3 guys beat me up and robbed me…and one of them stabbed me right here!” (on the side under his rib cage)
satan
It sure feels like there’s quiet a battle going on over Rueben! And not only over Rueben but this whole Sintra area! And not only over Sintra but all over the world and in each of our lives, our marriages, our families, our work places, our schools, our cities, everywhere!
GOD
I know we win. I know we’ve already won. Jesus the Christ has won the victory!!!!!
But it is for us to to engage in our own battles, not in our own strength, but by the power of the name, Jesus the Christ!
When the circumstances in our lives get all messed may we not get all messed up. May we find the full measure of our worth in the cross of Christ. As we get ourselves off of our own hands and allow Him to reign in us and through us may He also reign in the lives of the captives that He allows us to set free! And all for His Glory that His name may be renown among the Nations!!!!!
Thank you for praying and partnering with us!
for the King and his Kingdom,
phil
