He Never Gives Up

On cold winter mornings my uncle Lloyd would pick me up from our farm and drive me into town, where I would work at my Grandfather’s Sinclair gas station. At age fifteen I would open the station and pump gas, repair tires, do oil changes, and handle minor repairs. Upon reflection I can see God’s hand in my life from those early beginnings.

One of my first real impressions of God was at Lake Ann Bible Camp near Traverse City, Michigan, when I was 11 years old. Over the years I have thought back to our camp experience, where we climbed the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  That was over 65 years ago. While living in Michigan in 2018, Trisha and I revisited and climbed the sand dunes once again. My life story is a story of God never giving up on me, even when I didn’t want anything to do with Him. In the next 16 years, including 4 years in the Air Force, I tried forgetting God.

Today my responsibility isn’t to convince others that God is real, it is to be convinced myself and live my life for the Lord in full view of my friends. When love spills out of your life for others, the Holy Spirit will do any convicting and convincing.

Though I battled through many years of doubting the reality of God, He was drawing me to Himself even then. I have fond memories of my Sinclair gas station days, and how God never gave up on me.

Near the end, when Jesus shared some hard sayings with His disciples, many decided to leave. Jesus turned to the twelve and asked, "Will you also leave me?"

Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God. John 6: 68-69.

~ Pastor Mike

Of the many valuable lessons my Uncle Lloyd taught me, fishing and the patience it requires is a value that I was able to apply to many areas in my life.