Pictured: Steve with Warwick Grace and father Ced Grace hard at work doing what blokes do well... hard yakka!!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
One of the highlights of the year so far has been building a wall with my Dad and brother. I realised a few years ago there was enough room down the side of our house for a lane that would give access to the entire back yard area. So with the help of my talented landscaper brother Warwick and our Dad we set out to construct a retaining wall. We worked hard and within three days in the humidity and heat had a brilliant timber and steel wall built. But what impressed me most was the stamina and determination of my father who celebrates his 83rd birthday in a weeks time. Dad never stopped, only took a break when we did in the heat of the day.
He reminded me of that faithful old soldier Caleb who had served Moses and Joshua for 45 years. Caleb was one of the original scouts who went into the land of Canaan to spy out the land God had promised to the people of Israel. He was an old man and yet still 'keen as mustard' to serve. When offered if he wanted to slow down and retire here was his response..
Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. Joshua 14:10-12
I am inspired by such stories in God’s word. Let us continue to be about the good work we’ve been called to do. It’s inevitable that we all grow old but its our choice as to whether we give up and stop fighting for what we have been promised. God is faithful to His word and true to the hope we have within us, the hope of glory because of what Christ has done for us at the Cross.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Keep working with the joy of the Lord.
Keep taking on the mountains before you!!
Godspeed,
Steve
