Tom Randall - Daily Adventures with God

Tom Randall is currently in a prison in the Philippines. Tom has been involved in our church for years and what is truly amazing about Tom is his stories. His stories of how God has been faithful in every circumstance of life. The story of Tom's current situation can be found best summarized in Pastor Joe Coffey's blog or at a Facebook page dedicated to his situation. I won't take the time here to summarize it further as I don't have firsthand information.

My point is that Tom is an example of a man who is always ready to be used by God in any and every situation daily, even hourly. At first, Tom's incarceration sounded desperate. Tom has health issues and he was also in danger sharing a cell with 45 other prisoners, some of whom may take issue with Tom's faith and his readiness to share the gospel. And no doubt, Tom is ready and willing to give his life for the sake of the gospel. In the service last night as Pastor Joe shared the story, he relayed that a reporter asked him if this incident would shake Tom's faith. Joe's answer was unequivocally no. In fact, it would serve to reaffirm and even strengthen Tom's faith. Why? Because God is a faithful god. Moment by moment, hour by hour, God works within those who stand "in the ready".

I remember my high school coach explaining to me that even though I was not in the starting lineup, I needed to be always ready to go into the game. You never know when I might be called to come in. That is my sense of how Tom Randall is. He never held on tight to the things of this world, but always stood ready to be used of God. Tom has already made such an impact in that prison cell (he has already led 7 to know Jesus) that he has now asked for prayer that he be freed, but maybe not yet. What will happen tomorrow or the next day or the day after that? What will God do? I am reminded of Psalm 5 - "I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch".  We are eagerly watching what God will do in the Philippines through Tom and this situation.

I find myself as I grow in the Christian faith that my sense of adventure with God heightens. I don't know what He is going to do today. As I spend my time in devotional in the morning, my prayer is always for God to show himself in the events of the day as I eagerly watch. I need to view each day with a sense of adventure. What and how will God show me and lead me? I need to have a Tom Randall perspective.