Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
As many who follow may know, I have had the privilege to know the Lord for over 40 years. During those decades, He has proved Himself to be a faithful, kind and loving Savior. And as I have learned to lean on Jesus, He has shown Himself to be a merciful Savior, never wavering, even in some very dark times.
This topical series will try to provide a snapshot of an ol’ fools prayers, the weakness and selfishness of his prayers, and the ever increasing goodness of God in His responses the those prayers.
I hope my witness to the goodness and faithfulness of God will be an encouragement to those reading, and will spur us all on to a deeper, more consistent time of being in the Lord’s presence.
Please visit with me as I tell the story of a faithful God and His care for an ol’ fool. Though David considered himself a poor man, I freely admit, I am just an “ol’ fool” looking to the Lord.
A Guidance Counsellor
My wife and I, along with our children had promised two years of voluntary service at the church in Rouyn Noranda, working amongst the french, learning the language, teaching on Sundays and trying to evangelise on Tuesday nights. But our time with the church was coming to a close, and my wife and I decided it best to venture off into the secular world, taking some training to land a better employment situation for the breadwinner. After all, our boys were beginning to eat eat eat. (See my post Prayers of an ol’ fool – Convictions for a few additional details if interested)
The nearest school to provide training was Northern College, and my hour long trip to visit with the guidance counsellor was unanounced and somewhat spontaneous. I needed a vehicle to get there and was able to borrow one at the last minute!
Nevertheless, as we prayed for guidance in our next step of life, little did we know some of the orchestration going on behind the curtains.
But first, I need to remind those who have followed for awhile that I have 80% of an Architectural Diploma, having left the program years earlier due to a sudden drop in bad habits like drinking and drugs. I had just become a believer, and the alcohol and drugs had no hold on me, and therefore the Architectural program became less appealing to me.
But we prayed, and off I went to Northern College to visit with the guidance counsellor. Parking the car, I mossied up to the front of the school and entered the guidance office, just as a super friendly guidance counsellor was coming out of his office.
His name was Don Dekker, and a friendlier guidance counsellor I have never met. We chatted as we walked down the hallway, discussing my past schooling, my current affairs and situation, and eventually ended up in the Civil Department of the College. Seemed funny, but he invited me into a little office across the hallway from a General Civil classroom.
We must have chatted for an hour, and I was feeling pretty good about this situation, when all of a sudden he suggested I register for the civil program.
“What about other programs Don?”
“On no, you are suited for Civil Carl.”
It somehow felt right, and my architiectural credits would provide me an advantage in getting through the course. I signed up, got my funding in order, and started in September.
Funny thing though, for the first class I entered on my first day, there was Don, with chalk in hand, talking to the class. It turns out Don was no guidance counsellor. No – he was the Dean of Civil, and that man did everything he could to help me though a three year course in under two years.
He took me on civil investigation work that he did on the side, and knowing our financial plight, (and the fact my boys ate ate ate), shoved the pay to me in an envelope. At graduation, he encouraged me to consider furthering my studies and becoming a professional engineer, which I eventually did 6 years later.
Don Dekker was a man the Lord used to provide direction, provision and encouragement to a fellow that was in the midst of a substantial life change. He is a good man, and if for some reason Don trips over this post, let it be known he was instrumental in providing a tremendous blessing to this family.
Thank you Don, and thank you Lord for guiding me to a great guidance counsellor!
Thanks for joining and Considering The Bible with me. Your thoughts are always welcome, and I look forward to hearing of the faithfulness of God in your lives.
Considering the Bible 