My Riding Mower

Season 2 Episode 27 - What spiritual lessons can a person learn from the breakdown of a cherished, decades-old riding mower?  Listen and find out!

Please consider supporting Manufacture Good, an amazing Christian ministry described in a recent bonus episode.  www.manufacturegood.org 

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, through applying my study of the Scriptures to life in practical and fulfilling ways.
 
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, and subscribe/follow it, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily.
 
Resources that inspired some episodes:

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
 Blog by Seth Lewis:  https://sethlewis.ie/

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  The sale of the high-quality furniture they produce, and donations from people who believe in their vision, support the ministry.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope" (podcast)
This is a 4-minute weekday podcast, where Joni shares stories of her life and biblical applications.  One of the world's longest living quadriplegics, God has used her courage, determination, faithfulness, and love to inspire and minister in amazing ways to people around the world.    
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free public domain resources (and many other resources for purchase), including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, devotionals, and maps.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

You may recall from previous episodes the lessons that God taught me through my problems with my broken car (giving thanks in and for everything).  Well, about 4 years later, God reminded me of another important spiritual principle from another broken possession:  my riding mower.

I loved that riding mower, for a variety of reasons.  My dear father-in-law so generously gave it to us, so I would often think of him when I used it.  Our entire family benefited from using it at one time or another.  It has faithfully served us for several decades.  But one day, I could not get it to start, even after performing the typical maintenance on it.  So, I took it to the experts at the local lawnmower repair shop.  They diagnosed the problem as a bad ignition coil.  But there was one more problem:  none of their parts distributors had a replacement part in stock, and Honda had discontinued the part.

I told them that I would search for the part, and they gave me the part number.  I did a Google search for the part, and found several domestic companies that listed it.  But one by one, as I contacted them, they said that in fact they had no stock, and no way to get any.  I then began to contact Canadian and European companies, but the same result.  

“God, I sense that You don’t want me to give up.  So, I am going to continue searching.”

As I went through page 2 and then page 3 of the Google search results, I came upon a motorcycle parts store in New Zealand that had a listing for the part.  I exchanged emails with the owner, and he confirmed that he had one part in stock.  I ordered it, paying with PayPal.  In several weeks, it arrived.  I took the part to the mechanic at the repair shop, he installed it, and the mower began working again!  God had led me to what I believe was the very last ignition coil for our mower in the entire world!  And it was on the opposite side of the globe from us!  (Yes, you heard that correctly:  a motorcycle parts store in New Zealand!  Who knew that Honda motorcycles and riding mowers used the same ignition coil decades ago?)

God reminded me recently of a spiritual principle illustrated by that experience:  perseverance.  Perseverance is not giving up. It is persistence and tenacity, the effort required to do something and keep doing it till the end, even if it's hard.  God desires us to demonstrate perseverance, and gives us many illustrations of perseverance in Scripture.

Perseverance in prayer:

• The parable of the persistent widow:
   
  • Luke 18:1-5 CSB  Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.  (2)  “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people.  (3)  And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’  (4)  “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people,  (5)  yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’”  
• 
  

Perseverance in faith:

• Jeremiah was blessed by God and tasked with preaching God’s word to his people. He is an example of perseverance by continually preaching and teaching God’s word, despite all that was done to him.  His faithfulness to share God’s revelations to an unfaithful nation is a great example of persevering in preaching, teaching, and sharing the Gospel.  (See the book of Jeremiah)

The apostle Paul is a great example of perseverance.  He endured the following, as he persevered for Christ:

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 NASB  Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  (25)  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  (26)  I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;  (27)  I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  (28)  Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Yet, despite these afflictions for the Gospel, this was his amazing attitude (described beautifully in the Amplified Bible):

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 AMP  But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!  (10)  So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

The ultimate example of perseverance in the Bible is Jesus.  He persevered through agony on the cross, gave His sinless life for a sinner like me, and offered the most perfect example of endurance as He finished the race of life perfectly.  (See the 4 gospels)

O God, how kind You were to me to guide me to the very last part of its kind in the world!  And through that experience, You reminded me of (and challenged me with) the importance of persevering in prayer and faith, even more than I persevered in my search for that part.

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”