Every Opportunity

When I received the friend request, I knew the name sounded familiar. I repeated the name several times, and it dawned on me. The young lady had been a member of a teen Bible study I had co-taught several years earlier. It was so good to reconnect and find out that she was doing well. Now in high school, she continues to grow in Christ through an outreach on campus.

Knowing that I have the opportunity to impact lives for Jesus Christ is truly humbling. Beginning in my own family, each day offers me the chance to teach the principles of God's Word from ordinary experiences. The words of Moses reiterate this fact, "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up," (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; KJV). Basically, it should be natural to speak of the Lord and His ways. And to speak of Him often. Every time an occasion presents itself, whether to family or a new acquaintance.

Life is full of difficulties. From sibling rivalries to unfair treatment, what better time to introduce the caring, compassionate Savior, who invites us into His presence? "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," (Hebrews 4:16). No matter what the difficulty, He wants us to leave our burden with Him, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you," (1 Peter 5:7). As prayers are lifted, and answers are received, faith in a mighty God begins to grow.

Good times can also present challenges. There is a delicate balance between enjoying a victory, and becoming prideful in its wake. Being reminded of the One who gave the victory goes a long way in cultivating the right attitude. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights..." (James 1:17a). Reviewing God's many blessings keeps us focused on His goodness, "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever," (Psalm 107:1).

Numerous opportunities to share Christ's principles present themselves every day. I only need to keep my eyes open for the teachable moments. Each day we get the chance to make a mark on those who are in the sphere of our influence. Are we diligently teaching the ways of the Master? Pointing others to the Truth?

As you consider those on whom you have an impact, pray that the Lord would equip you to make much of Him! May we have the excitement of Peter and John, who boldly proclaimed, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard," (Acts 4:20).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunities You give me to influence others for You. Equip me with the ability to share Your principles naturally with those You bring across my path. Help me to keep my eyes open for teachable moments, and communicate Your ways so others may grow in their faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

  

*A re-post from 10/2010

*I'm hosting over at Living by Grace today. Come join in the discussion!

While I'm Waiting

We waited in traffic. And as we eased our way into the restaurant parking lot, we realized we would have to wait awhile longer before we'd be seated. The lobby was crowded to capacity. With pager in hand, we retreated to a small space meant to corral highchairs. The four by eight foot area was plenty big enough and gave us a bit of breathing room away from the crowd. A healthy 45-minute wait stood between us and dinner.

Waiters and waitresses passed by, trays laden with mouth-watering appetizers, entrees and desserts. Baskets of biscuits and fresh salads tantalized us as we settled down to wait. One compassionate waiter praised us for choosing such a clever spot, and offered to bring us some water while we continued to monitor our pager. What a guy! The water was a welcome distraction for our rumbling stomachs.

Finally, the pager lit up and began vibrating. Our table was ready! We stepped out of our waiting area and wove our way through the throng of people. A hostess seated us at a cozy table for two. It was our turn to enjoy a delicious meal. A much-anticipated dinner finally became a reality. And the wait made it memorable!

Life is full of waiting. I remember anxiously awaiting my graduation from high school, only to realize that I had four more years of college to get through. With college diploma in hand, I eagerly waited for the perfect job offer. Then I could hardly wait to get married. And nine months gave us lots of time to wait before our baby girl was born.

It's important to look forward to the future, but just as important to savor each moment. Moses, the servant of God, put it this way, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom," (Psalm 90:12; KJV). Realize each day is a gift from God. In the midst of anticipating my future, I need to be mindful that, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it," (Psalm 118:24). Each day brings fresh opportunities to serve others and point them to a loving God. I think about the waiter who so graciously offered to bring us water. He was busy waiting on other guests, yet he noticed us and took the time to serve us, making our time more enjoyable.

Waiting. Something I'm not good at. But necessary to help me develop patience and a servant-attitude. David, a man after God's own heart, penned these encouraging words, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," (Psalm 27:14). Today, I choose to serve my Savior by using times of waiting as opportunities to reach out to others who need to know Him!

Are you faced with a time of waiting? Do you see the value in it? Will you choose to enjoy each day, knowing that God desires to use you to reach others?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for times of waiting in my life. Forgive me when I rush through life, not fully appreciating each moment You give me. Thank You for the opportunity to serve You! Help my eyes to be open to those You'd have me serve while I'm waiting. In Jesus' name, Amen.