New Opportunities

"Painful lessons are usually doorways to new opportunities." * Last night we went to a party given to some friends of ours. We were there celebrating with them what God is doing in their lives. They are going to become house parents in Amarillo at the boys ranch there. I have been thinking a lot about what has been going on in their lives and using it to look at my own life. He was a property developer here, and had a very good dream on developing some land that would have allowed them to be set for life. But that was not what God was calling them to do. It is evident now that the pain that they felt when the dream was crushed, was not pain for bad, but pain leading to something even better.

As I have been reading 1 Timothy, I have been looking at it differently. My eyes for the first time have been opened to the writer and not just the one he was writing to. Paul is instructing his younger brother, whom he loves as a son, on how to live a life worthy of God's calling. My friends are being called by God to go and help these young boys. They have already been doing it by running a lunch for the boys here, every Wednesday, teaching and guiding the boys here. God has been training my friends for something even bigger. He took all their financial resources away, through the recent economic downfall, and placed them in training for becoming house parents to many boys.

Genesis 15:5, "Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, 'Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!' And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith." Just like Abraham and Sarah, they thought they would never have any children, but instead they became the parents of a nation. My friends also will become the parents of many. Through their faith in God, by taking the next step that God is calling them to take, my friends are going to impact the lives of thousands. What they thought was an economic disaster has turned into the chance of a life time, all because they are willing to listen to God's calling. They took the first step with the lunch. Now they are taking the next step with their lives. What a blessing. What a challenge to me to live the life that He is calling me to live. What an example they are for all of us to live a life we could never dreamed, if we would only listen to the call of God upon our life. It always starts small. Do you want to do the little thing, so that you can reach even more through the enormous things of God?

Oswald Chambers, "If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there. '...the Lord led me...' and on looking back we see the presence of an amazing design. If we are born of God we will see His guiding hand and give Him the credit. We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God’s appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere." Are you allowing God to lead you? Are you taking the next step in faith? They are never steps that you see coming. They are steps that only God can see where you are going. If we will be willing to let go of our dreams and allow God to guide us, our lives will never be waisted.

I want to say thank you to my friends. Thank you for allowing me to see how you have trusted in your God and to see the amazing blessing He is bringing into your lives. You are truly blessed!! "Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, 'Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!' And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith." I want to say THANK YOU. We will see you soon :o)

http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/11/14/devotion.aspx?year=2009

(*Bible Commentary)