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Have you spent your lifetime waiting for the right time? The right time to do this, the right time to do that?

In my perpetual calendar is the reading from Genesis 21:6-7 where Sarah declares she has given Abraham a son in his old age. He was 100 years old and the note on the calendar reminds the reader that he still had his most important and productive years ahead of him.

Don’t spend a lifetime waiting for the right time to follow through on something, or even to start on what God has told you is your life’s plan. This might be an inbuilt desire that has been growing over time, or a passion you’ve held within but haven’t shared or told anyone about. Unless God has told you to wait, then step out and get started. Even if you don’t know how or where. In doing the research, the planning, asking questions, seeking help, God will surround you with the right people and the right circumstances, but you can’t get started until you take that first step. Cover each step and planning in prayer and communion with God, but make that move and get started. If you don’t, you may miss your calling and God may place it upon someone else to get it happening. After all, whatever we do, does not affect only us, but many others too.

And, in all that doing, or waiting, don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re too young or too old. As long as you’re breathing, God can use you! KMT

lifetime, life’s plan, productive, Genesis 21:6-7

On my desk I have a perpetual calendar and a couple of days ago, it had the following verse:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Psalm 1:1 NIV

It had a small explanation and I remembered our Pastor had spoken about this late last year. This is about who you choose to keep company with and who you take notice of, perhaps even taken advice from. It could even mean issues of ethics.

Someone I know some years ago was working with a stockbroking firm but some of the practices carried out in that office made this person feel uncomfortable. He decided that the practices didn’t align with his beliefs or ethics and he left the company, even though he didn’t have another job to go to. But God was good to him and placed him in a better role, using the skills he’d learnt in the former one.

In the business world it is so important that we hold firm to what we believe in and maintain a set of ethics that are right for us, as followers of Christ. There have been odd occsasions when I’ve had to tell a client ‘no, I won’t do that’ to something that didn’t appear to be ethically wrong to the person asking, but definitely felt that way to me. It’s important that we can look at something we’re doing and knowing that Jesus is there beside us, we don’t feel uncomfortable about it. That means what we say, what we think, what we do, who we mix with and do things with.

Jesus did minister to those who needed him the most – the sinners – but he did not participate in their practices or way of life and it’s important that we do the same. Not only for our own sakes, but also for those who may be watching us from a distance – we may be a witness to them without even knowing it.

Happy New Year to all my readers! I’m excited about 2007 – last year was a challenging one for me and some things that have been happening in my life for some years built up to a crescendo and resulting challenges last year. But I do believe those things are now behind me and that this year is a new beginning for a new chapter.

The Pastor at our church received a Word from God at the end of 2006 and he was told that this year would be a Year of Green Lights – that many in our church would find that this is the year that God will clear obstacles and move them forward on the path He has directed for them. I’m claiming that Word to include me!

But what about you? One thing mentioned is that often we seem to experience the same lessons over and over again. Have you been there? I have, and what it tends to mean is that we’re stuck on a roundabout, revisiting the same places, situations, challenges and struggles over and over again. But it’s time to get off the roundabout and head on up the highway to the destination that God has planned for us.

Do you know your path? Would you recognise it when you see it as you move round the roundabout? I hope so, but if not, then seek God for clear signs to let you know when you need to get off. Search yourself to see if the lessons you’ve been learning are now fully learnt and you’re ready to move on. How many times have you gone through that same thing? Ask God to help you get off the roundabout and move on with life and His plans for you. And enjoy the journey! God does want us to be content with our lives but He also wants us to feel motivated to move to the next step on our journey with Him.

You just never know who you’re going to meet!

This evening I had a lady turn up at my doorstep. She was wanting a resume typed. I felt annoyed – I had no idea who she was and her English wasn’t very clear. She explained that someone called Claire had given her my address and told her I’d do the resume for her – and all for $5.00! I felt even more annoyed. I didn’t know who Claire was and couldn’t remember her but telling this lady she could just rock up at my doorstep, unannounced and then giving a rate that was totally inaccurate certainly didn’t endear her to me.

I explained to the lady that normally people ring for an appointment and that what she was asking for meant I needed to retype her whole resume and then add the extras – I couldn’t just add the paper to the printer and fit in what she wanted. I gave her the price and asked her when she needed it. 10am tomorrow morning she has an interview in the city so that means she needs to get here early to pick it up. Great! That means I have to do the job tonight. I guess she could tell I wasn’t overly happy and was apologetic. I calmed down and told her it wasn’t her fault – she’d been given incorrect information. I told her I’d get the job done tonight and she needs to be back here at 8am to pick the work up. I gave her my business card and ushered her towards the front door.

She turned over my card and on the back, under the list of services, is a fish symbol. She stopped in her tracks, her face lit up and she announced ‘you’re born again!’ Her face was just one big massive smile. Turns out she’s a Christian, working in an hospital environment and not able to get to the one church on a regular basis. But she’s loved Jesus for the past 14 years. She asked about my church, where it was, how often it met.

Tomorrow morning when she comes back, I’ll give her one of our card invites to our Carols presentation the week after next.

I felt guilty after she left – I shouldn’t have responded the way I did initially but I did feel rather put out. I don’t mind the work – I just like to know someone is coming to my home as I don’t freely give out my address. And yet, God was using this opportunity to help connect this woman to a home (church) of believers – as I believe that’s what was actually occuring. I’m sure I’ll see her at my church very soon. Very Happy.  KMT

I read an article by Os Hillman recently called ‘A tool for miracles’ and he quoted the following verse:

With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. – Judges 6:21