Have you ever wondered “What in the world was I thinking?” I imagine that we all have from time to time. If we looked back over our lives, we can now see decisions that changed the course of our lives and the lives of those that we love. To quote Paul Harvey, we now know “the rest of the story” or do we? We have all heard the age old adage – “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But – then again, “Every dog does have his day!” Right? Maybe our “day” is ahead of us, if we have the courage to step outside our comfort zone. Why are we so scared? I love this quote by Charles West Churchman, who said, “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.”
Have you been “all shook up” lately? Perhaps we’ve come to this crossroad in life like Esther – “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). It may be that it’s time for us to “speak up, show up, and get to work” like Nehemiah, when he led the people to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem. Maybe we need to “hit our knees in prayer,” like Daniel did on a regular basis (Daniel 6:10), for we know that heaven is only a prayer away, as fast as an angel can fly (Daniel 9:21). We might even be betrayed by those near and dear to our heart, like Joseph, and come to realize that “ye (his brothers) thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20a). We may not know the why – at least not in this life.
But, what are you “famous” for? No matter how much good Thomas may have done, he is forever remembered as the apostle who didn’t show up when the other apostles gathered on Sunday evening and missed that opportunity to see the risen Savior. He doubted. That’s definitely his “claim to fame.” Did you know the Barnabas’ real name was Joseph? He was called Barnabas by the the apostles because it meant “Son of Exhortation” or “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). How amazing he must have been to be such an encourager that people changed his name? What would you be called? Are you known as a “hard worker?” A complainer? One “talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk?”
Friends, I truly believe things happen for a reason. It is “providence,” or perhaps it’s better said, “God’s provide-ence” that opens up opportunities for us for “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Simply blessed, Courtney