Missed Opportunities!

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus…” Acts 20:24 (NLT)

So I have had a few things happen to me lately that have made me think about how often I might be passing up opportunities to be used by God! There was one instance where a single mom was living across the street from us. I introduced myself to her once but never really anything beyond that! I am a busy momma of three active boys and we are constantly on the move, so there is really not much time for me to go and mingle with the neighbors! Then she moved away and it hit me, I never made an effort to get to know her or to even help her out. I don't know her story, but it was just too much for me to step out of my box and out of my hectic routine to do anything about it! So we were at Church the other day and I saw her in the hall way. I knew immediately that I needed to say something, but didn't. A few weeks passed and I finally did it. I grabbed her and apologized to her for not being a good neighbor and for not taking the time to care or help her. She started balling and told me her story.

She is a new believer and had to get rid of all her friends because they are all bad influences on her. She quit her job because it was a very negative environment. Then she told me that her mom died 6 years ago and she no longer speaks to her dad. She has NOONE! She told me that it has been so hard to not have anyone in her life that is encouraging. From that moment on I realized I could have missed an opportunity to be used by God! I almost missed this one!

How many times have I done this because something might be inconvenient for me. So I look at things and people differently! I look at them as having a story and for being an opportunity to be used by God! And that is the kind of person I want to be! To be used for His glory to bring others to Him!! I want my life to count for something I want to be used by God, I don't just want to sit on the sidelines and watch this life pass by, I want to do great things for God and help other people. We are not here to be comfortable, to live the normal life, to stay inside our little comfort bubble, no we are here to be used by God to do mighty things.

At our church we have been studying Nehemiah and how he changed his world in 52 days. How did he do it, he did it by being in constant prayer. He even stopped in the middle of a conversation with the King to take time and pray to his King of Kings! Nehemiah was determined, he was not going to give up, and his focus never shifted. Our pastor has been challenging us to see where God might lead us to change this world, further His kingdom, and to just basically be everything that He has called us to be, servants, disciples, givers. I have many things that break my heart and that I would like to change, but I still don't know exactly where He is leading me. I have a heart for the children in Oklahoma in DHS care, I have a heart for the orphans, it breaks my heart to see the homeless, I just don't know where he is leading me, but I am praying that He would lead me and guide me so that my family can be a family that is not just letting life pass by, but is being used by God in mighty ways! I want my boys to be passionate about helping others to further God's kingdom! So I will wait and see where God leads us and pray that I am willing to do what He has called me to do!