Nothing to lose
I was listening to Radio 4 this morning. (I hope you are impressed!!) John Humphries (I think) was interviewing a former British ambassador to Iraq about what his assessment was of the US General's report on the progress troops are making there.
He was asked amongst many other things what he thought President Bush would do in response. He honestly said he didn't know but he made a very interesting comment about what a president can do his final year of office. He can say "I've only got a year left. I just have to be satisfied with what I have achieved and there is not much I can do about what I haven't." Alternatively he can say, "I might as well go all out and take as many risks and push as hard as I can to deal with issues because I have nothing to lose."
We knew a DC who took the second attitude and it meant that a lot of people were empowered to take up new challenges with on going results that continue to bless now he has moved into service in retirement.
My challenge is that I've got, if I retired at 60, 13 years of SA officership left. If I stay on till 65 which provided I'm not too decrepit by then I would want to do I would have 18 years. I don't want to wait until I've got a year left to take risks orand I don't want to avoid issues because it might affect my popularity or my comfort before that time.
I think I'll just go for it now!
God bless
Carol
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About Me
- rehoboth
- The most exciting thing in the world is to be a child of God. I discovered this when I was a very young child and continue to enjoy the great adventure of knowing Jesus Christ. Right now, together with my husband Alan I am serving him as a Salvation Army officer at Exeter Temple Corps UK. I am passionate about prayer, for reaching out into new areas of mission, holiness and helping people to be free in Christ. Alan and I have been married for 33 years and we have two daughters, Katie who is married to Chris and Hayley who is married to Ben.
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6 comments:
ouch! I'm 57 this year and although I am now ready to do all sorts of things for the Lord, I am in so much pain, have diabetis, and just feel totally exhausted all the time, my body wont comply.
I just wish I had known what I know now when I was fit and healthy.
I keep praying that I will be healed and rise up on fire for Him, to make up for all the time I am wasting now.
I keep hearing on the God channel that we should be obeying the Lord and get out there and preach the gospel to all the world.It makes me feel so guilty.
I wish I had done that before instead of putting off, now I wonder if I will ever get the chance
I hope this isn't my last year.
Esther,
God doesn't ask us all to do the same things to extend his kingdom.
Obedience to God for you is obedience to what he has called you to do. The Lord is delighted with your readiness to serve him.
He asks us to make the most of the opportunities we have, not those we don't. You may feel that your opportunities are limited at the moment but that is OK. Many of God's people have been in a similar position. Paul for example had to stop being a travelling pastor when he became a prisoner. He just found a different way, through his pastoral letters that wasn't "out there " but just as effective for God. Be faithful in what you can do and leave the rest up to God. Look what Jesus did with what seemed like a limited contribution of a small boys lunch.
Making the most of the opportunity you have may be to be a prayer warrior or to be a special witness to others of the grace that is sufficient even through pain. God can use even your weakness for his glory.
Don't pile false guilt upon yourself and think you are failing because you are not doing what others are at this time are able to do.
God bless you
Carol
I suppose what ever of those views you take there is good an bad that will come. I think of our last year at Pill and can think of great things that came out of it that you've inherited and I can think of negative things that came out of it (which you've also inherited..sorry!!)
I suppose thats where faith and risk stand side by side and we do what we hope is what God is saying.
Same things here in Wick...so many great opportunities which could easily be passed by. Same with Pill. You just have to pick your battles and get on with it, don't you?
I've only got 38 years of officership until I retire (if I retire at 65) so I guess, like you, I'll be trying to make the most with what I have :o)
Praying for you and Alan and the corps family at Pill. Hope you are settling in well.
in Jesus
Andrew C
PS...and I'm sure by now you'll have picked up how popular we were or weren't in the corps. :o)
Thanks for encouraging me. My son and I do warfare on an evening. He has autism, but knows his bible inside and out and is filled with the Spirit. Each time he goes forward for prayer he seems to improve.
You were right in what you said, there is other things I can do. After your message I got onto one of the Christian channels about the so called prosperity preachers and it was read out on air. I have also cut my eighty year old neighbours toenails and massaged her feet. Mind you I had to really pray before I did.
Dear Esther,
Cutting someone else's toenails really is going out on a limb!
Well done.
God bless
Carol
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