WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!
When I graduated from Highschool in 1956 and entered the workforce, I only had to look for 6 jobs out of the 11 positions I held during all of my career. Of course tht doesn't include the time I was a 'stay at home Mom', although that was my greatest opportunity. 5 out of the 11 were opportunities that came along and I accepted for one reason or another. We all experience opportunities that we ponder over. Should we or shouldn't we take this chance?

I attended a seminar on 'Seven rules of success'. Of course I don't remember the rules or whether I ever applied any of them but I remember this one thing; Turn every problem into an opportunity! I worked for an appliance company for a while and the Admiral Salesman, who lead this senimar, said; "Whenever a customer calls you with a problem treat it as an opportunity to serve your customer." He also said; "Problems are only opportunities waiting to happen!"

I remember a dear friend and Pastor named Vernon. He was asked to call upon a woman who lived in a trailer on a country road. Not quite sure of the address, Vernon went to call. He saw a trailer home sitting back off the road. Knocked on the door! No answer! He knocked again! No answer! He stood there for a minute debating whether to knock again or to leave when, the door opened a crack. I don't know the name of the lady he was to call on, but he asked if she was that person. She shook her head no and started to close the door. Vernon seized the opportunity and in his persuasive way opened a dialogue with Ruth. Vernon brought her into a relationship with the Lord and a fellowship with the rest of his congregation.

Sometimes when an opportunity presents itself we think perhaps it is from God. We use these kinds of opportunities to take us to another place or level using God as our reason when in fact it is because we want out of where we are. It's alright to use God as long as we are living according to God's will. God's will doesn't move us around nor does his will put us in the corner office. God's will is for us to be obedient to His word! Be obedient and receive His blessings.

"Whatever is true, whatever is nobel, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." Philippians 4:8 When we read the Gospels we see Jesus taking every opportunity with whoever He met. There were the blind men; the 10 leprous men; the boy who died; the man called Legion; the tax collectors; the men He called to the Apostleship and even you and me. There are so many that Jesus would seize the opportunity for, that John says they couldn't write them all down because there wouldn't be enough room for all the books that would be written.

Within the church we are called to opportunities! We are called to serve! We are called to share out of our poverty and our abundance! We are called in our inabilities to learn how! We are called to look for ways, to let others see Christ in us! We are called Christians because that is what we are; We are Christian only, not the only Christian! We are called by no other name and we serve under no other name, than that of Jesus Christ.

"As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10 In 1996 there was a large gathering in Salem Oregon of 'Promise Keepers'. On the way home one young man had a flat tire. He got out and was changing his tire when another car traveling full speed on the freeway, hit and killed him. One of the men who had helped organize this rally was devasted. As he was telling me about it, all I could think of was; "What a way to go!" He had just been to a huge worship service in the Autzen Stadium with fellow Christians; praising God. This young man had the opportunity to go home while he was still high on praising and worshiping his Lord and Savior. I will always be concern about what I am doing, when Christ comes again. Seize the day! Jane Ann