are situated squarely in the midst of the ignoble,
accompanied by conditions & companions
we might never have sought,
left to our own devices.
It is often then & there
that along comes a opportunity ~
an appointment with destiny ~
which could come by no other means. "
Kathleen Flanagan
you can read "The Wondering Place"
at Sassy Granny
Maybe you had to be at the crossroads
that I was on at the reading of Kathleen's
thought provoking words last Friday.
Because I pondered them all weekend.
Words like.....
" It is often then & there
that along comes a opportunity ~
an appointment with destiny ~
which could come by no other means. "
Knowing the history of Philip and the Ethiopian ...
in Acts 8; 26-40 - how Philip led him to Christ...
baptized him and then ...
Philip was taken away by the spirit
to another place of ministry...
speaks of a very definite appointed time...
in Philips ministry.
If Philip wasn't accustomed to hearing
and responding to the voice of the Lord...
He could have missed this Opportunity.
I was contemplating whether to stay or to go..
in my current position -
petitioning unto the Lord ...
if there is a destiny yet in the making...
that I'm called to participate in?
If the Lord has has placed me there
for His purposes and not mine...
then I was trusting that He would make
that purpose CLEAR.
I want to be ready
for where ever He sends me...
and I need to be fortified
by His strength and grace
to continue in a place
as long as it takes
to accomplish His will.
But I have a tendency
to go the extra mile...
not understanding whether or not
the Lord has lifted the mandate to stay.
It is such a hard road
for me to walk sometimes...
not knowing...
whether to go or to stay.
It would be soooo much easier
if ...like Philip...
we could just be transported
in the spirit when it comes time
to move on.
The one thing I hadn't contemplated before...
from this scriptural account...
was the openness...
the readiness of the eunuch...
to hear and receive the gospel message.
The Spirit had already prepared him.
He was reading in faith ...
for understanding to come.
He was seeking TRUTH...
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door
will be opened to you."
Matt. 7:7
While he was still seeking...
the door was opened unto him.
As the Spirit was preparing his heart and mind
to receive that which he sought after...
'spiritual understanding'...
the Spirit was also preparing Philip ...
to be the fruit of the GOSPEL to him.
Remember...
I was standing at a crossroads
SEEKING God's will.
ASKING which road...
when I read Kathleen's words....
" It is often then & there
that along comes a opportunity ~
an appointment with destiny ~
which could come by no other means. "
DO I STAY?
DO I GO?
Many were in prayer for me.I sought His face dilligently.
If a destiny was at stake..
mine or someone elses...
I didn't want to miss it!
Sometimes...I walk down a rough road
way longer than the Lord intends.
Because I want to be sure
that it is He and not I
that turns me in another direction.
We are called to suffer
with Christ.
Christianity is not an easy road.
Our flesh is weak...
when the enemy of our soul...
our destinies...
taunts us with lies
until we call out...
"Get me out of here!"
When He has called us to STAY!
OBEDIENCE is EVERYTHING!
I know I've used this scripture before...
it is a headliner in my mind.
Stamped out there years ago,
by the Holy Spirit Himself.
It bears repeating often in my life.
This scripture is why I often STAY...
on a rough and sometimes muddy road,
when He has told me to GO.
More than anything in my life..
I desire to be right where He wants me..
at any given time.
Run with Perseverance
Heb 12:1-31 Why seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which does so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us,
2 Looking to Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
Often I Forget...
There are otherson the same road.
others just like me -
coming and going;.
staying for a while...
or moving on.
Many people.
Many destiny's.
Sometimes,
I feel so alone
in my walk...
that no one understands -
least of all ME.
But God goes with us
He never forsakes us.
He goes before us
and lights the way.
All He asks...
is that we TRUST
Him with our whole heart.
Our whole mind.
To not walk
in our own understanding.
In all our comings and goings...
acknowledge that He is God!
TRUST that He IS...
who He said He IS....
and that He WILL direct our path.
I FORGET..That I KNOW
"that in all things
God works for the good
of those who love him,
who have been called
according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
I Forget that...
I am His
He is Mine
My Beloved
His Warrior Bride
I Also Forget...
That where I lack understanding...
The Lord is not deaf and dumb.
He hears; speaks; and intervenes.
Sometimes,
we are led down a road...
by His divine plan,
to bring His light
to people and places,
that need to see.
Even we faithful christians...
sometimes fail to see....
the subtleness of the world's
influence on us and our family.
"THE LORD WILL NOT MUDDY HIS BRIDE" *
Did I STAY or did I GO?
I did not STAY.
But I KNOW that He sent me
down THAT specific road...
For such a time as this!
The book that the Lord opened...
by my being there...
revealed that an intruder
had scribbled 'his' name
on pages of innocence
to 'muddy' their name.
The enemy of our soul
set to re-write...
their story according to him.
Worldly intentions
already in play.
But the book incomplete...
a story not finished -
with unwritten pages
just waiting to be filled....
springs forth
with new chapters...
new stories to tell.
And a knowing that...
"THE LORD WILL NOT MUDDY HIS BRIDE" *
Trust HIM...
He has a PLAN.
He ALWAYS has a PLAN!
"Trust in the LORD
with all your heart;
and lean not
to your own understanding.
In all your ways
acknowledge him,
and he shall direct
your paths. "
Proverbs 3: 5-6
May the Blessings of the Lord
overtake you...
and fill you with JOY!
Patrina.... his Warrior Bride in Boots!
* Quote from Truthsharer
RELATED SCRIPTURES:
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you
the desires of your heart
Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD,
and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.
John 15:16
You did not choose me,
but I chose you and appointed you
so that you might go and bear fruit--
fruit that will last--and so that
whatever you ask
in my name
the Father will give you.
John 15:7
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.