SOMETHING

It's always something isn't it? It seems like always, something is changing, something old, something new, something challenging us, something unexpected. That's the thing about life, it is full of the unexpected "somethings" isn't it? One of the problems I see is that rarely do we credit God for the unexpected somethings in our lives.

I ran across a wonderful story that illustrates this point very well. There's a store-front church which is called Almighty God Tabernacle. One Saturday evening, the preacher of this church was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10 PM, but his wife did not answer the phone. The preacher let it ring about two dozen times but she didn't answer. He thought it was a little odd, but decided to finish up a few things and try a few minutes later.

When he tried again, she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that the phone hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.

The following Monday, the preacher received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The preacher couldn't figure out what the guy was talking about. Then the guy said, "It rang and rang and rang, but I didn't answer."

The preacher then remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd tried to call his wife. The man said, "That's okay. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now.' At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God'. I was afraid to answer!"

Does God work through the unexpected? Surely he does! Most of the time I don't think we have any idea he may be involved with the unexpected something in our life, but what if he is, what if God is trying to change our lives, trying to teach us something "Life Changing"?

In Luke 5:1-11 Jesus comes to his apostles who had gone back to fishing. He asks them about their success and they tell him they had fished all night and caught nothing. He tells them to try one more time and they caught enough fish to sink the boats. The unexpected had life changing results. We are told, "So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."

I wonder what God is trying to show us when the unexpected happens in our lives?

New Beginnings

Can you believe it that we are now into a brand new year? I know it happens every year, but it is such an amazing thing if you think about it. One of my favorite quotes comes from the book Anne of Green Gables where she says that "we begin every day new, with no mistakes". That's the way it is with our new year isn't it? God gives us a fresh slate with no markings on it, and it is entirely up to us to decide what is written there.

The New Year also gives us a new branch on our road we call life. Will it be an adventure or a mystery" Will it be a challenge or a time of peace and rest? We never know and as disconcerting that concept is to some, it should breathe into us a new zest for life as we face new challenges, new problems, meet new people, have to adjust our lives and life styles. I don't know about you, but I really don't want a stagnant life! If you are not experiencing change or challenge then your life is going no where. It might not be dead, but then it might also. Growth and change show that something is alive.

Right now, at this time of the year, there are more people trying to make changes than any other time of the year. That's why people make resolutions; to help them as they try to institute changes in their lives. I personally, rarely make a New Year's resolution, because I have so much going on in my life any way, there are constant changes taking place within my life. Some good, some not so good, just like many of you.

I understand that not everyone is wired that way. "I read about one poor fellow who decided to make only resolutions this year he could keep. He resolved to gain weight, to stop exercising, to read less and watch more TV, to procrastinate more, to quit giving money and time to charity, and to never make New Year's resolutions again." (Duncan)

That kind of thinking reminds me of one of my favorite Old Testament passages, Proverbs 24:30-34, where the writer talks about those who refuse challenges. He says: "I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.  I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:  A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."

It really is a time for new beginnings! It is a time to make the changes you have been putting off, which may include you neglecting your relationship to Christ. How about you, is it time for a change, a time to accept a new challenge or take another leg on this adventure called life? Don't put it off, make that new beginning.