Just Ask!
We are about to usher in a New Year, and like most people,
my thoughts at this time of the year are a combination of looking backward and reflecting
on the past year, both its positives and negatives. Then, I begin to look forward to what might
be ahead in the New Year.
As we
approached the beginning of 2020, I’m sure none of us had an inkling of what
was in store for us that year. The
pandemic turned all our lives upside down and we spent most of that year and
the next trying to right the ship. Many
of us are still floundering as a result.
I well
remember last New Year’s Eve. It was my
last official day as the Business Administrator of my church. After 45 years in the workforce, I was
retiring. For most, that would have been
a day of celebration but for me, it was a day that I had dreaded, and my New
Year’s Eve was anything but a celebration.
I had no plans, no purpose, and no clue what I was going to do
next.
Flash
forward 12 months later, and like many retirees, I can now say “How did I ever
find time to work?” What changed? God changed me!
God has
brought me through a lot of difficult seasons in my life, and the beginning of
2022 was one of the worst. The
difference was that it was a difficulty of my own making. So, what do I do when I find myself in a mess? The same thing I’ve been doing for 70
years. I turn to God.
I began to
look at my life as 4 chapters. The first
was my schooling. The second was my time
as a practicing attorney, and the third was my time as a business administrator. Now, I was entering the 4th
chapter. The question was: What did God want me to accomplish in that 4th
chapter? That became my daily prayer as
I realized that He had gifted me with too many talents and abilities and taught
me too many lessons in the first 3 chapters for me to sit back and do nothing. But what?
Soon the
answers began to come. God first
prompted me to start a Bible Study in my home.
I was already co-teaching the ladies' class at my church, but this was a
new challenge. The Sun Porch Fellowship has become a great success as I spend
time in the Word with ladies I dearly love and then have time left over for
food, fellowship, and games. That lead
me to attempt a similar study with some of my neighbors. Although that hasn’t worked out yet, I have
made some great contacts, and who knows what God has in store for 2023.
Next, I
began work on several book ideas that I’ve had for several years. I haven’t quite reached a publishing point on
any of them, but I’ve learned so much in the process. That writing also lead to the start of this
blog which I hope will bring a moment of inspiration to others.
Then, came
the opportunity to teach a church and law class at a local Bible College, which
makes great use of my training and the knowledge that I have gained over the
years. God has even begun to “crack” the
door on the possibility of doing similar training with another Christian
organization.
So, what
have I learned? God answered my prayers
and made it very clear that He isn’t done with me yet! He has a purpose and a plan for everyone,
regardless of their age. The key is
seeking His guidance to find it! If you
are drifting along without a clue as to where you are going, don’t give
up. Turn to the One who knows. He will guide you. All you have to do is ask.
Proverbs
3: 5, 6 & Isaiah 30:21
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