Off the hook or missed opportunity?

I'm in awe and bummed at the same time today of several opportunities that God did what HE was going to do in spite of my dillydallying!  You see I had several chances to 'give' in some way over the last couple of weeks and months, but I hesitated.  Some might say (and I've been known to be in that 'some') that it wasn't 'meant to be' for me then!  Ummm...I don't think so.  You see, when our God says HE's going to move mountains and use HIS CHILDREN to do it, HE will.  He is on the MOVE people!  I can either stop and stair at my 'nets' and think about things for way to long (or be lazy) and MISS OUT.  I can rationalize it all the way to the moon and back when those opportunities are no longer mine to participate in.  Sad thing is I miss out.  I miss out on the blessing of participating.  I miss out on the thrill of being a part of the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE making HIS KINGDOM COME ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.  I get all caught up thinking MY KINGDOM is more important.

This Lent I've laid a lot down, and picked up some things that I normally wouldn't.  The picking up has been 'sacrifice' in my eyes.  It has meant letting go and trusting.  It has meant great JOY and PEACE ...the kind that passes all understanding.

Here's an example of another 'opportunity' I could let pass.  The show would still go on:
So tomorrow, I could run the other way instead of plopping myself right in the middle of a 'hard' situation.  Instead, with the help of other sisters in Christ with me, I will RUN to the inner most parts of the city and shuttle complete vehicle-less strangers to a friend's sisters' funeral and back.  I'll stay there and help my friend's niece (who just lost her momma and she's a momma of 3 at 20years old) soothe her little girls as she needs comforting herself.  I'll go back to another relatives house and stand out like a sore thumb placing food around and serving.  The great news is it won't just be ME.  It will be Jesus and I get to be a part of it all.

Friends, I've asked the Lord to make my life REAL like when we walked the adoption road.  He invites us all on that road.  I share this example because that road is DARK, SCARY AND UNCOMFORTABLE.  I don't want ANY 'well done' by others, but I'll gladly take the grace He'll pour out as I seek Him.  It's worth every iota of emptying this Lent is teaching me.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 
to loose the chains of injustice 
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry 
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, 
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
~Isa. 58:3-8