make the most of every opportunity….”
Colossians 4:2,5
As the northern hemisphere transitions to a cooler season and we believers await our Lord’s return, I am increasingly challenged to hear and respond to our great God and His nudges.
For example...This past week I loaned my car to someone to use while theirs was in the repair shop...so my world was “limited” to where my two feet could take me, where I could get a ride to or places I could reach on my bike. But...the opportunities to connect face to face with others, especially Filipinos, seemed almost limitless! I often help a mother by picking up her Filipino child after school, sometimes by car and sometimes walking...but this week I had no choice...and on the first day of school, I met a newly arrived couple, that I had heard about, also waiting for their child. It was a great chat and I was able to help them with a few questions. The following day, that child started traveling on the school bus but God had me there just at the right time!
I was walking somewhere on Labour Day and met two Filipina ladies who were bemoaning the bake shop being closed—it was the birthday of one of them who had recently arrived. How sad to celebrate your first birthday in Canada without a cake of some sort! (Filipinos excel in celebrations!) I “happened” to have blueberries thawing in preparation for baking blueberry muffins so invited them (and a few others) over for a blueberry muffin birthday cake! What a fun unexpected time together! (By the way, that was the third time God arranged me to meet Filipinos right on their birthday...by chance...No!)
In addition to all this, Sussex, the dairy town where I live, welcomed hundreds of
visitors to its 35th Annual Atlantic Balloon Fiesta, and the weather was beautiful. Through the indoor market, antique car show, Hinchey’s Amusement rides, cotton candy and fried food concessions, I “bumped” into several groups of Filipinos, most of whom were experiencing the festival for the first time. And...I also spotted our “Lion of Judah.” At least one man took the opportunity to pass out Gospel tracts, I was able to engage in a spiritual conversation with a new friend, and one local church took advantage to proclaim Christ through worship songs at the bandstand. Even though our culture is increasingly secular and even anti-Christian, God still sits on the throne and opens doors or windows for proclamation, publicly and/or one on one. Let’s be available and seeking God how He can enable us to participate in what He is doing locally and globally.
