Life is about changes
Hi Everyone;
Last week I shared the story of how I became an author…how God nudged me- hard, so that I couldn’t resist His request. If you recall, it took a major illness for me to pay attention and dedicate the time to do the task assigned to me. God can seem tough sometimes.
So…how about you? What is God asking you to do? Are you listening for and being obedient to that persistent urging in your heart and head? Are you listening to “Little Voice”, as I call the Spirit in my book: Disaster! Around the Bend.
When I think back on my life, I realize that there were many moments when a Little Voice would enter my head about doing something. Sometimes something so simple as calling a friend, or saying sorry for a mistake or for me to forgive my husband for not picking up his socks. And sometimes it was something life changing…like making a move. A move to a new place, a move to a new job, a move to a new church, a move to a new school…A move. I don’t think that many of us like change. Familiar is comfortable. Familiar seems safe, while change is scary…it often means action, uncomfortable action that can upset you and your family and possibly countless other people. But it appears that God is okay with change – even likes it, because it’s always an opportunity to learn something new…to grow. And it has been my experience that when God wants me to make a change, He persistently shows me through the events happening in my life and the lives of those around me. He subtly plants an idea in my head, then sometimes not-so-subtly allows events into my life that support that idea.
Here’s a story that shows this process.
Years ago, my family lived on a farm in Manitowaning. A lovely farm, with a large century barn, cute little house, forest and fields…just perfect! As the years went by and the family grew, it seemed to take more money to keep this farm going then my husband and I were able to make. I am a pharmacist and at that time in history, there were only part time jobs available on Manitoulin. Each week I would work a day in Little Current, a day in Gore Bay and often a day in Espanola, but nothing regular or fulltime. God planted the thought that I would have to look for off-island work. Yuk! I had a young family with 3 children under 12 and an active farm to run. How could I find the time to travel for work? My husband nudged. Reluctantly and grumpily I looked for work in Espanola which was only an hour away- there was none. What were we to do? We were broke. Suddenly a job was posted in Elliot Lake. It was a perfect job for the family – Monday to Friday, no nights, nor weekends. But it was a long, long, long way from Manitowaning. I said, “No.” God said, “Yes”. My husband encouraged me to go for an interview. I sighed and headed out. In Little Current I stopped to fill up the tank, but my debit card said, “insufficient funds”. Now what? I had $20 in my wallet- not enough. So, I swallowed my pride and went over to the store that I worked in and asked for an advance on my next pay cheque. I shuffled my feet, face beet red…he gave me the cheque. I ran off to the banking machine and put the cheque in and asked for a modest $40. Smiling I put out my hand to get the money…the machine blew me a raspberry and said, “insufficient funds.”
“What!” I kicked it. “I just fed you over $300 and you can’t spare me $40?” I hung my head and cried. “Why God?” That Little Voice whispered in my ear that He had this situation. I was assured that $20 would get me to Elliot Lake and back home again. I knew for sure, now, why I had to get this new job. I meekly went to the interview. I got the job and life changed.
I have learned over the years to listen for the voice of God…Little Voice. I don’t always obey…but I’m getting better as I age. Listen to Little Voice this week and see what God has in mind for you.
See you next week.
Lynn
