June 2 – Dancing shoes

“Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.…”

Genesis 18:2 New American Standard Bible

You'll have heard the expression “the well made plans of mice and men?” As a child my one ambition when I was of age,, was to become a missionary teacher working abroard. But my plans for my adult life were not written by Him in my portfolio. Due to a childhood riding accident, life was to go in a completely different direction.

Yesterday I compared our Christian lives with driving a car through the dark hours into the light, and this is just what life has been, and still is, like – except as the years of experience have passed the light has become brighter and brighter.

Imagine the narrow single-track road with dykes on either side, ups and downs of the big dipper and the trail the side-winder snake makes; roll them into one, and you've got it. In the dips in the road the darkness can be almost impenetrable, with the danger of driving us over the edge into the dykes. But that's when a Guiding Light, like the Bethlehem star appears and keeps our eyes focused on the end of our journey.

You're probably wondering by now what a rough ride has to do with any childhood ambitions? Well, everything really. And now, as I look back over the way I have been led, I have confirmation that God had aleady provided me, even at the age of eleven years, with a special mission field. In order to carry out the work He had written in my life portfolio for me to do – to reach and witness to individuals and groups from all walks of life, He had to allow my (dis)abilities. Over the years He has been by my side, my co-driver, my life-support in the bad times, and dancing for joy with me in the good times. “Sometimes it Takes a Mountain” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-24kkrKp1Y

The drive has been, and continues to be, one glorious roller-coaster, with blessings upon blessings every mile of the way Right now I am unable to attend church (eight long months) initially due to back pain, but just when I thought there was enough improvement for me to attempt driving again to church, I contracted a bacterial infection in both legs. Progress is slow – one step forward, and on occasion, two steps back. Why? you might ask, but take a look at the ever widening mission field – nurses – strangers who have become friends – workmen – supermarket deliverers -neighbours. People only I am in a position to reach and have the opportunity to witness.

What about you? Are you going through a trial of ill-health – delay after delay with doctors and hospitals? Maybe your problem is mental? emotional? Spiritual? or fear of the unknown? Yes, the road is rough, and there are times when it feels interminably long, but God will never leave our side Cling on to Him in faith and trust – not just in the bad times but also in the times when you feel like dancing – well, you do have a partner waiting and ready!

What are you waiting for, your mission field surrounds you and our destination's in sight!

Today's music is “God on the mountain is still God in the valley. Click on the picture to listen.