Lauri and I really enjoyed spending some time at Beulah Beach last week for Bible and Missionary Conference. It was stimulating to attend the worship services. Refreshing to spend time relaxing with friends, and enjoyable to have a bit of down-time together.
On Monday afternoon we spent a bit of time on Lake Erie in the boat. We traveled up and down the coastline looking at homes and enjoying the brisk refreshing breeze. As we turned to approach the marina to load the boat back onto the trailer we noticed a strange mist that seemed to be rising from the water. Even though it was cloudy, it didn’t look like rain, and it was way too hot to be fog. What is that?!
Two minutes later we found ourselves in a tumultuous downpour! It just dumped on us… seemingly out of nowhere! The sun was actually still shining just over Cedar Point; even as we got drenched. Anyone watching from the shore probably had a good laugh watching us scramble in the deluge trying to get our boat roof out of its storage compartment and in place… it only took about 90 seconds to do that… but we got SOAKED! Three minutes later… it was over.
By the time we got back to Beulah Beach it was time for the evening service and since we didn’t want to miss it… we just slunk in there all drenched and disheveled. I almost made Lauri laugh out loud in the service when seeking to be funny I leaned over and whispered… “my underwear is
soaked.” Sorry if that was too much information there…
Later in the week, Alistair Begg was preaching about the importance of Jesus’ people spreading the Gospel Message when he said, “There is no perfect place to serve God, except where he sets you down!” I loved that quote… and strangely enough… it reminded me of the drenching Lauri and received earlier in the week because… who wants to be out on a lake in a boat when it pours rain?
You see, sometimes, if we are honest, we would rather not be where God has “set us down”. Maybe it is a location. Maybe it is a circumstance. Maybe it is a relationship, a job or even a ministry. And instead of looking for the opportunities that are presented to us in those situations to advance the Kingdom of Jesus… we grumble and complain about the circumstances surrounding us.
The reality is Lauri and I had a great time together that afternoon, and it would have been foolish to let the circumstance of a little rain cloud over the entire day. And the reality also is… you and I have been forgiven and restored to the Father through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus… and we would be foolish to let a circumstance or situation keep us from realizing the joy we have in that truth and in the promise of Heaven.
So, let’s look together for the opportunities in the places where God “has set us down” – because it just might be the perfect place for us at just the right time.
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