93 Sermon Illustrations on Opportunity

The setting was early Monday morning, January 17, 1994, in Los

Angeles, California. Soon the young university student would arise,

dress, and leave his apartment for classes. Suddenly, he was thrown

from his bed in the midst of chaotic noise and movement. It was not

the usual rolling common to earthquakes in that area, but more like

the explosion of multiple bombs. Almost immediately he was aware of

fire and his own personal danger. He had to get out! Even in the

black darkness he arrived quickly at the door leading to the hall and

safety. But when he began to push to open the door, it would not

budge. Apparently it was blocked by debris from the other side. In

panic he continued to push the door with all his might, shouting for

any available help.

Just when he thought all was lost, a neighbor called outside,

"Forget the door! The whole side of your apartment has been blown

out." Quickly, feeling along the wall of his apartment, he came upon

a hole wide enough to drive a car through. The earthquake had opened

an unexpected avenue of escape - a new door had been opened.

- Dellanna O'Brien, {Dimension} April, May, June, 1996, p. 2

<> My Source: West Berry Banner, Vol 15, #14

<> January 12, 1982

<> Author: Rudy Wray

=========================================

A CUP OF COLD WATER

by Rudy Wray

It happened ten years ago this month. The memory and shame of that moment will accompany the one responsible to the grave. Oh, it was innocent enough, a clear-cut case of ignorance, but the damage was done just the same.

Probably the hardest and most frustrating time in a missionary's life occurs about three months after arrival at his chosen field of work. By that time the romance has worn off and reality, the harsh, frustrating reality of living in a strange land with a strange culture and a strange language, begins to manifest itself.

At precisely such a time in the life of a certain missionary it happened. Completely frustrated at his own apparent lack of ability in learning a foreign language and discouraged because of the resultant inability to communicate anything to the inhabitants of his host country (much less preach the gospel), he had resorted one afternoon to doing the only thing he felt capable of doing, that of washing his ten year old Jeep. Since that was the only thing he believed at the moment to be commensurate with his abilities, he was excelling at it, being completely absorbed by it and oblivious to anything going on around him.

Then suddenly, in that kind of fleeting moment that takes volumes to explain and a lifetime to forget, he sensed someone behind him. Startled, he quickly turned around and there, inches from his face was a tin cup, held by the outstretched arm of an old man in ragged clothes. In that same moment the old man said something unintelligible to the missionary, but in that frightening moment he ASSUMED the old man was begging for money. Then the great missionary, the great "man of God from the United States of America," shouted in English, "Get out of here and don't you ever come back." The old man didn't understand the words, but he understood the tone of voice and quickly left.

Unknown to the missionary, his six year old son was sitting on some nearby steps watching the whole thing. The boy innocently asked, "Dad, why wouldn't you give him any water?" In that terrible moment, the horrible truth of what he had done dawned upon the now heartbroken missionary. Two hours of frenzied searching failed to find the unfortunate old man and the intended apologetic explanation was never made possible.

That old man has most likely passed from this life by now. He doubtless carried a bitter memory of the ugly American to his grave, and even more terrible, he probably went to meet his Maker without ever knowing the truth of the gospel. He came within inches of the one who could have capitalized on the request for a cup of cold water to tell the good news, but who neither understood the request nor recognized the opportunity.

That's the trouble with "requests for a cup of water." They often come from people all around us, but though we would gladly supply the need, we are usually too busy with our own problems to pay attention to the request. We fail to recognize the opportunity to do good, and our rejection of someone's urgent need causes a bitterness that may accompany them to the grave.

One good thing has come out of that unfortunate experience with the old man. That person (who, if you haven't guessed by now, is the author of these words) has made a conscious effort to keep the experience fresh in his memory so that, God willing, it may never happen again. May God bless us all to be sensitive to those around us as some anxious soul asks for a "cup of water."

TODAY'S TIP: BUBBLY LEMONADE

You'll want to be sure to have this recipe on hand for spring and summer. It takes traditional lemonade and adds the zip of bubbly mineral water, for a chilly, refreshing treat. Serve over ice with a slice of lemon. Makes three quarts. Per 3/4 cup: 88 calories, 0 grams fat, trace protein, 24 grams carbohydrates, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 3 milligrams sodium, trace fiber.

4 cups water

2 cups sugar

2 cups fresh lemon juice

1 quart carbonated mineral water

In a large saucepan, bring sugar and 2 cups water to a boil.

Boil uncovered five minutes; remove from heat and cool.

Mix lemon juice and 2 cups water. Add to syrup; mix well.

Chill until ready to serve.

To serve, combine equal amounts of lemon syrup and mineral water.

"Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds..."

-- Norman Vincent Peale

"You only have to solve two problems when going to the moon: first, how to get there; and second, how to get back. The key is don't leave until you have solved both problems."

-- Neil Armstrong

"Any jackass can kick down a barn but it takes a good carpenter to build one."

-- Lyndon B. Johnson

"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer."

-- Denis Waitley

"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem."

-- Theodore Rubin

*

Short-track speed skating: The constellations aligned, Australia's Steven Bradbury survives the carnage to win gold

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - He's nearly died on the ice, spilling two - thirds of the blood in his body. He's broken his neck in training, and he's been to four Olympics, rotten luck generally his faithful companion.

Saturday night, Australia's Steven Bradbury survived the carnage that was advertised as short-track speed-skating to win his country's first-ever Winter Olympic gold, proving that, eventually, nice guys finish first.

The most fertile imagination could not have scripted the circumstances that put Bradbury on the top step of the podium, the silver and bronze medalists from the U.S. and Canada hobbling up to join him, each having first been sewn shut with a half-dozen sutures.

Clearly the constellations were aligned for the bottle-blond, eyebrow-pierced Bradbury, a four-time Olympian who can't quite believe he's joined a pantheon of Australian champions.

"Freakish, I guess," he said of his victory. "Obviously I have the gold medal around my neck, but whether I deserve to be in the same place as people who won without the luck I had is something I'll have to come to terms with. This is the nature of short-track - today I got the spoils."

Bradbury had never before even qualified for an Olympic 1,000- metre quarter-final, and his road to gold here was paved with remarkable fortune. He described it with a grin something between sly and sheepish:

"I mixed it up in the quarter-final, confident of advancing," he said. "Unfortunately I ran out of legs with a lap to go and had three other guys go past me. But two of them went down, so I got through.

"In the semi-final, I planned on riding in the back and hoping for accidents or collisions so I could sneak up the inside. They went down again. And it was the same deal in the final.

"Obviously I'm not the fastest skater," Bradbury said, his audience by now laughing aloud. "But those were my tactics, and they worked like a charm."

He cruised across the finish line with arms down at his side, then raised in victory, with four skaters flopping around the ice like fish out of water. American Apolo Anton Ohno and Canada's Mathieu Turcotte, cut for six stitches in the thigh and butt, respectively, slithered to silver and bronze medals.

Bradbury's company, the Revolutionary Boot Co., manufacturers the skate boots for Ohno and others. He sent an E-mail to Ohno on the eve of the 1,000 metres asking the American to put in a post-victory good word for his product.

"I guess I didn't have to do that," he said, still grinning.

Bradbury grew up in the suburbs of Sydney, the son of a former speed-skater, and made his Olympic debut at Albertville in 1992. He won a relay bronze at Lillehammer in `94, though bitterly disappointed at his failure in individual events, and arrived in Montreal that autumn for a World Cup event that nearly ended his life.

With one lap to go in a 1,500-metre race, he was collected in a crash with Canada's Frederic Blackburn and Marc Gagnon. Spills are commonplace in short-track, but this was particularly violent: "The three of us went down," Bradbury recalled, "and I somersaulted in the air and got impaled on Fred's skate."

Four litres of blood - two-thirds of what was in his body - poured through a gash in his right leg that took 111 stitches to close, and he credits the fast work of Montreal doctors for saving his life.

Eleven months later, Bradbury was back in a Montreal hospital, this time to visit British skater Nicky Gooch. He had wiped out during a 1,500-metre race and carved a 20-stitch cut in Gooch's forearm, razoring through the tendons; he felt so badly about the blameless accident that he smuggled his friend a chocolate cake.

Bradbury struggled at Nagano in 1998, and in the fall of 2000 crashed head-first into a barrier while training, fracturing his C4 and C5 vertebrae. He wore a halo collar for more than a month, a neck brace for six.

"That sort of wrecked my season," he said in delightful understatement. "But you know, I still wanted to go to another Olympics."

Saturday night, fate decided it finally was time to smile. With bodies piling up in the corner on the final turn, Bradbury chugged by, the last sedan running in this demolition derby.

"As I went by all the guys to the finish," he said, "I thought, `My God, I've won.' "

The American, Ohno, favoured to win four gold medals in Salt Lake, showed graceful, genuine happiness for the Australian. Athletes in short-track are tight - even when they're not banging off each other - and you'd find no one unhappy for this unlikeliest of Olympic champions.

Yesterday morning, officials in the Australian Olympic Committee office were still scratching their heads. "They're sleeping at home," one said, "but when they wake up, they're not going to believe this."

Bradbury sees his gold not as reward for one 90 -second race, but for 10 years of effort, Olympic heartbreak and gruesome injury.

"Maybe this is for the times I feel I should have been on the podium and wasn't," he said, shrugging. "But this will be the end of the Olympics for me. I think my dishes are done."

*

The more you seek security, the less of it you have. But the more you seek opportunity, the more likely it is that you will achieve the security that you desire. - Brian Tracy

SALVATION

(IMPORTANT DECISION)

In 1973 Gary Kildall wrote the first popular operating system for personal computers, named CP/M. According to writer Phillip Fiorini, IBM approached Kildall in 1980 about developing the operating system for IBM PCs. But Kildall snubbed IBM officials at a crucial meeting, according to another author, Paul Carroll. The day IBM came calling, he chose to fly his new airplane. The frustrated IBM executives turned instead to Bill Gates, founder of a small software company called Microsoft, and his operating system named MS-DOS. Fourteen years later Bill Gates was worth more than eight billion dollars.

Of Kildall, who has since died, author Paul Carroll says, "He was a smart guy who didn't realize how big the operating system market would become."

In a similar way, people often don't realize how big God's kingdom will someday become. God comes calling with the offer of a lifetime, and we find other things to do.

Appointed time, Excuses, Kingdom of God, Opportunity, Priorities

Luke 14:15-24; 2 Cor. 6:1-2

Contemporary Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers

Editor Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, p. 217.

I was sitting on our front porch, and I saw our son-in-law Rick suddenly running full speed across the front yard, headed for the back yard, with his camera in his hand. With my incredible detective mind, I surmised that he had seen something that would make a great photo - something that apparently wasn't going to be there for long. Actually, he had seen our horse Misty running across the pasture with her mane flowing and beautifully illuminated by the setting sun. Having a wife who's taken some pretty amazing photos over the years, I understand this "seize the moment" thing that photographers have ... and you'd better not get in their way.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "While The Window's Open."

Photographer types understand a life-principle that a lot of us miss - that there are moments, opportunities in life that have to be seized - or they're missed forever. And it isn't just photographs. It's precious life moments where a window of opportunity opens for a brief time, maybe just a moment - and either we stop and take that opportunity, or we sometimes lose it for good.

Thus, God's counsel in Ephesians 5, beginning in verse 15, our word for today from the Word of God. He says, "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise." OK, so what does wise living look like? "Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

Apparently, knowing and doing God's will in your life often depends on seeing the opportunity He has opened up for you and seizing that opportunity. Many of life's regrets are about opportunities we missed because we let them slip by. Like the aging businessman who says, "If only I'd spent more time with my family." As many times as I've heard that lament, I've never heard anybody say, "My only regret is I wish I'd spent more time in my business." When your child is ready to talk, you'd better drop everything and listen then - the window won't be open long. When your child is ready to be affectionate, you've got nothing more important to do than respond. When you son or daughter has time to be with you, you'd better have time to be with them.

The same applies to your mate, your parents, others that you love. Many a tear at a funeral is over opportunities we didn't take when this one we loved was still touchable, still thankable, still forgivable, still huggable. And how many chances do we have per day to simply compliment someone, encourage someone, stop and listen to someone. Those are God-moments - opportunities to be a channel of God's love into a person's life.

Most importantly, how many times do we pass up a God-given opportunity to talk about our relationship with Jesus Christ - when the eternity of that person may depend on hearing about our Jesus? Spirit-filled living involves making yourself available each new day to seize the opportunities God gives you in that day. If you're the kind of person that's all rigid, programmed and inflexible, you'll probably miss or ignore the many times the Holy Spirit is saying, "This is it - this is your chance. Do it now. Seize this moment!"

Like a photographer running to capture his picture before the moment passes, we need to capture the God-moments He weaves into each new day. Those scenes are just too good to miss!

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

*

”There is a tremendous opportunity for growth in crisis. Letting go of old loves, old habits, old beliefs is so hard. It’s hard because we don’t know that on the other side of this chasm is a far greater peace.”

Our family has had the wonderful opportunity of visiting some of the most beautiful places in America, and taking in some incredible views in America. From the top of towering mountains, from the edge of the Grand Canyon, and in my wife's estimation, often too close to the edge. There's good news and bad news about getting real close to the edge. The bad news: it is dangerous at the edge -- you can fall off. But the good news is -- the view from the edge is spectacular!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “When You're At The Edge.”

For you, that might be right now. You are at one of those points we all reach several times in our life -- sometimes several times in a year! You're at the edge -- financially, with a son or daughter you don't know what to do with, or maybe in your marriage. It could be you're at the edge emotionally; you're not sure how much more you can take, or your responsibilities have gotten so heavy that they're taking you to the edge.

Being close to the edge is dangerous, and it's an exciting place to be, too. If you're not so sure about that “exciting” part, you need to spend a moment in our word for today from the Word of God in Exodus 14 beginning in verse 9. If ever a group of God's people were at the edge, it's here. The ancient Jews have been delivered by God from their enslavement in Egypt and now they have made camp with the Red Sea in front of them. And the Bible says, “All Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen, and troops pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea.” Oh, great! Red Sea in front of them ... the most powerful army on earth behind them, in hot pursuit. We are at the edge, folks!

But remember -- it was God who led them to the edge. It usually is. If you're in the middle of a Red Sea Moment, it is most likely part of the great and loving plans of God for you. You know what happened when God's ancient people were at the edge. The Bible says, “The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” Then when Moses stretched out his hand over the water, the Bible says, “the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.”

So why did God bring His people to this dangerous edge where there clearly seemed to be no solutions, no rescue? For the same reason He has brought you to the edge -- so you could see a more spectacular view of Him than you have ever seen before! Exodus says, “When the Israelites saw the great power of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him” (Exodus 14:31).

It's interesting -- the Chinese word for “crisis” is the word “wei chi.” The word has two figures in it - the top one means “danger,” the bottom one means “opportunity.” Now, in many ways, that's a Biblical view of a crisis moment you or I face. Yes, there is real danger. But, even more, there is a real opportunity for God to do something that will bring Him great glory and allow you to see His power in amazing ways, and to tighten your grip on His hand as never before.

If God has led you to this edge, then you have every right to expect a miracle - which you would never need or never see if it weren't for this scary, overwhelming moment. In any Red Sea moment you will ultimately see God part it. And once He does, you won't remember the danger much. What you'll remember is that spectacular view of God, and you'd never see it if you didn't go to the edge! It will change your life forever!

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

*

Behold, as the lilies of the field, and as the grass,

So your life is but for a season.

Yes, though thou flourish in health, yet is your time short.

You have no sure promise of tomorrow.

Therefore live each day as though it were your last.

For it is very true that no situation presents itself twice the same.

The opportunities of today are not those of tomorrow.

Live not as though they might be repeated.

Fail not to enter every open door.

Be not held back by a feeling of unreadiness.

I Myself am your preparation.

For I will give to you the needed grace and wisdom for each moment as

it comes, and you shall rejoice in the victory.

For I will overcome timidity, and I Myself will displace inadequacy.

This is My work.

I will do it Myself through you if you but allow yourself to be a

channel for the flow of My Spirit.

For I Myself am The Life.

I Myself am your wisdom and your strength, even as I am your joy and

your peace.

I am your victory.

My Word is Power because My Word is Spirit and Truth.

Do not bear about needless burdens.

They will but press upon your spirit and interfere with My movings.

Much remains to be accomplished.

Linger not over what appears to be an unfinished case.

Pass on.

My Spirit will continue to strive though you give no further thought.

This way your mind will be kept free and your path open,and it shall be

ever a new way.

Keep ever moving, and from life to life I will accomplish My purpose.

And know that as I work, all things work together, so that there is

gathering strength and there shall be a glorious consummation.

Praise God!

2 Peter 3:5–9 — Why God Waits — « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. 3:5 — Willingly Unaware

1. AV – For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

2. NIV – But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

3. NAS – For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

4. J. B. Philips – They are deliberately shutting their eyes to the fact that there were heavens in the old days and an earth formed by God’s command out of water and by water.

5. NLT – They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water.

6. RGH – For these scoffers are deliberately unaware that by God’s word the skies existed in the distant past and the land was constituted out of water and with water

7. Keep in mind the scoffers’ statement from last week: “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of creation.” (NKJV)

8. To what era does this description of earth apply? « — the period after creation up until the flood; this may differ in aspects that we do not know of the earth today. »

9. Read Genesis 1:6–10. How did the scoffers of Peter’s day regard this information? … today’s scoffers? … is there much difference? « — discuss »

10. These people have the same basic problem that the house of Jacob had in Jeremiah 5:21, 23; what is it? « — Matthew Henry comments on these verse, “There is none so blind as those who will not see.” There was a wide variance between this and God’s intention for His people in Deuteronomy 4:6. »

B. 3:6–7 — Judgment Past and Judgment Future

1. AV – 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2. NIV – 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

3. NAS – 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

4. J. B. Philips – 6 It was by water that the world of those days was deluged and destroyed, 7 but the present heavens and earth are, also by God’s command, being carefully kept and maintained for the fire of the day of judgment and the destruction of wicked men.

5. NLT – 6 Then he used the water to destroy the world with a mighty flood. 7 And God has also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment, when ungodly people will perish.

6. RGH – 6 Through these elements by the cataclysm of a flood, the world system of that time utterly perished. 7 The present skies and land are by that same word being laid up in store, being kept in store for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of wicked men.

7. what was the character of the world system that perished? « — many had second-generation knowledge of all the facts of creation, Eden, Cain and so on; there are indications of godly line (”Mahalaleel” name meaning “praise of God”(?), the “sons of God” 6:2) but 6:5 describes the overall state of mankind … read it … sound familiar? Check out Matthew 24:37–39 »

8. See Jude 1:14–15, 2 Peter 2:5; what do you learn about God from these items? « — warnings (Enoch, about 1000 AM) and preaching (Noah, about 1600 AM) — God’s forbearance – we will return to this theme in a verse or two. »

9. How does Peter relate the punishment of ancient and current scoffers? « — in both cases God maintains this earth to use it for His purposes, including eventual punishment of the wicked. »

C. 3:8 — God’s Hourglass

1. AV – But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2. NIV – But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

3. NAS – But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

4. J. B. Philips – But you should never lose sight of this fact, dear friends, that with the Lord a day may be a thousand years, and a thousand years only a day.

5. NLT – But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

6. RGH – Dear friends: do not let this escape your awareness: in the sight of the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

7. Which is longer: an hour spent enjoying a close friend or one minute in a windy, freezing rainstorm/ … two minutes in silent prayer or a half-hour TV program? Even with us, we find time to be relative in its apparent (subjective) duration

8. What are some reasons that God’s promises seem to lag?

a. Psalm 90:4–6, 9 « – our lives are so short and fleeting »

b. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 « – the constant reminders of our mortality and evanescence makes us impatient »

9. Is God unaware of our limitations with respect to time?

a. Psalm 103:14 « – as creator He fully knows our limits »

b. Psalm 139:14 « – moreover, He deliberately made us so »

c. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (some translations) « – but also has made us cognizant of the spiritual, the eternal »

d. Isaiah 53:4, John 1:14, Hebrews 4:15 « – He has shared in our humanity; see Luke 22:15 as poignant example »

10. What has He done for us to handle our limitation (impatience) respecting waiting for His promises (Ephesians 1:13–14)? « – the indwelling Holy Spirit as a down payment »

D. 3:9 — God’s Character Revealed in His Purpose

1. AV – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2. NIV – The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

3. NAS – The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

4. J. B. Philips – It is not that he is dilatory about keeping his own promise as some men seem to think; the fact is that he is very patient with you. He has no wish that any man should be destroyed; he wishes that all men should find the way to repentance.

5. NLT – The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.

6. RGH – The Lord does not hold back in hesitation respecting His promise, as some such consider His doing; but is waiting patiently upon you, not being pleased at any person’s perdition, but that all should give place to that change of mind-view called repentance.

7. a promise is an announcement of intention, here of God’s, and may include both positive and negative implications; which are in the promise under consideration in verse 4? « — The promise is the coming of the Lord; there will be reward and blessing of the redeemed; punishment of the wicked. »

8. how do you know that the Lord is patient in this fashion (arraign the evidence)? « — Eden, Noah, Lot, Amorites, Israel in wilderness (2 occasions, at least), Israelites in their history many times, me.

»

9. Demonstrate the consistency of this statement with that which is found Ephesians 2:4–7. « — this verse tells the practical means whereby God, rich in mercy even when we were dead in sin opens the way that we are able to come to life in Him »

Several years ago, Laura and I remodeled a bathroom. We removed a large mirror from the wall and placed it carefully under our bed for storage. I don’t think our young daughter Allison had ever crawled under our bed, but I knew she often hid under her own, and I wanted to avoid any chance of her crawling across a mirror. So I explained the situation and told her to stay out.

She got a strange look on her face as she digested the instructions, then looked at me sadly and said, “Now that you told me not to crawl under the bed … I want to.” I don’t think crawling under our bed had ever crossed her little mind, but once she found out if was off-limits, something inside her was immediately drawn to the idea.

Now be honest; haven’t you ever once seen a WET PAINT sign and been just the least bit tempted to reach out and see for yourself? When the waiter tells you, “Hot plate,” don’t you ever want to feel it for yourself? As you walk by your boss’s desk and see a folder labeled CONFIDENTIAL don’t you have the least urge to look inside? It almost seems that prohibiting something makes us want it more. As a young boy I once played a joke on my brother which involved opening a small box. But rather than writing “Please open” on the cover, I craftily wrote, “Do Not Open.” You know the result.

In Romans 7, Paul discusses the role of sin and law in our lives. He describes how the law prohibits covetousness, and once this prohibition is in place, sin immediately begins “seizing the opportunity” to tempt him toward covetousness. In other words, sin within us longs to do exactly what the law prohibits. We have a built-in “rebellious streak,” if you will.

Paul goes on and finally admits that even when he wants to do good, he often does evil, in spite of his best intentions. Finally, in despair, he asks this simple question: “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” The answer: Jesus Christ our Lord.

The bad news is that you will always feel some desire to do what you know is wrong. The good news is that Jesus Christ can help you master that desire.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. — Galatians 6:10.

A French philosopher once observed, “Take care of your time, for time is the stuff out of which life is made.” Time is a precious commodity which is ours only for the moment we have it. Once it is gone, it cannot be regained. “The opportunity of a lifetime must be grasped in the lifetime of the opportunity,” and this is usually short. It has been well said : “Time is given us to prepare for eternity, and eternity will not be too long for our regrets if we have misspent it.” — A. P. Gibbs.

Oh brand new day, I offer thanks to Him who kindly sent you;

May what I write on your fresh page please well the One who lent you.

For truly you belong to Him, no matter how I use you,

And I must give account, if I should carelessly abuse you.

The things I say and do today will never cause you sorrow,

If I should live today as though there would be no tomorrow. — S. G. L.

It started with a whisper and ended with a roar.

Last fall on the campus of Purdue University, strange messages began to appear. They were printed on flyers and scribbled on sidewalks with chalk. The messages asked a simple question: “Do you agree with Matt?” Soon the campus was buzzing with talk about this mysterious Matt and what he might believe.

A few days later, more than 900 students began showing up for class in neon-green shirts which said simply, “I agree with Matt.” Students who asked about the meaning were told the story: Matt is a senior Engineering student at Purdue who believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God. All week long, students were invited to a Thursday night meeting on campus where they could learn more. At that meeting, more than 700 people gathered to hear students and former students share their faith in Christ. And it all happened because one young man decided he wanted to share his faith with an entire campus, and began asking God how he might do it.

Maybe we’ve made the whole evangelism thing too difficult. Maybe we’ve leaned too hard on our own creativity, and we need to let God do some of the hard work. Maybe it’s time for us to start simply praying like Matt obviously did: “Lord, I want to share the good news. Help me see the opportunities that you create.”

I agree with Matthew. Do you?

There’s a striking story about Brett Favre in Sports Illustrated magazine. The magazine named Favre its athlete of the year for 2007. At the end of the article, Favre is asked for his favorite memory, “and he’s quiet for a moment. ‘I’ve got so many plays running through my mind,’ he says, finally. ‘The funny thing is, it’s not only about the touchdowns and the big victories. If I were to make a list, I would include the interceptions, the sacks, the really painful losses. Those times when I’ve been down, when I’ve been kicked around, I hold on to those. In a way those are the best times I’ve ever had, because that’s when I’ve found out who I am. And what I want to be’” (Dec. 10, 2007, p. 56).

We’ve all had our share of loss and failure, some of it quite massive. When we can see what look like defeats, though, as opportunities instead for growth or deepening or reconciliation, that’s a new way of looking at things. To look at those painful chapters through the eyes of hope may lead us to imagine, and to live into, a future that is full of possibility and wonder. Hope can be the lens for a new vision.

My wife spent a lot of her time as a little girl at Grandma and Granddad's farm. They lived right next door. One of her vivid memories is from spring planting time when Granddad took on the challenge of trying to plant crops in that rocky Ozark Mountain soil. Now, that's where Betsy and Jack came in. No, Betsy and Jack were not relatives - they were mules. And Karen remembers Granddad hitching them up to an old wood plow and setting out behind them with Karen following barefoot behind Granddad and his mules. Their mission: to break up that stubborn soil so something could grow there!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Three-Open Prayer."

Now, if Granddad had just spread seed on top of that hard soil, not much would have ever grown there. But life did grow there because the ground was opened up and prepared before the seed went in. It's that way with a human heart, as well - especially when it comes to planting the Good News about Jesus in the heart of the lost people around you. You need for the ground - and the heart - to be softened up and opened up before you go in with the seed.

Which is why I want to introduce you to what I call the three-open prayer. There's probably someone in your world that you really want to take to heaven with you - someone in your family or your neighborhood, someone at work or maybe at school. But it's so hard to know how to get started. You don't just walk up to someone and say, "Speaking of Jesus..." Well, the place to start in sharing Christ with someone is on your knees praying the three-open prayer. That prayer will do the plowing that opens, softens and prepares both your heart and the heart of the one you need to tell about Jesus.

The three-open prayer is based on our word for today from the Word of God from Colossians 4:3-4. Paul says, "Pray for us, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ ... Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should ... make the most of every opportunity." Now, based on this Biblical prayer - and with a lost person you care about in mind - you pray something like this.

First, "Lord, open the door." In other words, "Lord, open up a natural opportunity for me to bring up my relationship with You." God will steer things so that you can have an unforced, supernaturally natural opening to talk about the difference Jesus makes. It may be something that happens in the news today or the death of someone famous or someone close, a relationship problem, a spiritual question or experience, something on TV or in a movie - God is infinitely creative in opening a door. Your mission though is then is to "make the most of every opportunity."

Secondly, your prayer should be, "Lord, open their heart." Here's where God moves in with His spiritual plow to prepare that person's heart to hear about Jesus through you. When Paul shared the Gospel with the woman who would become his first convert in Europe, the Bible says, "The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message." Pray for the Lord to do the same in the heart of the person you care about - and expect Him to do it.

Thirdly, your three-open prayer says, "Lord, open my mouth." "When you open the door, Lord, give me the courage to open my mouth - and the words and the approach to use." Start praying this three-open prayer each new day - and expect God to answer it. He's wanted to for a long time. He's been waiting for you to believe Him for it.

And when God opens up the ground in the heart of a person that you care about, you will have the wonderful privilege of planting in there the seed of Jesus' love and, later, the incredible joy of harvest time.

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

*

”Then [King] Agrippa said unto Paul, ‘Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.’ And Paul said, ‘I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day … [were persuaded to become Christians].’” — Acts 26:28-29

One of my best friends, Graham Stansfield, came down with cancer in his mid-forties. He thought he was healed but a year later he was back in the hospital and learned that his body was riddled with the disease. He was given only a few months to live.

I spent as much time with him as I could while he was in the hospital and saw him work through his loss and disappointment, and accept his pending death with a real note of triumph in that he had a deep, assurance that he was not only ready to meet God, his Heavenly Father, but longing to do so.

The hospital staff noted what a vast difference they saw in Graham because of his faith in God than in what they saw in those who were dying without this faith and with a fear of facing whatever lay beyond the grave.

The tragedy is that not one of us has to die without hope. With Easter approaching, we are reminded that God sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross at Calvary, so God could give us a free pardon and the gift of eternal life.

If you don’t have this same hope that Graham had, do put your life right with God today. Remember that “Opportunity comes to pass, not to pause.”

King Agrippa had the greatest opportunity to accept the Savior. As far as we know he never did and died without hope.

As the Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Suggested prayer:

“Dear God, thank you for giving your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and for a free pardon, the gift of eternal life, and hope beyond the grave. Please grant that every person reading this message will not be another “almost persuaded,” but will accept you as their personal Lord and Savior TODAY. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

A Baptist deacon was under conviction about his lack of evangelistic success. He wanted to be a good witness for Jesus but he felt he never had any good opportunities. One day, before taking a business trip, he poured out his heart to God. He asked God to give him a sign, a definite leading to witness to some soul, anyone.

He arrived at the airport and got on his plane. A husky man sat in the seat next to him. "How has your day been?" the deacon asked solicitously. A pained expression came over the heavy-set man's face and he began to spill out his concerns. "My wife just left me... I may be laid off soon... I don't know where to turn! I've even considered ending it all, but I can't bring myself to do it. I was brought up in church but I didn't understand it. What can I do? Oh, what can I do?"

The deacon sat there stunned, then bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, give me a sign! Please give me a sign!"

My wife spent a lot of her time as a little girl at Grandma and Granddad's farm. They lived right next door. One of her vivid memories is from spring planting time when Granddad took on the challenge of trying to plant crops in that rocky Ozark Mountain soil. Now, that's where Betsy and Jack came in. No, Betsy and Jack were not relatives - they were mules. And Karen remembers Granddad hitching them up to an old wood plow and setting out behind them with Karen following barefoot behind Granddad and his mules. Their mission: to break up that stubborn soil so something could grow there!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Three-Open Prayer."

Now, if Granddad had just spread seed on top of that hard soil, not much would have ever grown there. But life did grow there because the ground was opened up and prepared before the seed went in. It's that way with a human heart, as well - especially when it comes to planting the Good News about Jesus in the heart of the lost people around you. You need for the ground - and the heart - to be softened up and opened up before you go in with the seed.

Which is why I want to introduce you to what I call the three-open prayer. There's probably someone in your world that you really want to take to heaven with you - someone in your family or your neighborhood, someone at work or maybe at school. But it's so hard to know how to get started. You don't just walk up to someone and say, "Speaking of Jesus..." Well, the place to start in sharing Christ with someone is on your knees praying the three-open prayer. That prayer will do the plowing that opens, softens and prepares both your heart and the heart of the one you need to tell about Jesus.

The three-open prayer is based on our word for today from the Word of God from Colossians 4:3-4. Paul says, "Pray for us, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ ... Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should ... make the most of every opportunity." Now, based on this Biblical prayer - and with a lost person you care about in mind - you pray something like this.

First, "Lord, open the door." In other words, "Lord, open up a natural opportunity for me to bring up my relationship with You." God will steer things so that you can have an unforced, supernaturally natural opening to talk about the difference Jesus makes. It may be something that happens in the news today or the death of someone famous or someone close, a relationship problem, a spiritual question or experience, something on TV or in a movie - God is infinitely creative in opening a door. Your mission though is then is to "make the most of every opportunity."

Secondly, your prayer should be, "Lord, open their heart." Here's where God moves in with His spiritual plow to prepare that person's heart to hear about Jesus through you. When Paul shared the Gospel with the woman who would become his first convert in Europe, the Bible says, "The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message." Pray for the Lord to do the same in the heart of the person you care about - and expect Him to do it.

Thirdly, your three-open prayer says, "Lord, open my mouth." "When you open the door, Lord, give me the courage to open my mouth - and the words and the approach to use." Start praying this three-open prayer each new day - and expect God to answer it. He's wanted to for a long time. He's been waiting for you to believe Him for it.

And when God opens up the ground in the heart of a person that you care about, you will have the wonderful privilege of planting in there the seed of Jesus' love and, later, the incredible joy of harvest time.

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

*

Mannu grew up in a strict Hindu family in Nepal. But at the age of fifteen, through her friends, she became a Christian. Her parents forced her to choose between them and Christ. Mannu sadly left home and was unable to reconcile with her parents before they died. In 1970 she married Adon Rongong and began a church in their living room.

But in 1981 their plans were cut short. Her husband was arrested and jailed for witnessing to Hindus. The case was finally brought to trial in 1989, and he was sentenced to six years in prison. When the sentence was complete he was banned from the country. Mannu appealed her case to the King, even indicating that she was willing to take his place if the appeal were denied. The King did not overturn the decision nor did he accept her offer.

Mannu struggled about whether she and their three children should leave the country with him, or stay and carry on the ministry. She had been instrumental in starting prayer groups of women throughout the country. She traveled from village to village encouraging the women. She searched the Scriptures and the Lord spoke to her through the verses, "If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you... I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land" (Jeremiah 42:10-12, NIV).

With this promise in her heart, Mannu told her husband she would not leave Nepal. But miracles happen and in early 1990 the constitution of the country changed. Adon was able to continue his work in Nepal, and Mannu realized that like Esther of the Bible, she had been called for such a time as this. Today there are more than 2,000 members in the church which began in their living room. Her husband Adon served as chairman of HIMCOE '96.

Dr. Russell Conwell of Temple University delivered a lecture in which he told of a man in Titusville, Pennsylvania, who sold his farm for $833 to look for oil in Canada. The fellow who left Titusville never found oil, but the man who bought his farm did -- and launched a billion-dollar industry.

Today, with faster communications and transportation, it's not so important where you are, or that the grass might be greener in the next field. What counts is the piece of real estate between your ears. Is it rich, fertile, productive? Or is it a wasteland? If it's either, a change in geography won't matter. Unpack and take a closer look at your own backyard.

_____________

(A message as published in the WALL STREET JOURNAL by United Technologies Corp., Hartford, CT 06101.)

[Holwick: this is a modern version of Conwell's famous "Acres of Diamonds" story. The one who bought the Titusville farm would be John D. Rockefeller.]

*

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. — Eph. 5:15, 16.

God is the only being who has time enough; but a prudent man who knows how to seize occasions can commonly make a shift to find as much as he needs. — James Russel Lowell.

Forenoon and afternoon, and night — Forenoon,

And afternoon, and night — Forenoon, and — what!

The empty song repeats itself. No more?

Yea, that is Life: make this forenoon sublime,

This afternoon a psalm, this night a prayer,

And Time is conquered, and thy task is done. — E. R. Sill alt.