Carpe  Diem

Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. –Colossians 4:5-6

Many times over the years we have taken groups of people on short term mission trips.  We have gone to Australia, the UK, Japan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Mexico. Brian and I have made lasting friends of the pastors we have been with in those places. After spending only short time in a country where we often communicated through charades and hugs, we have seen people who were stand-offish when they first arrived, crying when leaving their new friends in another country. These mission trip participants learned that God can do great things in a short amount of time.

It is an important lesson to remember: God doesn’t need weeks or months to change lives. He doesn’t even need us to speak the same language. (I remember a great language barrier in Japan, but we had God in common.)  Each interaction, each moment, each second Christians have an opportunity to not only represent who Christ is, but to tell others about what Jesus did for each of us. You may only get one opportunity with a person to be an example or to share the good news.

Each day, remind yourself to seize the day! Don’t miss out on the opportunities the Lord has for you by running through the daily hustle and bustle of normal life. Look for areas where you see God working and then make the most of those opportunities. Be ready and be wise.

What opportunity might God give you today?

Blessings,

Thora

Author: Thora Anderson

Pastor, wife, daughter, sister, friend, Recovering worrier, Thinker, Mother of two teenagers. I've been in ministry for over 30 years and count that as huge success. View all posts by Thora Anderson