hmmmmm, where did I put that?  missing files, missing workbook pages, missing tools, missing camping equipment, missing check book…where did I put that?  Why didn’t I bring that?

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity” Henry Hartman

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Seneca

“Be prepared” Scout Motto(boy and girl)

Today, I was led to go up to the clubhouse and do the workout with ladies in my community. I found out that two ladies will be leaving, and the manager will have no one to do the workouts with when the Winter Texans flow in. Apparently they are coming in next week. She asked me to come up and do the workouts with her….

I have been praying about how I could be of help here in this RV Resort in which we live. I have friends praying that I would know what to do, and what to say when God opens up the doors. Now, to understand more fully what happened this morning, you have to understand what happened last week.

I took a flying jump into the walking workouts at our clubhouse. And the poor Achilles tendon did not respond well to the firmer calf, no matter how much better that calf looked! So, I bowed out for the rest of the week, and yesterday. I was going to workout at home, on my own.

But this morning, I woke up, and had the sense that I was supposed to go up and participate. Now to the preparation part. I knew I was to workout this morning…and so I had dressed for the part. But I had not

• put on my heart rate monitor…because I assumed I was doing the simple stuff here in my trailer!
• prepared a bottle of water…because the sink is right by my workout place at home
• grabbed a sweat towel or headband…because those are all available in the laundry basket right beside my workout place in my home.
• tested my blood sugar…ditto.

I was able to pace myself, with Gabriel’s discouraging looks when the heart rate got too high, though he got mad at me, and wouldn’t look at me when I wouldn’t sit down. That’s his job. My job is to listen! But, we made it through!

But if I am going to be doing this on a regular basis, I need to set up some keys! I need to BE PREPARED! Keys –

• I need to go to bed per the days of creation time line(rest at night, up with the light)
• I have to make sure I get up early enough to have my devotional time, and write something on this blog.
• I have to wear the heart rate monitor…so I can keep track of my heart rate
• I have to say “I’m done”…when I’m done.
• I need to take treats for Gabe when my Heart rate goes to high….

We have to be prepared so that when the opportunity comes, we can say yes…and I guess that is what everything is about…being prepared so that when opportunity knocks, we are ready and able to open the door and walk right through.

This morning, I did not want to get up and even consider a workout…because workouts tend to cause me pain…yes, good, but also bad. If I had not, I might not have spoken with the manager about supporting her in this endeavor.

OPPORTUNITIES

There are many things that I am called to do, that I do not WANT to do…such as,

• be nice to my husband on those rare occasions that he is a jerk.
• I don’t FEEL like smiling at the clerk that snorted hello to me.
• I really want to yell at the driver that almost cost many of us our lives because of the swerving in and out.

Why don’t I? PREPARATION

• A soft answer turns away wrath,(Pr 15:1)
• “if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours,”
• seriously, what good does yelling at another driver? And it could cause me to be distracted about what else is going on.

Success comes from opportunity and preparation meeting each other.  I know that I have not been prepared for many opportunities that have come my way. On the other hand, I know there is only one way to cure that…prepare!

He that is faithful in few things will be trusted with bigger things(writer’s summary/paraphrase).(Matt 25:14-30)

The opposite is also true, he that ISN’T faithful in the small things will not be trusted with anything bigger, but rather, even that small thing will be taken away from him!

If we can’t be trusted with our own devotionals, why would He trust us with Bible study for others?
If we can’t be scheduled about our own life(speaking mostly to me) how can He trust us to be faithful to a schedule with impact on other’s lives?

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Col 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Prov 22:20  Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

As Christians, we are to be ready always to give an answer…are we?

As Christians, our conversation is to be always full of grace and seasoned with salt…how’s our spice rack looking?

As Christians, we have no excuse…because God has provided us with the words of truth…so that we could go into all the world, preaching the gospel, making disciples of all men.

I need to check my spice rack daily, make sure my fruit of the Spirit is in good shape, check out my armor to make sure it is in good repair, BEFORE the opportunities arise!

How about you?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!