 It caught me off guard. I was on my way to school. Jamming to some rap. Feeling pretty good. When all of a sudden, a warning came across my dashboard: “Warning, engine overheated.”
I glanced at the temperature gauge, only to find the dial resting on red. Needless to say, I was freaking out. I stopped my engine as soon as I could. Hello, State Route 733. The outskirts of Pomeroy. My Meigs County readers know two things about 733: there’s nowhere to pull off, and the cell phone service is terrible. After letting my engine cool for a couple of minutes, I made it to Taz’s gas station. I finally reached my dad on the phone. He said, “Pop the hood. Check the antifreeze.”  Jesus shares a parable about 10 bridesmaids who are preparing to meet a bridegroom. Each bridesmaid leaves with a lamp. But only five are wise.
“Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (Matt. 25:3-4 NKJV). When the bridegroom doesn’t come at the expected time, they all sleep. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’” (V. 6 NKJV).  The heart is a muscle. When’s the last time you worked out your heart?
The stronger your heart, the better prepared you are when difficulty comes. I don’t know what you’re struggling with today. Maybe it’s cancer. Maybe it’s job loss. Maybe it’s uncertainty looming in your future. Nonetheless, your heart is hurting. Becoming opportunity takers I would imagine that the majority of us have a list of things setting on the shelves of our hearts. Things that we want to do. Things that we know we should do. Things God has called us to do. Yet those opportunities and callings that keep knocking on the door of our hearts are held-back by fear.
 I felt selfish this morning. Here I am, on Twitter, following all kinds of random people for one reason: to get more followers.
You see, I began a Twitter account for Cross Words Ministries, and now I'm striving to reach out to as many people possible. |