DO YOU HAVE TIME?
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Sent from a friend, former college-classmate - Rinato Abregana:
God will get our attention one way or the other.
Which way will He get yours?
"The Master called my name one day because he needed someone to go :
I said " Lord, in my spare time, between school, spending time with my
wife, working from 8 to 6, and trying to coordinate a program for my
community to help our children do better, I will help you look. See, I know
I can't go right now cause I have so much to do."
He said " well where shall I find such a person?
I thought I saw your name on my list of available people."
"Well Lord, that was the prayer that I prayed last year, but since then,
things have changed."
He said "like what?"
"Well I'm working on my Ph.D. and I'm needed by so
many people and my husband is always wanting something done, and on
top of that my community EXPECTS me to help and give to them
so..."
"Well, seeing that you're busy, I'll let you go,
but we will talk again,if YOU have some time."
I went on through the days, and the weeks, and
the months completing my task as always.
One evening, while studying for my comp exams, I received a call from
the hospital concerning my husband. He had been in a terrible accident and
was in critical condition. I dropped everything and ran to the hospital
where I found my husband hanging on for dear life.
I immediately begin to pray "Lord, don't take him now, I can't bare it" but
my prayer echoed off the wall and returned into mine own ear.
That next morning I left the hospital tired and weary, and walked in the
door of my classroom just in time to begin my comps.
As the professors begin asking me questions I opened my mouth to speak
but nothing came out. In my mind, I begin praying, praying hard, but my
prayer echoed again and found myself upset at God because he was no
where to be found. I could not explain to them what was happening.
After leaving from my exams, I called in to work because I was so
distraught at all that was going on. I explained to my supervisor what
had happened and she demanded that I take some time off.
After visiting my husband in the hospital that evening, I went home and fell
into a sunken state crying and despairing. Just then I heard
someone calling my name. Lord, is that YOU?"
"Well yes it is. Do YOU have some time? I wanted to see if I could
just talk ..... "Instead of waiting to hear his questions, I lashed out in
anger and resentment.
"How is it that when I needed you today, YOU couldn't be found and
last night I cried and cried but all I heard were echoes from the walls. My
husband is dying, I'm flunking out of school, I may not have a job and you
can just sit and say YOU want to talk. . "
The Lord interrupted me in my foolish speaking.
"My child, I was busy, out looking for someone to go and tell others
about me when you cried. By the time I came to answer you had moved on to
something else. So, I decided to let your husband rest, and keep you home
for a few days that way MAYBE you would get in touch with me, if YOU had
some time. For you see, before your husband, the community or your job needs
you, I NEED YOU. And if all these things take you away from me, I have to
almost take them away from YOU, in order to get a moment."I calmed down and
began to cry. For I remembered my prayer of wanting to go and do for the
Lord.
He said "I just wanted to recheck with you to see if you knew of
ANYONE that I could send to be a witness for me and tell others about me. ..
any one at all....?"
With tears in my eyes and feeling so unworthy I said " Lord, send me,
I'll go." God should never have to ask us if we have some
time. When he died on the cross he put aside everything to insure us
eternal life. We should be more than GRATEFUL to do service for the
Lord,to witness, and to tell ANYONE we can about Jesus. Don't let your
things",WHATEVER they may be, get you so tied up that God has to become a
meeting time in your yearly planner. He had more than enough time for us.
The least we could do is have time for him.
Please pass this on, if YOU have some time.
