It's kinda like being a light in the night. Bugs are attracted to the light. People are attracted to the light within you. When we finally quit seeing those people who "bug" us as distractions, ministry indeed will be all around and ever present. Joy comes when we are no longer "bug zappers" but a place to warm in this cold, dark world.

.....peace.....

So glad to hear you are open to new opportunities. Isn't it great when we know the Lord is moving and opening up things for us to do that stretches our comfort level :-) It is important too as you mention to keep balance...just because something is good doesn't mean we can do it all! God bless you for sharing.

Hey Mike, I read Nancy Moser's book called A Steadfast Surrender. It has this very message at the core of the novel. While it is a Christian fiction book, it honestly is one of the best I have read on the subject of allowing God to take you where you should go out of your comfort zone. I think of it often. I wrote to Nancy after reading some of her books and this one was just insanely speaking to me. She emailed back with scripture verses for me to enjoy and allowed me to choose a book from her website to send to me autographed. It turned out there was a sequel to this one and I chose it.

I own two beautiful houses and am living in a small camper by choice for a season. Long story I believe you are aware of and won't go into for others right now. In this book A Steadfast Surrender, a woman who is wealthy and has a certain fame, is called on by God to surrender her things and give it away (like Nicodemus sorta) and she just goes without funds and lives in a library for awhile...without invitation...and God leads her to people through circumstances...and she grows and helps others and soon she finds she loses nothing. 

There is another book The Seat Beside Me which has a character that shows in this book Steadfast Surrender, but it is truly not a sequel. Nancy has a website which speaks of her incredible testimony and her genuine character as an author and speaker. I sent a few to the jail for Josh and he said he was SURPRISED by how good they were. 

All that to say we should be living in a steadfast surrender to Him out of our comfort zone. I can testify that is when the miracles happened in my own life. 

I scheduled lunch for a young woman tomorrow for her birthday present. I have been trying to get to know her to tell her about God. Impossible at work, where she sits and time afforded. I am using the lunch for her birthday to plant seeds. She isn't someone I would seek companionship with, but she isn't following Christ, is in her twenties and living wild. Who knows what a little Mexican food and Jesus will bring. I will ask you join in prayer with me about this and those of you who are faithful to read Mike, pray for my lunch with Tammie. 

I am OUT OF CONTROL! 

I went to lunch with Tammie. She popped by my desk and asked if Kristin could come too. She would pay her own way, she said. I agreed and said a prayer as it was half an hour away. I opted to pay for both and we talked openly and I shared some about my beliefs by just telling them of some funny stuff from life's experiences over the weekend. A natural leading.

I got back and got two beautiful emails thanking me and saying they wanted to go again and treat me. They both were so honestly exhuberant about it that it touched me. I have been working with them since March and never got much more than casual elevator talk but they opened up hugely and were accepting of who I am in Christ. Imperfect but covered in His grace.

All that and shrimp fajita, woo hoo!

extra note: I do read a lot, always have but Nancy is a different read. She has one called The Good Nearby about a young girl abused growing up to deal with spousal abuse. Her Grandma tells her to be the Good Nearby. Other books of hers has a theme of God opportunities, central theme to them. I felt like she knew my life. I wrote to her once on email and told her that I had come to a suicide in the book ahd had to lay it down, not sure I could read further. I was afraid how she dealt with it. I finally had the courage and told her that I was ok. I guess after several readings and sharing with her, we developed a bit of a friendship. She even wrote to me about the elections and her views. I am blessed with her open honesty...she is not just an author to me now. I bought every book she wrote off of Amazon except the one she gave to me.

Romance isn't her theme, God Winks are...:)