Through the Window

If we read the Bible often enough we can begin to notice things. Repeated words or stories. Such is the case with today's story about windows.

In the 19th chapter of 1st Samuel, King Saul is trying to kill David. David's wife Michal warned David and helped him escape when Saul's men came for him.

"Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped." - 1 Samuel 19:11-12

That phrase, "through a window", caught my attention. I've read that before. 'Through a window' appears 11 times in the Bible.

The first is in the Book of Joshua when spies were sent into Jericho. To escape, Rahab let the spies down 'through a window.'

"So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall." - Joshua 2:15

Who was Rahab? A prostitute, yes, but what else is significant about her? And what did she accomplish for the spies?

Well, she delivered the spies from certain death. And she was in the lineage of the Messiah - Jesus.

The Apostle Paul was another example of someone being saved by being let down "through a window."

"In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands." - 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

Who was Paul? An apostle of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Hosea 13:3 mentions "escaping through a window." Even the Song of Songs speaks of someone "looking through a window." That 'someone' is Jesus.

It is only 'through' our faith in Jesus that we can escape this world and the death that awaits us all. Our faith in Jesus is the window.

We all have heard the phrase a "window of opportunity." What good is that opportunity if we don't take it? What good is a window if we don't use it?

"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

WE are the ones that have to get into the basket, as Paul did. WE are the ones who have to go "through the window" by placing our faith in Jesus.

God has provided a means to escape sin and death. His name is Jesus. And Jesus is waiting on the other side of the window. Watching. Waiting.

What are you waiting for?

True Fellowship

"Time sure flies when you're having fun." That phrase couldn't have been any more true than on Monday morning when I met with a friend for 270 minutes. Or the next day when I visited some friends at the place I used to work. Be careful what you pray for. If it's something that God wants anyway, you are sure to get it.

My Monday friend and I talked about disc golf, marriage, God, ministry, sharing the Gospel, and life in general. The time sure did fly by. Four and a half hours! Why? Because we were both doing something that each of us enjoyed doing - fellowship.

Fellowship is not hanging out after church and talking about the Packers. Fellowship is hanging out after church and talking about God. Fellowship is sharing things that you are struggling with and having someone pray for you. It's lifting someone up who is going through a low point in their life. It's praising God for the opportunities you prayed for and then acting on them.

The best thing I did LAST week was pray for opportunities to share my faith. THIS week those opportunities arrived and it was time to get busy. What a joy it is, serving the Lord!

Monday was a busy day. I had that meeting with a friend that lasted all morning and into the afternoon. I left that meeting with a sense of direction and a new way to spread the Gospel. Prayer and hugs. Then I checked my voicemail and heard of another friend who had just had a heart attack. More prayer and virtual hugs through those prayers.

Tuesday was another busy day, visiting some friends at the place I used to work. Sharing life, sharing the Gospel. More encouragement and hugs. What a wonderful day.

Turning off the television and disconnecting with social media are not only possible, they are actually enjoyable!

What opportunities will today bring? I have no idea. One thing I DO know though. I will be serving the Lord and enjoying every minute of it.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:25

"That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

Rise Above It - Switchfoot

Almost Missed It

One of the things I pray for is opportunities to share the Gospel with someone or to pray with someone. I pray for those opportunities as if God never gives them to me. He gives me plenty. I am the one who misses the opportunities He gives me. Perhaps I should pray not to miss the opportunities when they come. And I do. :)

The other day I was at Kwik Trip - Wisconsin's favorite convenience store. I'm probably there every morning during the work week. This past Monday was no exception. I was standing in line with my sausage, egg & cheese muffin and a container of milk, waiting to check out.

When I got up the counter I asked the cashier how she was doing. Apparently she was having a rather bad day. I listened as she told me about her husband who was not being very "Christmassy" and mentioned something about how she'd like to change husbands, just for Christmas Eve. She also spoke about how her children weren't coming home for Christmas. She was NOT having a very good day.

After looking back over my shoulder at the long line of people behind me, I said to the cashier, "I will pray for you." She said thanks and I turned to leave. I took two steps when I could have sworn I heard someone say, "Do it now, you idiot!" That someone was me.

So I went back and stood off to the side for a bit, waiting for the line to go down. When it did, I approached the same cashier again and told her I would like to pray for her . . . now. She consented.

I grabbed her hand and prayed for her husband, that God might soften his heart this Christmas and make him see its true meaning. I prayed for her children, that they might embrace the joy of family. And I prayed for the cashier, that the true spirit of Christmas might be with her and her family, always. Amen.

We get so busy this time of year. We have so many things to do, places to go and people to see. We buy presents, bake cookies, we often forget to take the time to do the really important things in life. To love someone.

After we got done praying the lady looked at me and said, "Thank you. That actually helped." I left the store smiling because I was given an opportunity and, although I almost missed it, I didn't.

How many opportunities are we given during the course of the day that we miss completely? I think I need some type of alarm system that goes off whenever an opportunity presents itself.

I'll leave you with the lyrics of an obscure Christian song by Josh Bates entitled Less. Second verse . . .

The night descends and I have to face the dark
And I should pray before I sleep but it's so hard
Have I done a single thing to make Him proud
I had so many chances, but did I fail Him somehow
I'm afraid that... I'm less than I thought I was.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." - Titus 2:11-14

Less - Josh Bates

Opportunity

One of the things I have prayed for over the past few years is the ability to recognize opportunities when God places them in front of me. Opportunities for me to give my testimony about how God changed my life. Opportunities to speak into the lives of those I encounter on any given day. Usually I drop the ball and have many post-opportunity talks with myself like, "Idiot!" or the always-popular "What I SHOULD have said was . . ." Well, not this time. God answered my prayers this past week by gifting me awareness and confidence in two situations. And I scored!!!

Now before I tell you how God provided me with those opportunities this week, I need to give you some background information. Like who I was . . . you know . . . before.

I was what most people would call a good person, a good dad. I loved my wife and my children. I had a good job. I went to church a couple of times a year. I was good, or so I thought. Little did I know that my children were being neglected . . . by me. Although I was living as a good example in terms of what the world thinks of as "good," I was not leading a godly life nor was I "training up my children in the way they should go" (verse).

After Jesus rescued me from the life I was living I recognized my shortcomings. I knew that I had failed my children, spiritually, and prayed that God would have mercy on me and them. I began to pray. Pray for opportunities to speak into their lives about Jesus.

Fast forward to this past Saturday. Our daughter was visiting. She and my wife had planned to go out that evening, have a glass of wine, and chat. This, after shopping and talking all day together. After supper my daughter and I were sitting at the dining room table when my wife came in and, looking at the dinner dishes on the counter, said, "I don't think I can go our tonight. I'm tired and all of those dishes are staring at me."

Oh daughter simply said, "Okay."

<pause>

God was about to answer two prayers at once. He had just laid an opportunity in front of me. I'm sure He was waiting to see what I would do with it. I have missed so many other opportunities in my life. Why would I change now, right?

<play>

"I'll take you out. Do you like hot chocolate?"

"Sure!"

Opportunity recognized and taken. My daughter and I spent an hour and a half at a local coffee house having a most wonderful conversation. We talked about God, about church, "religion," relationships, husband/wife submission/sacrifice . . . all kinds of things. It was amazing!

The following day at church I told my friend and also our pastor about what had happened. "Praise God!" was their reply. It was like God had given me the football, despite me having a history of "fumbling" opportunities, and I had just come off the field after scoring a touchdown.

A few days later at work I was down in the plan room, wrapping some presents for some college kids when a co-worker came in and asked, "What have you got there?"

Ding!!! Opportunity!!

We talked about God for 20 minutes. I gave him my testimony, telling him how another co-worker had led me to Christ. It was an awesome opportunity to tell someone else about my faith and why I believe what I do.

Wow! Two opportunities this past week. Each one taken. May God continue to provide opportunities in EACH of our lives. To talk about Him. To answer questions about Him. May we always be prepared to give and answer for the hope that we have.

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." - 2 Timothy 4:2

Joe Gibbs - I Am Second