There was a knock on my front door.  I answered to find a very classy woman 15 years my senior.  She was beautiful, very well dressed, awkward and obviously flustered.  She was struggling with her words, unsure how to say what she needed to say.  She looked at me then glanced at my two children standing beside me and I quickly realized what would follow would not be pleasant.  I directed the children off to a task and invited her to sit on my porch.  I closed the front door behind me to allow privacy as she asked me if I were having an affair with her husband! 

She had found my business card in his wallet and tracked me down suspecting me as the adulterous woman.  I didn’t know how he possessed my card and I didn’t recognize him by name but since we were in the process of filling a rental property I suspected he had come to our open house.

She explained how a community leader – someone close to her family – had an affair with a mutual friend and their sin had not only destroyed two families but rocked the entire community.  She now questioned her own husband.

I had not even dressed for the day, combed my hair or put on makeup and here she was intimidating me with her beauty and class.  I quickly assured her how blessed I was in my own marriage and had no need or desire for another.  I explained how mine and my husband’s commitments went deeper than our own relationship because we were committed to the Lord. 

As we continued to sit on the porch, I comforted her with scripture, we prayed together and I became thankful that she had come.  Had she gone elsewhere they may not have pointed her to Christ, the great comforter.  We embraced and said our goodbyes and I continued to pray for her throughout the week – grieved over the consequences of sin of those I had never even met.

We may think our sin is private and no one will know or be affected but the Bible says “you may be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

” For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”  Luke 8:17 (NIV)

We never know when an opportunity will knock to share our faith and comfort someone, even if that person may feel hostile towards us at first.  So we need to have our eyes open to opportunities, even when we aren’t seeking them out.  You never know who will knock on your door!

“Woman Covering Her Mouth With Both Hands” by photostock/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Copyright©2014, Gloria Stucky

 

 

It looks like I may have to go to battle and fight for something of importance to me.

I’ve often heard the saying “pick your battles” and never given much thought as to the importance of choosing the right battlefield until reading about the treason of Absalom, King David’s son.

When David heard of the treason his first response was “Arise, and let us flee or we shall not escape from Absalom.  Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”                  2 Samuel 15:14b

David had been a fighting machine and experienced many victories.  Instead of standing his ground to fight he fled toward way of the wilderness.  At a later time he would number the people and set captains over them.  He then sent them out to fight where they would find victory.

“The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place that day.  For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.” 2 Samuel 18:7,8

David’s wisdom in choosing the right time and place to fight the battle saved lives of his own people and brought victory.

Some battles cannot be escaped and we too must use wisdom in timing our battles and choosing the right battlefield.  Timing and location can make all the difference in who wins the victory.

“Woman with Boxing Gloves by Ambro”/FreeDigitalPhotos.net”

 Copyright©2014, Gloria Stucky