Ripple Effect

Port side view of Logos Hope at sea off Gibraltar.

I was thinking last night about how our lives are like a story book, carefully woven together by God, the author of all creation. Each of our stories has chapters and as I look I can see the chapters in my life, few as they may be. There's the first chapter of my life as a baby, my family's time in the desert, being home schooled, becoming a teenager and more recently a chapter as a part of this fellowship. These chapters sometimes overlap and interchange but they are there all the same. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 it says

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

It's exciting to think that there are many more chapters of my life which will contain times for all of these.
Another thing I noticed is that each chapter usually starts with a door. This door is an opportunity and a faith choice we have to make that will impact the rest of our life, though we don't always realise it at the time.

These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the keys of David, he that opens and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; I know your works; behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it; for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:7b-8

Right now I am stepping through a door which I KNOW will change my life forever. This door is the beginning of a totally new chapter in my life, a chapter which will hold joy & pain, mountain tops & valleys, some of the expected and lots of surprises. But no matter what it holds I know that God will be with me constantly and faithfully, guiding me and weaving the abstract paragraphs of my life into a beautiful story.
Each of us has a story with all it's chapters and doors. I challenge you to live each chapter to its fullest and approach every door with God sought wisdom and a willingness to step out in faith.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

This is the cry of my heart as I enter this exciting chapter of my life. May it be your also!