A Lesson from a Bull with No Tail.

Galatians 6:10 (NIV)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded, "Son, go stand out in that field and I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood - pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber - as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available.

The same thing is also true of opportunities to serve Christ. God often opens doors -- opportunities to speak up for Him, opportunities to minister to someone who is hurting or in need, opportunities to make an influence on the world around us. If we allow them to pass by (perhaps because we are waiting for something easier to come along), we may miss out on them altogether.

May you take advantage of the doors God opens for you this day!

Dear Lord, we pray that today we will take advantage of the things that are before us today.  Help us not let opportunities pass us by. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Are You Making the Most Out of Every Opportunity?

Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

As we celebrated my youngest son’s and my birthday today with our family around us it was fun to think about all that has happen In the past 19 years. So many great times. So many questions asked.

I thought about life and started thinking about, why things are like they are? I started thinking about the many questions that have surfaced in life. I realized that many of them were hard to answer, and perhaps others could not be answered at all. Sometimes we have no answers for the questions.

Mommy, Daddy........Why?

Mommy, why are the roses red?

Mommy, why is the grass green and the sky blue?

Why does a spider have a web and not a house?

Daddy, why can't I play in your toolbox?

mom, why do I have to read?

Daddy, why can't I stay out until 12:00? The other kids are.

Mother, why do you hate me?

Daddy, why don't the girls like me?

Why do I have to be so skinny?

Why do I have braces and wear glasses?

Why do I have to be 16?

Mom, why do I have to graduate?

Dad, why do I have to grow up?

Mom, Dad, Why are we digging the hole?

Mom, why don't you write more often?

Dad, why do I miss my old friends?

Dad, why do you love me so much?

Dad, why do you spoil me?

Mom, why is it hard to make new friends?

Dad, why do I miss being at home?

Dad, why does my heart skip a beat when she looks in my eyes?

Mother, why is being "in love" the greatest feeling in the world?

Mother, why do they have to grow up?

Daddy, why do they have to leave?

Dad, why did Bomper have to leave?

Why did my youth slip past me?

Why does my hair glisten a shiny silver?

Why do my hands quiver when I bend to pick a flower?

Why, God, are the roses red?

As I reread the questions I wrote I felt a small tear slowly sliding down my cheek. It was then that I realized that this life that God has given each of us goes by so fast. Let’s not focus on the questions but instead take the time to enjoy each moment as it comes.

Dear Lord, thank You for the time that You have given to each of us. Help us not waste the time You have given us but to embrace it and enjoy it to the fullest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.