PLEASANT WORDS FOR THE SOUL:  I held a moment in my hand.  Brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a shiny sliver out of one hour.  I dropped it carelessly.  Oh God!  I knew not I held opportunity.    - Hazel Lee

DO NOT DISTURB

"A man's heart deviseth his way:  but the Lord directeth his steps."    Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever wished you could have a 'do not disturb' sign around your neck?  When I get engrossed in a project I have to confess that sometimes I do wish I had that 'do not disturb' sign.  Please don't bother me!  I am busy!  God convicted me about this several years ago.  It was a busy Saturday afternoon and I was in a tremendous time crunch trying to get my junior Sunday school classroom decorated for the new fall quarter so I could get home for more preparations for Sunday.   A little head popped in the door.  "Do you need any help Mrs. Lancaster?"  It was one of my Sunday school students.  My first impulse was to say, "Thank you honey, but I don't believe I do."  But the look on that little face, along with the nudging of the Holy Spirit caused me to say, "Well sure, I could use some help.  Come on in."  There is no doubt in my mind that I could have finished quicker had I worked alone, but I would have missed the opportunity to get to know my student better, to talk with her about spiritual things and to make some sweet memories for both her and her teacher.  I was reminded that day of Proverbs 16:9.  "Man deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."  We can carefully plan and organize our days, but ultimately it is God who directs our steps....even our interruptions.  God is teaching me to not treat  interruptions as a source of frustration and irritation, but to consider whether the interuption could be an opportunity from Him.

Dear Lord,  please help me to look at interruptions with discernment, knowing that some interruptions may be a golden opportunity from you.  In Jesus name.  Amen