Skip to main content

“The greatest opportunities require the highest risk.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 1405-1406). Kindle Edition.

Today is in Margaret and my life a very exciting day.  It is our daughter Stefanie’s birthday.  She was born 30 years ago today between 12:00 am and 1:00 am in Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana.  The fact of being a parent is for sure one of the greatest opportunities two people can have together but it also has such high risks in it.

There is the risk of childbirth.  It can be a life and death situation.  Nearly six months back we saw that potential when Stef and Andrews’s little Harper was born.  She was at risk.  Margaret and I barely made it from Pasadena, California to Las Vegas, Nevada before Stef went into the delivery room.  The birthing of a child has risks.

Then raising them to adult hood has risks.  But there are so many great opportunities along the way.  I love the privilege of being a parent and I love the privilege of being a grandparent.  But it all started with another great opportunity that also was a great risk when I asked Margaret to be my wife and she said, “Yes.”  And it for sure has been worth the risk.

Life has it’s opportunities that have great risks involved in them, but they are so worth the risk.  I hurt for people who have all through their lives taken the safe way.  They were afraid and so they let so many great opportunities go by the way.  In reality they haven’t really lived life, they have just existed. 

I have a friend who lives on the east coast who is afraid to fly.  He’s never seen the Rockies in Colorado or the Sierras’ of California.  Of course he has never seen Hawaii.  His fear kept him from experiencing so much of God’s wonders. 

Others have lived the life of a single because of the fear of rejection.  Oh there is nothing wrong with being single but not because of fear. 

There are so many great opportunities out there that God has prepared for us to enjoy and experience but in all of them there is some risk involved.  But there is also a God who will be there to guide you through those risks.  That is what faith and trust is all about.

So what great opportunity are you afraid to take the risk to do?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Jesus comes in the midst of the torrent."

  A thought by Max Lucado from his book,  You Are Never Alone  (p. 60). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   We all have storms in our lives, don't we? Max says, "No one gets through life scot-free. At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher." John 6:16–18 (NIV) says, "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." Max goes on, "The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing. "If only Jesu

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind