The year is 1996, and no one has heard of Charlize Theron before. The movie is 2 Days in the Valley. All of a sudden she is the hottest topic on everyone’s lips! The Hollywood gossip pages can’t get enough of this beautiful farm girl from Benoni. And the South African people all feel equally proud of their lovely local export to Hollywood. From there it is one great movie role after another. We can all remember the fairy-tale story of how she arrived in Los Angeles with a one-way ticket her mother bought her, and how she had an outburst in a bank because they wouldn’t cash her cheque for $500, and how all of that got the attention of an agent who gave her his business card. Charlize received an opportunity to fame and fortune! She had her moment of roaring thunder that changed her life forever!
What fascinates me, is that somehow Hollywood perfected the idea that everybody will be ‘discovered’ by some kind of big name in some kind of fantastic industry, with a superhero tale to tell afterwards! And they portray this illusion in their films as well as the biographies of their stars. Unfortunately reality looks a little bit different for most people. And I’m sure that if you had the opportunity to ask Charlize, she would tell you that it was not all fun and games in the period between 1994 when she arrived in Los Angeles and met her agent, to 1996 when she finally landed the leading role that opened up other opportunities for her. And I am also sure that she would tell you about the hard work, tears, prayers and the numerous times she wanted to quit ever since that great breakthrough in 1996! “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12
Why is it that we so easily believe the dogma preached by Hollywood, but find it so hard to accept the truth given to us through scripture? Why are so many people waiting for a neon sign to flash above their heads to go and do something? Why do people wait for that one big momentous occasion that will change their whole life, their whole being, forever? Because the same way we make the sad mistake of waiting for something spectacular to happen in our personal lives to say we received our ‘big break’, we sometimes wait for that same dramatic event in our spiritual lives. We sit and wait for a flash of lightning to strike, to say we received ‘a sign’ to go and do something remarkable. But unfortunately we tend to sometimes wait so patiently for that one thing that will change everything forever, that we miss the moments in between! Those perfect moments that we are supposed to go and share! The moments we are supposed to use to encourage & support each other. The moments that are meant to strengthen each others faith!
“Preach the word as an official messenger; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct those who err in doctrine or behavior, warn those who sin, exhort and encourage those who are growing toward spiritual maturity, with inexhaustible patience and faithful teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:2 AMP
Maybe you can relate with this today. Maybe you have received numerous subtle messages from God to voice your thoughts, or to share with others what He is showing you. Maybe you are the one who is unsure if you should make a stand, because you are still waiting for a neon sign arrow to direct you. Or maybe you are doubting if this is the right moment to fully surrender your life to our Lord and Saviour, because you don’t have a story to tell yet. Well, this is your sign. This is your moment. This is your flash of lightning! Somewhere someone is waiting for you to step into obedience, because they need to hear what you have to say. Someone needs you, but they don’t know it and you don’t know it. And the only way to solve this is to trust in God’s timing, and to trust that what you hear is truly God’s voice, and not just your own opinion.
“Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God. He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit gives life.” - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Trust God, believe, and tell!
Be blessed.
Yolandi
Why is it that we so easily believe the dogma preached by Hollywood, but find it so hard to accept the truth given to us through scripture? Why are so many people waiting for a neon sign to flash above their heads to go and do something? Why do people wait for that one big momentous occasion that will change their whole life, their whole being, forever? Because the same way we make the sad mistake of waiting for something spectacular to happen in our personal lives to say we received our ‘big break’, we sometimes wait for that same dramatic event in our spiritual lives. We sit and wait for a flash of lightning to strike, to say we received ‘a sign’ to go and do something remarkable. But unfortunately we tend to sometimes wait so patiently for that one thing that will change everything forever, that we miss the moments in between! Those perfect moments that we are supposed to go and share! The moments we are supposed to use to encourage & support each other. The moments that are meant to strengthen each others faith!
“Preach the word as an official messenger; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct those who err in doctrine or behavior, warn those who sin, exhort and encourage those who are growing toward spiritual maturity, with inexhaustible patience and faithful teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:2 AMP
Maybe you can relate with this today. Maybe you have received numerous subtle messages from God to voice your thoughts, or to share with others what He is showing you. Maybe you are the one who is unsure if you should make a stand, because you are still waiting for a neon sign arrow to direct you. Or maybe you are doubting if this is the right moment to fully surrender your life to our Lord and Saviour, because you don’t have a story to tell yet. Well, this is your sign. This is your moment. This is your flash of lightning! Somewhere someone is waiting for you to step into obedience, because they need to hear what you have to say. Someone needs you, but they don’t know it and you don’t know it. And the only way to solve this is to trust in God’s timing, and to trust that what you hear is truly God’s voice, and not just your own opinion.
“Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God. He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit gives life.” - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Trust God, believe, and tell!
Be blessed.
Yolandi