II Tim 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.
In September GaoYan and I had hoped to build on to Sunday worship with Grace’s family and XingEr’s family. This month, however, we have been met with one conflict after another. XingEr and MaMa traveled back to the hometown for more than a month to get some rest and help with XingEr. Grace’s baby had a high fever one Sunday. The next Sunday their family traveled to their hometown for the nut picking festival.
It seems that it’s out of season.
To add to the confusion the Eighth National Paralympic Games just rolled into Hangzhou. ZUST has many students volunteering to help. My classes are moved from mid-week to the weekend. In addition to the seven day October holiday, I’m scheduled to work three weekends in October.
It seems that it’s out of season.
One morning making my dash to 8:00 o’clock class, I nearly crashed into an African student holding his open Bible sharing the Word of God with a Chinese student. As I swerved my bicycle I overheard “good for you” in African accent. Hundreds of students were streaming past on their way to class. I prayed for them as I locked my bike and ran up the stairs. No weekly time, no weekly place. “Praise the Lord!”
GaoYan and I have been preparing ourselves for out of season. GaoYan listens to the Bible on her MP3 player each night as she washes the dishes. My nightly reading to Caleb is from a children’s Bible, a version I understand better. Sharing God’s Word happens in playtime with Joy and other toddlers. Sharing God’s Word happens when parents and grandparents are picking up at the daycare. Sharing God’s Word happens with shared meals.
It’s OK to be out of season.
Galatians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Matt 5:13, 14 You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matt 28:19 Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations.
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Amen! This is a great message of encouragement, to fit in the Word and sharing it, well, NOW, whenever we have the opportunity. And so proud of that African guy.
ReplyDeleteGood words, Josh. Our family has gone through lots of seasons during our time in China and it can be tough. In our experience, those "slow" times are good opportunities to go deeper with God and focus on the few people who ARE available. And like all seasons, this one will pass and eventually lead to a season of sowing, then a season of harvest, and on and on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!