As a church family, we’ve taken a step of faith into “One Love: A Campaign of Opportunities.”  At a glance, most would just call this a building project; but it’s so much more than that!  This campaign is about stepping into the divine opportunities that God has set before us and seeing lives transformed because of our faith and obedience.  It is about, as today’s guest blogger so eloquently states, “seizing the moment.”  I want to say thanks to Sherri for sharing her story with such transparency, and I pray it will inspire you as much as it did me.

The fact that I am a child of GOD is enough to assure me that opportunities will be unlimited. However, I must be prepared and ready to seize the moment.  I like the CEV version of Psalms 23:5, “You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and fill my cup until my cup overflows.”

As my mind wanders, I can think of many instances where I have seized and opportunity and it has worked to my benefit. But, let me share with you an occasion where I seized an opportunity that is working for the benefit of someone that I love dearly. After all, building up others is part of what Kingdom building is all about. I have been at Bethel Harvest for seven years now; therefore I was a part of the building project as we transitioned from the old church to the new.  In stages of the building project Pastor Dalton would call us to this site to gather for various moments of praise and worship. Prior to the carpet being installed, during one service permanent markers were distributed and Pastor Dalton asked us to write on the foundation any miracle that we believed GOD would perform.  At the time I was being bombarded with specialists that had diagnosed my son Israel with so many disorders that he had been declared legally disabled. All of the disabilities were in the autism spectrum. Israel was on four different medications, he was seeing a psychiatrist, an occupational therapist, a licensed clinical social worker and a neurologist. We were seeing so many specialists that it often hindered my ability to attend choir rehearsals and Bible study. Some nights, I was so exhausted from working and meeting Israel’s needs that I would cry until I fell asleep. I heard so much medical jargon that I asked the psychiatrist to explain it in laymen terminology; only to be told, “Mrs. Wilson if you are careful choosing appropriate treatment for your child, there is a possibility that one day you will have a Bill Gates living in your basement.”

Believing that our Pastor had received a word from GOD, I took that permanent marker and wrote on the foundation of this church, “I believe for divine healing for Israel Smith.”  I can take you to the exact spot!    I seized an opportunity for Israel to be healed. That day I took Israel off of three of the four medications and I called all of his specialists with the exception of the neurologist and told them we would no longer need their services.

Today Israel is an honor student, maintaining a 3.75 G.P.A. and he was recognized and featured in the mall as one of Fayette County’s Young Achievers. Not only has Israel excelled academically, he is demonstrating that he has the capabilities of being self sufficient. I may have a “Bill Gates,” but he will not be living in my basement! When I look at Israel, I am reminded of Nehemiah 2:4, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

As believers, no matter the situation GOD will always present divine opportunities.  What does seizing the moment offer? Possibilities unlimited!

This blog brought to you by Sherri Wilson.