Pastor’s Study

Grant/Lovell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church 50l West End Place

Sunday School: 10 am

Sunday Worship: 11:30 am

From the Desk of: Rev. May E. Hall

Then the Lord said to him “What is that in your hand? -Exodus 4:1-2

Opportunities are like eggs. If they are held too tightly, they may break. If they are held carelessly, they may fall to the floor. If they are released too soon, eggs may end up everywhere, including the face. If opportunity is incubated with sufficient time, attention, and investment, it may hatch into something great.

Many times we do not realize an opportunity when it comes along. In may come disguised as hard work. It may show up wearing the garment of impossibility. Opportunities may hover just beyond our reach or above our capacity or capability to take full advantage of them. Fear and doubt are also injected into the equation. Nevertheless, when we fail to recognize opportunities, we may end up regretting not reaching for them when we had the chance.

There is a story often told about a boy who looked forward to celebrating his birthday fishing with his dad. The day arrived and it rained. The boy’s parents tried to help him look on the bright side. Their community needed rain and they could fish another day. Nothing seemed to brighten his mood. He moped and pouted all day, missing the joy of cake and ice cream with friends. Suddenly the clouds cleared, the rain stopped, and the boy went fishing with his father in the afternoon. Later that night as the boy knelt by his bedside for evening prayers he asked for God’s forgiveness. I am sorry for the way I acted earlier, he confessed, I just didn’t see far enough ahead.

God was having a meeting with Moses in the Burning Bush Café. God presented a great opportunity to become the CEO of Let My People God Inc. Moses offered excuses instead of an acceptance speech. He said he had a handicap and credibility issue. God answered Moses Questions with a question, “What is in your hand? He had a rod, just a piece of stick. It happened to be the same piece of stick he’d been carrying for 40 years tending sheep in the Median desert. What he already possessed God could help him use at another level.

If Moses could have seen far enough ahead he could have seen that the same rod protecting sheep would part seas. The same rod that let sheep would lead a nation to freedom. The rod he leaned on in the heart of the desert sun would command plagues from the sky. God offered Him an opportunity. Moses finally warmed to the idea.

What opportunities is God offering you? Instead of offering excuses, prepare your acceptance speech. The Future is already in your hand.

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