INSPIRATIONAL STORY (The Master Calls)

                                                      The Master Calls
   The Master called my name one day because He needed someone to go. I said, "Lord, in my spare time between school, spending time with my husband, working 8-6 and trying to coordinate a program for my community to help our children do better, I will look for someone for You. See, I know I can't go right now 'cause I have so much to do."
   He said, "Well, where shall I find such a person? I thought I saw your name on my list of available people."
   "Well, Lord, that was the prayer that I prayed last year. But since then, things have changed."
    "Like what?"   He asked.
    "Well, I'm working on my P.H.D. and I'm needed by so many people, and my husband is always wanting something done, and on top of that, my community EXPECTS me to help and give to them so..."
     "Well, seeing that you're busy. I'll let you go. But we will talk again. If YOU have some time."
       I went on through the days, weeks, and months completeing my tasks as always. One evening while studying for my comp exams, I received a call from the hospital concerning my husband. He had been in a terrible accident and was in critical conditon. I dropped everything and ran to the hospital where I found my husband hanging on for dear life. I immediately began to pray, "Lord, don't take him away now. I can't bare it." But my prayer echoed off the wall and returned into my own ear.
    That  next morning, I left the hospital tired and weary and walked in the door of my classroom just in time to begin my comps. As the professors began questioning me, I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. In my mind, I began praying, praying hard, but my prayer echoed again and I found myself upset at God because He was no where to be found. I could not explain to them what was happening.
    After leaving from my exams, I called in to work because I was so distraught at all that was going on. I explained to my supervisor what had happened and she demanded that I take some time off. After visiting my husband in the hospital that evening, I went home and fell into a sunken state of crying and dispairing. Just then I heard someone calling my name.
    "Lord, is that You?"
    "Well, yes it is. Do YOU have some time? I wanted to see if I could talk..."
     Instead of waiting to hear His question, I lashed out in anger and resentment, "How is it that when I needed You today, YOU couldn't be found? And last night I cried and cried but all I heard were echoes from the walls. My husband is dying, I'm flunking out of school, I may not have a job and You can just sit and say YOU want to talk!"
    The Lord interrupted me in my foolish speaking, "My child, I was busy, out looking for someone to go and tell others about Me, when you cried. By the time I came to answer, you had moved onto something else. So, I decided to let your husband rest, and keep you home a few days. That way, MAYBE, you would get in touch with Me! If  YOU had some time. For you see, before your husband, your school or your job needs you, I NEED YOU! And if all these things take you away from Me, I have to almost take them away from YOU, in order to get a moment."
     I calmed down and began to cry. For I remembered my prayer of wanting to go and do something for the Lord.
    He said, "I just wanted to recheck with you to see if you knew of ANYONE that I could send to be a witness for Me and tell others about Me... anyone at all?"
   With tears in my eyes and feeling so unworthy I said, "Lord, send me. I'll go."
 
INSIGHT:  God should never have to ask us if we have some time. When He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross, He put aside EVERYTHING to insure us eternal life. We should be MORE THAN GRATEFUL to do service for the Lord -- to witness and to tell anyone we can about Jesus. Don't let your "things", WHATEVER they may be, get you so tied up that God has to become a meeting time in your yearly planner. He had more than enough time for us. The least we could do is have time for Him

Psalm 81:11-12  "But no, my people wouldn't listen.  
                                Israel did not want me around.
               So I let them folloe their own stubborn desires,
                       living according to their own ideas,"

When God calls us, if we DON'T answer immediately, then He will let us do our own thing. But He NEVER lets go of us! He keeps returning and calling until we answer. Because He calls us so that we may do according to HIS plan so HIS WILL shall be done. So if God calls you to do something... DO IT NOW! DON'T make God keep chasing you! It's the first move toward receiving all the promises God has for you.