The bible tells a story about four men who sat at the entrance of the city's gate dying with leprosy, an incurable disease which causes terribly visible swelling and sores on the skin, only then to eat inward to the bones. Because of this contagious and incurable disease, these lepers sat outside of the city because they were not permitted to live within the city. These men were faced with a fatal disease, were outcasts, and were starving because of a feminine in the land. Such a hopeless life and no perceived future, would make the average person throw in the towel and just give up on life -- but not these men.
Sitting and examining their situation, they realized that just simply sitting and doing nothing would result in having and being nothing, so they asked themselves the question, "Why do we sit here until we die?" They knew that if they entered the city, they would die because of the feminine. They also knew that if they sat there and did nothing, that they would die. What did they do? They made the decision to ACT.
Regardless of their gloomy circumstance, they got up from were they were and decided to do something to change their situation. They made the choice to face their obstacles and do something different. They went into the city realizing that difficulties may be ahead, for if the city dwellers spared their lives, they would live -- and if not, they would die. Given the situation that they were in, things were not going to just get better.
Upon entering the city, to their pleasant surprise, no one was there, because God had caused the city dwellers to abandon their tents.
Because of their decision to change their situation, and the decision to act, these hungry dying men when into a tent, and feasted as they ate, drank, and carried off silver, gold, and clothing. However, things did not end there, because after putting away the silver, gold, and clothing -- they entered another tent and again met great fortune.
Just like these lepers, you may be in your decision place today. If you are in a place, or situation that seems lifeless -- regardless of where that place may be, or how things look -- ask yourself the question, "Why do I sit here until I die?"
Take a good look at where you are, and where you want to be -- then take the necessary steps to find yourself in that desired place.
In the midst of misfortune, choice -- and then action -- will find you reaping the great benefits that God has purposed for your life.
Copyright ? 2002 by Audrina Jones Bunton.
REPRINTING THIS ARTICLE: Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this article only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged. You can find other articles to choose from at http://www.purposefully-living.com/mailing%20list.htm
Bunton was born the seventh of eight children in her household in Pinehurst, North Carolina into a loving and committed Christian home. As she has 2 children, over 40 nieces and nephews and great- nieces and nephews, it is not unusual to find her under the same roof with many of her maternal five-generation family on weekends and on holidays. In her youth, she fondly recalls traveling throughout the U.S. with her family, as her parents ministered from state to state year after year-helping people as they traveled.
A graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Audrina is a Competent Toastmaster of Toastmasters International and serves as the North Carolina District Sergeant At Arms. She is a former counselor of the Durham Pregnancy Support Services, a Christian-oriented crisis pregnancy center in Durham, North Carolina and is currently a Social Research Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Audrina is currently studying at the Master's Divinity School in Evansville, Indiana with a combined concentration in Biblical Counseling and IABC certification.
She also serves as the Youth Director at the Come As You Are Evangelistic Center in Aberdeen, North Carolina where her mother, Lydia Jones is the pastor.
Modeling after a song that her mother so often sings, and one that Martin Luther King, Jr. often quoted, her life and speeches are based on the following lyrics, "If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong, Then my living will not be in vain."
Audrina resides with her husband William, and 2 children, Audrina Lorraine and William Woodrow.
apartment cleaning near Wilmette ..Last week, I sat at my computer and watched the... Read More
Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More
Sometimes, in traveling a path, we discover a short-cut, and... Read More
One of the "loopholes" in my philosophical belief system when... Read More
If you spend a hundred bucks and buy the right... Read More
I'm at that place in life many refer to as... Read More
Part Two ContinuedIn addition to numerous philosophical problems relating to... Read More
The Mystical Experience"The mysteries of life become lucid ? and... Read More
Spending 'Quiet Time' with the LordFrom the beginning of my... Read More
With those words recorded in Exodus 15:26, God proclaims to... Read More
The passenger had to be carried onto the plane and... Read More
Do you have a servant's heart? Has God blessed you... Read More
If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to... Read More
Do you think it's acceptable for people to make millions... Read More
What kind of foolishness is astrology? You read about Sun... Read More
Many of us have been taught that it is wrong... Read More
How many of us rush blindly through our days, fall... Read More
Anyone who tells you that the path to self-actualization is... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will... Read More
My thoughts can get a little edgy at night. Possibly... Read More
Most of us know that the universe - God's universe... Read More
It's late. But it's usually those words that you cannot... Read More
One cannot read the account of Benhadad and Hazael in... Read More
How many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More
reliable home cleaners Arlington Heights ..Tarot card reading delves into an individual's psyche and thus... Read More
Stress & Spirituality ? How Spirituality Affects Stress LevelsTake a... Read More
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok.... Read More
There's a lot of talk about angels these days. They're... Read More
I am not saying this because I am in need,... Read More
1. Life is a precious gift given to us by... Read More
So, none of us arrived with an Owner's Manual, neatly... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
Why Abandon Religion?It is so commonly believed today that religion... Read More
How many of us rush blindly through our days, fall... Read More
In my work as a Medical Intuitive, I come across... Read More
Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
The Birth of Jesus Christ18 Now the birth of Jesus... Read More
The following article is an exploration of the Spring holiday... Read More
Adam had it right when he covered himself with fig... Read More
One of my favorite movies is "The Green Mile". A... Read More
We have a proclivity to think of individuals and nations... Read More
People engaged in kissing experience information and energy transfer, although... Read More
While it isn't my intention to insult anyone (Alright, for... Read More
While I do hope to avoid arguing the merits or... Read More
"What does it profit a man to have gained the... Read More
I come face to face with self whenever you come... Read More
It has long been surmised that emotional trauma can lead... Read More
Someone asked me the other day what was the most... Read More
My lady Lydia was a Hawkins of the ancestry of... Read More
Spirituality |