Day 4- Write 31 Days- As you probably know by now, I’m participating in a Write 31 Days event. I want to thank the many who have agreed to stick with me and actually read my blog. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Today, we’re beginning to get into the meat of the 10 Things You Can’t Change About Yourself. We’ve discussed your uniqueness, special attributes and the importance of you being the best you can be in terms of who you really are. Today, we reveal the first thing in your life that you can’t change about yourself, that being your time in history. Your being on this earth, at this time is for a reason and purpose and God did that for you. Only God spoke the world into existence. Only God determined the creation. Only God placed you here at this juncture in His work.
The Bible speaks of various characters who were needed at certain times in the scripture. There are various men and women of God whom God raised up at just the right time in history. From Abraham, the father of Nations, to Queen Esther, person after person moved the needle of time for the glory of God.
In the Biblical story of Esther, she risked her life to unfold a dangerous plot to the King and Mordecai, her cousin determined it was for “such a time as this”. As with Esther, you were placed on the earth “for such a time as this”.
Mordecai said to Esther, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14”
credit: Wikipedia
1. -For Such a Time As This- Your Time in History-
Your time in history matters. You had no control at the time in which you were born. You could be of “The Greatest Generation”, a Baby Boomer, a Millennial, Generation x or… In fact, God had you born during the particular time in which He chose for you. YOU had no control of the time era of your birth.
God has put you on this earth at this time for a reason and purpose. You can and should make a difference in the lives of those around you. It is yours to do. Those in your circle of influence were put here at this time too and many of them God designed to be in your life from the beginning therefore it was His will that you know, and be with and around them.
My parents lived during the era after the Great Depression. At that time the economic market had fallen and the worldwide decline was devastating. In the fall of 1929 the United States stock market crashed causing financial devastation to individuals and businesses. From tax revenue to profits, money was scarce and as a result of the plummeting financial worries, nations across the globe fell into peril. International trade plunged and due to economy woes unemployment dropped.
Both my mother and father lived on farms in their formative years. The upswing from that was they always had food on the table and were often able to barter food for other items needed in the home. My father explained to us, his 3 children that while the family had food, the negative side of the depression era was that money was very hard to come by and survival was real during the depression. My father told me often that money was so scarce in their home that buying frills was almost never possible. He often told about his father being a farmer, and blacksmith and that when people couldn’t pay him to put soles on their shoes he would trade them for grain, snapped- beans or even eggs, although he himself a chicken keeper. We don’t have to be in high places to make a difference. Each one of us can be who we are in the place where we are and with the goods, gifts and talents in order to make a huge difference. We can be just exactly who we are, with what we have to make an impact in the lives of those around us.
When I was growing up, my mother was a stay-at-home mom so financially, it was as if we were in a state of depression all of the time as my dad worked full time was trying to buy a car, build a house and feed 3 children and a wife. Never did I feel poor but I knew that money was readily available. Both of my parents scrimped and saved. Both of my parents did all they could to provide for us. Both of my parents became avid bargain hunters. I always felt blessed and cared for but I knew money was tight especially in my high school years when there were things I wanted but knew I could not have. I knew the sacrifice of my parents even then. All three of us children were careful in asking for different things. My mother though was a wise woman and frugal to say the least. She had lived during the depression and her time in history stretched from one generation to the next. My mom reused tin foil, saved brown bags, and knew how to cook “stretch meals.” Stretch meals are those in which a person would, for example get a whole chicken and cut off the drum sticks, and wings for a meal, then using the body for yet another meal and finally create a soup with the remainder of the left overs. My mother and father’s “time in history” was theirs to live and they passed along to their children the importance of scrimping and saving. To this day, I find myself tucking away small pieces of tin foil to reuse if possible. Our time in history actually matters and for some reason, God has appointed us at this time to live during a particular juncture in His world’s timetable.
Margaret Thatcher, “The Iron Lady”
By many accounts, Margaret Thatcher was one of the most amazing women of the 20th century. In her lifetime, she was given award upon award for her greatness. She was a woman leader in a man’s world. In that world of men leaders, she was able to become a world power from 1979-1990. Called the “Iron Lady” The Right Honorable Baroness Thatcher led the United Kingdom and the Conservative Party serving as Prime Minister; the first woman to have held that office. As a child her father was active in local politics. Her family was Methodist and with her upbringing conservative with great faith in God. She attended Oxford and in time got into politics herself. She encountered several losses in various positions as a candidate but in time she worked in the Parliament, served as Education Secretary, leader of the Opposition, Premiership of the United Kingdom, lead the Conservative party and and finally became Prime Minister. A woman in this position was completely unheard of at the time but it was hers to do. Her father’s influence from his time impacted Margaret Thatcher and she had a burning desire to lead and lead well. It was during her time as Prime Minister that she and American president, Ronald Reagan joined forces to make a difference world-wide. The story is told that it was Thatcher who spoke with Gorbachev, the Russian statesman and encouraged him to trust Reagan. He did and the cold war ended ushering in a new era in the world. It was Reagan’s to do. It was Thatcher’s to do. It was Gorbachev’s to do and all in their time in history.
Mikhail Gorbachev, Russian, the 8th and last leader of the Soviet Union
“At the end, we were able to reach an understanding, and it was a contribution to the change in atmosphere between our country and the West and to the end of the Cold War.” Mikhail Gorbachev
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States
Thatcher and Reagan had a friendship throughout their years while leading in their respective countries. Both agreed with the free market, hated communism and applauded moral absolutism, national pride and the rights of the individual. The time of their leadership and who they were individually made them important on the world stage. What each were able to do was possible by their own admission, at this time in history.
In 2013, Mikhail Gorbachev visited The University of North Florida in Jacksonville, my home town. I knew I wanted to see the man who helped dismantle the Soviet Union and end its communist rule. He was also a Nobel Peace Prize winner. I was there and ready with my cameras when Gorbachev came out on stage. Behind him were videographers and the room was full of students and onlookers. Before he spoke his first word, I mishandled my heavy Nikon camera and it fell to the wooden floor. It sounded as if a gun went off. All eyes were on me including the eyes behind the videographers! Oh my! It was a shocking moment to say the least. And now I say- “for such a time as that! “Yes, I got great photos of him that day and no, the secret service did not haul me out!
With America’s relationship with Russia during the Cuban Missle Crisis and other concerns, It was an incredible time to hear from one who was used to work with two freedom-seeking individuals to make a difference world-wide. It was theirs to do at that time in history.
Dale Carnegie, author of “How To Win Friends and Influence People” tells a story about George Eastman of “Kodak fame” and how he was so worried while growing up about his poverty in childhood. He wrote that Eastman was haunted by his childhood poverty “night and day”. When he came up with the idea of the dry photographic plate, he realized the possibilities of his discovery and the almost certain gain from it. As a result, he often actually slept in his clothes working diligently until he could finally figure out how to make enough money so his mother would not have to work. George Eastman had an important task and it was in his mind at that time in history for him to do.
Credit: Wikipedia
In 2012, I had some Kodak stock and lost it all. In January of that year, Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and in February it announced it would cease making pocket cameras and focus on the corporate digital imaging market. George Eastman was important during his era of film and camera making. At that time, he reformed the camera market which made major differences in the way film was used and distributed. In 1932, at the time of his death, Eastman was worth a reported $95 million. His ashes were buried at Eastman Business Park in Rochester , NY. George Eastman was a legend during his life and for a time, of major significance. From the box camera, film camera, “Brownie”, Polaroid to the digital, each series was of great importance but most important is the understanding that it is God that brings low or lifts up. Eastman was used at his time in history.
The Lord maketh the poor, and maketh the rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. 1 Samuel 2:7
Our time in history certainly matters. There is something in our circle of influence that we are to do. There is no mistake that God is in control of our lives and as we seek His face, He reveals Himself to us.
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8
There are people in our lives that have been there from the earliest of our days and many continually through life. This is all part of God’s plan. Some people in our lives are there for a season, others for a lifetime but ultimately for God’s purpose. As we cooperate with God’s will, He provides happiness and purpose for our lives.
“May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community”. Numbers 27:16
You and I cannot change our time of birth, or the era in which we were put on this earth. God alone is our Creator. He alone is our deliverer. He is our Creator. He is the one who has appointed us to do His work for His glory. By your being here at this very time, God’s will can be done through you. God works through His people and for His glory. Over time he’s chosen people of old to do His will.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
Please remember that this is a 31 day series so I hope you’ll drop by again tomorrow for more information about the 10 things you can’t change about yourself. I will be looking for your participation. Please visit our Facebook page, like and comment on our timeline.
