Opportunities

op·por·tu·ni·ty

1.

an appropriate or favorable time or occasion.

2.

a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.

3.

a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.

Opportunities - first thing that comes to mind is a positive, enjoyable experience.  But a challenge can also be viewed as an opportunity.  It can be an "opportunity" to walk in good character and Godly fruit......love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  In our actions, in our words, in our heart, in our minds, and even in our facial expressions.  Wow!!  What a challenge - I mean opportunity - an opportunity "for advancement or success, for attainment of a goal".


We recently have had several challenges to turn into opportunities.  A week ago, our brand new toilet (from our bathroom renovation) broke.  Water was spraying everywhere in the back of the tank where a pipe had popped off.  Wow - it was a good thing we were home to attend to it right away!  After turning the water off immediately, Jim was able to access the problem and snap the pipe back into place.  We then got ready for congregation and left for the evening, most grateful to have fixed this before we left.


We arrived home that evening to find that our hot water tank was leaking.  Problem is, it is in the kitchen hanging from the ceiling!  Strange? Yes, we agree, we've never seen anything like it.  We asked the landlord to put it on the roof like everyone else in the building, but it wasn't "necessary" compared to the other renovations being done last winter, so it was on the bottom of the list.

It was dripping from the bottom where these wires are.  Jim was able to turn off the hot water valve (only) so we still had water in the apartment, just not hot water.  He called the landlord right away, and he told us to call a plumber.  

Well, this just happened to be the hottest week of the year, so who needs hot water??  Nonetheless the plumber showed up the next afternoon, accessed the issue then spoke to the landlord about what he thought should be done.  

But - before we continue on, the day that the toilet broke, and the hot water tank broke, we went to bed in hopes of falling asleep on one of the hottest nights we've experienced.  We have no air conditioning, and it had been in the high 90's all week - high 80's in the house, even at night.  Then, after drifting off to sleep with 2 fans blowing on us, we had a "rude awakening" at 2:30 am when all of a sudden the bed broke!!  Boom - wow - what was that???  Oh my - the bed just broke!  In delirium, we crawled into a different bed for the rest of the night.  The next morning, we determined we needed to pray over our home!  Jim was able to fix the bed the next day :)

So on this new morning, after all the previous day's opportunities, we went to work.  Jim was informed by staff members that they had witnessed some muslim men inside the gate of our building praying on carpets with beads, and then also walking about the outside the building.  

That could have been an opportunity for a lot of things, but as an organization, we chose to make it an opportunity to pray.  The next morning when we met for our staff devotion time first thing in the morning, we began with corporately praying, then set out 2 by 2 to pray in every room of the building, and around the outside as well.  It was an amazing time of unity among our staff and taking authority over anything spoken against us.  After lunch we again all went outside donned in sterile gloves, and cleaned up all the trash around our building being littered by the construction people around us.  Once again, we were "taking ground" and "cleaning up", symbolic of what we did that morning.

Back to the hot water tank....the plumber came right away to do the job (same day as the above praying).  And we had a pleasant surprise.....

Have you ever heard the Hebrew song Dayenu?  It means "enough", meaning it would have been enough for God to do one thing, but He chose to something even greater, and even that would have been enough, but He chose to do something even greater than that, etc.  Well, it would have been enough for the landlord to pay to fix the leak, but he chose to replace the tank.  It would have been enough for him to replace the tank, but he chose to have the plumber put it on the roof like everyone else.  It would have been enough to put it on the roof like everyone else, but he chose to make it SOLAR!!!!!!  

That means we no longer need to use the timer for the tank to heat each morning, and if we want a shower any other time in the day or night, we don't have to let it heat for a half an hour because it is continually being heated from the sun!  And we no longer have to boil water to wash dishes, because hot water comes immediate from the tap!  Oh happy day!!

hot water tank timer

Yeah!!!!!  When we arrived home that night (after an amazing time of turning what the enemy meant for harm into something very good), we were thrilled to receive the hot water - VERY hot water!  But, hmmmmmm, why is the power out in half of the apartment???  Jim called the plumber and he didn't have a clue, the power worked for the timer (above), and the kitchen where they were working.  

Well, guess it's time to call an electrician :)  We didn't want to involve the landlord just yet, he had just paid about $1,300 USD to fix the water tank!  By the time the electrician could come, it was Sunday.  So for the rest of the week, we dragged the fan around the house between the living room and bedroom with really long extension cords to keep cool (the 2nd hottest week....)  Thank God it was only half of the apartment!! The kitchen (refrigerator) and bathroom had electricity.  We had invited guests over for Shabbat dinner on Friday evening, but had to make other arrangements.

The electrician came, and it took almost 2 hours to find the problem!  After checking everywhere in the house, he found that when the plumber's guys drilled a hole through a wall for the wires for the timer to go to the roof (in case of cloudy days we can still use electricity to heat the water), they drilled though a pipe that contained main wires for half the apartment.

green wire from plumber, drilled through grey pipe containing blue wires for electricity

So, after almost 3-4 hours, the electrician had it all fixed and the power on.  Because it was the plumbers responsibility, he paid for the work.  We now had both hot water and electricity in the entire apartment - we almost feel spoiled!  In the midst of having both the electrician and plumber in our homes, we were able to SHOW them the character God was working in us.  Both of these are Jewish men that Jim has made relationships with through our organization, and therefore, they know we are Christians.  We truly believe they can see the difference....


In the midst of all this, ramadan has begun in the muslim world.  Ramadan is the "holiest" month of the year for muslims, marked by fasting (during day hours). 


Last year at this time, we were living on the other side of town, not near any arab villages, so this is our first experience living this close.  As we mentioned before, we can see the arab village that's close to our neighborhood from our apartment window.  Ramadan began this past Friday (for one month!), but the fireworks began a few days before.  Almost every evening there are fireworks (work nights for us), until about 10 or 11 pm.  Several of the buildings are also lit up with lights, some flashing.  We'll use this month to pray that the One True God will reveal Himself to the muslim people as they fast and pray.

The green lit minaret on the left is what has the loudspeakers for the calls to prayer.


This morning, the muslim call to prayer was extra loud, and woke me at 4:15 am.  We aren't usually woken by this, but for some reason I was today.  At first I plugged my ears and began to pray.  Then I decided to turn this challenge into an "opportunity", and got up to write this blog, trusting that God and 6 hours of sleep would be sufficient (I usually need 7 or 8).


I have to honestly say, we've had MANY opportunities in the past week, but there has been such a peace and calm throughout it all.  It has been amazing to experience and watch it all play out.  I believe this is how God wants us to handle all the challenges that come our way - as opportunities.  What's the choice?  To be anxious, angry, frustrated, worried?  None of these are productive, they don't feel good, and the outcome may not have been so positive.  It has been a learning lesson for us, and I pray we can continue to grow in having "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" to be our first response to every situation that comes our way.  


I've heard it said that if you have self control and walk in love, then the rest of the things (joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness) will come automatically.  So our prayer is that we will continue to learn to turn life's challenges into opportunities - "for advancement or success, for attainment of a goal".  I also pray that in getting up 2 hours early to write this blog, that I've used this as an opportunity to encourage even one person who may be dealing with life's challenges.

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17