The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. I Thessalonians 5:24
For the past two years, I Thessalonians 5:24 has been one of my "go-to" verses--a verse that I cling to when things get tough. Our family began the adoption process on August 16, 2010--over two years later, we are still in the process. So, as the weeks turned into months and then the months into years, this verse has reminded me again and again of God's faithfulness. He promised this child to us, and He always keeps His promises.
There have been countless instances in the past two years when the Lord has reminded us that He is with us on this journey, that He in fact is guiding and directing us on this journey. Two things in particular have happened lately though, and I have been blown away by the Lord's goodness, by His love for me.
Five weeks ago, I received a phone call from a friend from my college days. We hadn't talked in about a year and a half, though we've kept up with each other some through Facebook and blogs. When she called, for some reason I thought maybe she was going to say she was in town (she lives out of state). I was wrong. Instead, she called because, through a series of events, she had inherited a significant sum of money. She was calling because she wanted to give that money to us for our adoption. I was amazed, surprised, and thrilled--but I also knew it would probably be two more years before we'd need that money since adoptions have slowed to a snail's pace in Ethiopia. However, as I said, I was so grateful and felt that the Lord was confirming again that we were doing exactly what He wanted. It was the reminder I needed that He has every detail taken care of, and I simply need to trust and obey Him in His perfect timing (easier said than done, I know!).
Then, two weeks later, on August 16, 2012--two years to the day since we began the adoption process (and also my birthday)--the Lord overwhelmed us in an instant. In an incredible turn of events, we were matched with a child. Suddenly our adoption was no longer years from completion; rather, now it's only a few more months until we can bring her home.
Upon accepting our referral, we owed our agency $7400--did I mention that the amount my college friend had given us was $7000?! The money I thought we wouldn't need for two more years we suddenly needed two weeks later! What I thought was a nice reminder from God that He was with us in the long wait was so much more than that--it was the funds we needed to move forward as the Lord prepares to bring our daughter home to us! It was Him making a way for His plan to be fulfilled.
It was as though I could hear the Lord saying, "See, I told you. I am faithful. I will do it." His goodness and mercy astound me. We are so undeserving; yet He has chosen to bless us in this way. He has proven Himself again and again, and, He has shown us how much He loves each of us and how very clearly He is involved in our lives. He is faithful. If He calls you to something, He will complete it. I can't promise it'll go exactly how you thought it would (adoption certainly hasn't for us), but I can promise that the Creator of the Universe knows what He is doing. And if He says He's going to do something, He will. Even if we are unfaithful, He is always faithful. And He never breaks His promise. He is so very good.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Waiting
If I have a favorite thing to do, it most certainly is not waiting.
Waiting is atrocious. I think this is why I like to utilize technology so much. Think about it. If I can carry around an iPhone with me all day long, I virtually have to wait for NOTHING. No waiting in line at the pharmacy. No waiting in line to buy movie tickets. No waiting in traffic because the GPS function tells me where back-ups are. No waiting at the bookstore because I can just order a book from the Amazon app and have it delivered directly to my house. No waiting on international or local news because I can just check Twitter every 30 seconds or so and find out what’s going on somewhere, anywhere on the planet. AND no being put on hold at the pizza place because I can also just order my pizza from my favorite pizza place’s app! It’s FABULOUS!
So this world that I live in and consistently surround myself with conditions me to never have to wait….for anything…ever. So when I’m getting the signal in my spiritual life to “wait” I usually have a huge problem with that.
Waiting requires patience. Waiting requires not having the answer right away. Waiting requires faith and lots of it. I am so conditioned in my daily life to be able to “google” something and immediately find an answer to some question that I have, I get perturbed when I can’t just google answers to questions like, “Lord, who do I know who needs to know You?” “Lord, what does my future look like?” “Lord, why have You not given me what You’ve given other people that I know are no bigger or better Christians than I am?”
There are lessons in the waiting. And in the waiting, my faith builds. And builds. And gets stronger. And larger. Until my faith is something larger than me and my ego and any hardships that might come my way in my lifetime.
But until my faith expands to that large capacity, there are many lessons left to be learned in the waiting. The waiting doesn’t give me the answer, but God does. And when God wants me to wait, I will wait and trust and broadcast to everyone around me what God is teaching me in the waiting.
And I will trust that what I’m learning in the waiting might just be greater than that which I’m waiting for.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” — Genesis 12:1
Monday, March 15, 2010
Fear and Prayer Intertwined
Have you ever been overcome by seemingly irrational fears? Apprehension over something you will not be able to control, worry that events will go horribly wrong? All this with no evident reason, nothing rational to support your fear?
For the first time in my life (that I can remember, anyway), I was struck by such a baseless fear. It grew from a nameless emotion into something that gave me nightmares over the course of 2 or 3 months. Many would just label it "hormones." I was, after all, 7, 8 and 9 months pregnant during this period of time. And my fear was directly related to that status--I worried that something tragic would happen to my baby and/or me before or during the birthing process.
Before this baby arrived, I'd enjoyed three eventless, relatively easy pregnancies and deliveries. My 3 older children are absolute blessings. So my history gave no indication that something would go wrong with #4. And all prenatal visits showed a healthy baby growing inside. I felt great, the baby looked good, all seemed normal and well. And my friends tell me that I'm a pretty laid-back, confident, stable sort of gal. Yet, the fear came and stayed.
My (un)reasoning went something like this: what are the odds? I've had 3 perfect childbirth experiences. Can I really expect a fourth one just like those? I'm pushing 40 (docs call that AMA--advanced maternal age), I have friends struggling with difficult pregnancies (so I know what could happen), et cetera, et cetera.
I didn't tell anyone until the final week before delivering. And I only told one person--an older friend and colleague--to ask for prayer. Mostly for me to stop worrying! But also for the baby. I never even told my husband...I just kept it all in.
I could write another blog's-worth about the horrible theology I was practicing. Everything about it was wrong, as if circumstances were beyond God's control. And I knew I was thinking badly, every step of the way. Worse, we'd just spent the Christmas season walking through the Nativity story with our children. Fresh on my mind were the words of the angel Gabriel (to Zachariah and Mary) in which the first thing he says is, "Do not be afraid!"
And then God did something wonderful. Two days before my scheduled induction, a friend who had learned the name of the hospital where I planned to deliver, sent me a message (via facebook, where else?). She told me that during a visit to that same hospital, she walked the halls praying for me and my upcoming time there. Several other friends sent less specific notes that day mentioning their prayers for me.
I cried. Yeah, almost anything can make a pregnant woman do that. But these were tears of relief, thankfulness, amazement...that God would send me such specific messages of His care. He knew my worried heart, He heard my friend's prayer, and He prompted her to encourage me with a brief note affirming that my situation indeed was being put before the Father.
All together, in addition to my own prayer life (which included a lot of, "I know I'm being stupid, Lord; please forgive my lack of faith"), my heart and mind were easy on the actual day in question. I don't remember even thinking about possible problems until it was all over and I held my beautiful, healthy son in my arms.
If you find yourself thinking badly, knowing you are being irrational yet unable to stop, tell someone. Ask for help and prayer and comfort. Even if you feel silly admitting to your fears. I confessed mine to another friend, after the fact, only to learn that she also had feared the same thing for me and had been praying for weeks ahead of time. And though I was glad she had wisely not shared her feelings with me before, I was once again comforted by knowing that yet another friend had been praying for me.
So next time you pray for someone, tell her. You never know how that might encourage her heart. Your words may be the answer to her prayer.
PS. Oh, the irony: all along we were planning to name our baby Gabriel. Now he'll forever remind me to "fear not!"
For the first time in my life (that I can remember, anyway), I was struck by such a baseless fear. It grew from a nameless emotion into something that gave me nightmares over the course of 2 or 3 months. Many would just label it "hormones." I was, after all, 7, 8 and 9 months pregnant during this period of time. And my fear was directly related to that status--I worried that something tragic would happen to my baby and/or me before or during the birthing process.
Before this baby arrived, I'd enjoyed three eventless, relatively easy pregnancies and deliveries. My 3 older children are absolute blessings. So my history gave no indication that something would go wrong with #4. And all prenatal visits showed a healthy baby growing inside. I felt great, the baby looked good, all seemed normal and well. And my friends tell me that I'm a pretty laid-back, confident, stable sort of gal. Yet, the fear came and stayed.
My (un)reasoning went something like this: what are the odds? I've had 3 perfect childbirth experiences. Can I really expect a fourth one just like those? I'm pushing 40 (docs call that AMA--advanced maternal age), I have friends struggling with difficult pregnancies (so I know what could happen), et cetera, et cetera.
I didn't tell anyone until the final week before delivering. And I only told one person--an older friend and colleague--to ask for prayer. Mostly for me to stop worrying! But also for the baby. I never even told my husband...I just kept it all in.
I could write another blog's-worth about the horrible theology I was practicing. Everything about it was wrong, as if circumstances were beyond God's control. And I knew I was thinking badly, every step of the way. Worse, we'd just spent the Christmas season walking through the Nativity story with our children. Fresh on my mind were the words of the angel Gabriel (to Zachariah and Mary) in which the first thing he says is, "Do not be afraid!"
And then God did something wonderful. Two days before my scheduled induction, a friend who had learned the name of the hospital where I planned to deliver, sent me a message (via facebook, where else?). She told me that during a visit to that same hospital, she walked the halls praying for me and my upcoming time there. Several other friends sent less specific notes that day mentioning their prayers for me.
I cried. Yeah, almost anything can make a pregnant woman do that. But these were tears of relief, thankfulness, amazement...that God would send me such specific messages of His care. He knew my worried heart, He heard my friend's prayer, and He prompted her to encourage me with a brief note affirming that my situation indeed was being put before the Father.
All together, in addition to my own prayer life (which included a lot of, "I know I'm being stupid, Lord; please forgive my lack of faith"), my heart and mind were easy on the actual day in question. I don't remember even thinking about possible problems until it was all over and I held my beautiful, healthy son in my arms.
If you find yourself thinking badly, knowing you are being irrational yet unable to stop, tell someone. Ask for help and prayer and comfort. Even if you feel silly admitting to your fears. I confessed mine to another friend, after the fact, only to learn that she also had feared the same thing for me and had been praying for weeks ahead of time. And though I was glad she had wisely not shared her feelings with me before, I was once again comforted by knowing that yet another friend had been praying for me.
So next time you pray for someone, tell her. You never know how that might encourage her heart. Your words may be the answer to her prayer.
PS. Oh, the irony: all along we were planning to name our baby Gabriel. Now he'll forever remind me to "fear not!"
Monday, January 25, 2010
Run the Race
Okay, I will admit it. I have football on the brain. Yes, yes.. my beloved Cowboys lost last week so were not contenders for the NFC Championship tonight. But I was rooting for my second favorite team, the New Orleans Saints. And they WON!
I knew that the Saints had never been considered one of the "great" NFL teams. What I didn't realize until this year was that they had never made a trip to the Super Bowl! One of the announcers tonight said "this team has been waiting 43 years to get here". Forty-three years! That is longer than I have been alive (ok, just barely). This evening I am so happy for all those players, coaches and fans. Fans who believed in this team through thick and thin, year after year. This team who, most acknowledge, truly helped to rally the spirit of New Orleans in the days and years following Hurricane Katrina.
As I celebrated their victory with them, I couldn't help but think of all those years "in between". How many times had the fans been disappointed yet again? No Super Bowl this time. Maybe "next year". And yet, they are recognized as some of the most loyal football fans anywhere. They never gave up on their team. Forty-three years. And look at them now. Having the moment of their lives and headed for football's biggest game.
I kept thinking of the apostle Paul saying, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) The Saints haven't finished their race quite yet. But they certainly have fought the good fight...and kept the faith.
I also remembered my Beth Moore Bible study homework that I'd worked on tonight. In her study "Living Beyond Yourself", Beth writes: "In His sovereignty, God has chosen to do His work through us. If we miss our ministry, we will miss our entire purpose in remaining here... One day I will see my Savior face to face, and in His hands He will hold the assignments which were prepared for me in advance. Oh, how I pray I will hear Him say that I completed each one in the course of my lifetime."
Wow.. that was so powerful to me. Assignments that God wrote just for me.. prepared in advance (before I was even born!). I couldn't stop praying that this image would help sustain me on days when I get tired. On days when I get frustrated. On days when I feel like I just can't do anything right, or I just can't take another step. On those "why am I even here??" days. On days of sorrow, days of anger, days when I just hit a wall.
I want to keep running the race. I want to finish all those assignments. I want to keep the faith.
Beth also talked about keeping in mind that though situations may be painful for us, personally, God is working all together for "kingdom profit".. for the overall good of His kingdom. One day, we will get to see that no matter what we went through here on Earth, all was able to be used & woven together by God, for the good of his entire kingdom. Beth kept emphasizing that "the good is not always the easy". We'll get to see what happens when you don't give up. When you keep the faith. When you run the race.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverence the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, to that you will not grow weary and lose heart."-- Hebrews 12:1-3
I also noticed a commercial that aired during tonight's game. It stood out among the rest initially due to its quietness. As you probably know, most commercials airing during football games are anything but quiet and thoughtful. It was for Visa, and it was about Olympic speed skater Dan Jansen. It was the story of how he'd been inspired to the sport by his sister Jane. Jane passed away of leukemia the day that Dan Jansen was to skate in the 500m in the 1988 Olympics. He bravely skated anyway, as he'd promised his sister that he would win the gold medal for her. But it was not to be. Jansen fell in the 500m, and fell again a few days later in the 1,000m race, so was not able to win any medals.
He tried again in the 1992 Olympics, but came up short again and again. The 1994 Winter Olympics were Dan Jansen's final attempt to win an Olympic medal of any kind. He did win the gold, set a new world record in the process, and finally was able to dedicate his medal to his late sister. The sweetest part of the victory, as shown in the commercial, was when Jansen got to skate his victory lap with not only his gold medal, but with his baby daughter... Jane.
Don't ever give up. Fight the good fight. Keep the faith. Run the Race.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."-- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
I knew that the Saints had never been considered one of the "great" NFL teams. What I didn't realize until this year was that they had never made a trip to the Super Bowl! One of the announcers tonight said "this team has been waiting 43 years to get here". Forty-three years! That is longer than I have been alive (ok, just barely). This evening I am so happy for all those players, coaches and fans. Fans who believed in this team through thick and thin, year after year. This team who, most acknowledge, truly helped to rally the spirit of New Orleans in the days and years following Hurricane Katrina.
As I celebrated their victory with them, I couldn't help but think of all those years "in between". How many times had the fans been disappointed yet again? No Super Bowl this time. Maybe "next year". And yet, they are recognized as some of the most loyal football fans anywhere. They never gave up on their team. Forty-three years. And look at them now. Having the moment of their lives and headed for football's biggest game.
I kept thinking of the apostle Paul saying, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) The Saints haven't finished their race quite yet. But they certainly have fought the good fight...and kept the faith.
I also remembered my Beth Moore Bible study homework that I'd worked on tonight. In her study "Living Beyond Yourself", Beth writes: "In His sovereignty, God has chosen to do His work through us. If we miss our ministry, we will miss our entire purpose in remaining here... One day I will see my Savior face to face, and in His hands He will hold the assignments which were prepared for me in advance. Oh, how I pray I will hear Him say that I completed each one in the course of my lifetime."
Wow.. that was so powerful to me. Assignments that God wrote just for me.. prepared in advance (before I was even born!). I couldn't stop praying that this image would help sustain me on days when I get tired. On days when I get frustrated. On days when I feel like I just can't do anything right, or I just can't take another step. On those "why am I even here??" days. On days of sorrow, days of anger, days when I just hit a wall.
I want to keep running the race. I want to finish all those assignments. I want to keep the faith.
Beth also talked about keeping in mind that though situations may be painful for us, personally, God is working all together for "kingdom profit".. for the overall good of His kingdom. One day, we will get to see that no matter what we went through here on Earth, all was able to be used & woven together by God, for the good of his entire kingdom. Beth kept emphasizing that "the good is not always the easy". We'll get to see what happens when you don't give up. When you keep the faith. When you run the race.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverence the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, to that you will not grow weary and lose heart."-- Hebrews 12:1-3
I also noticed a commercial that aired during tonight's game. It stood out among the rest initially due to its quietness. As you probably know, most commercials airing during football games are anything but quiet and thoughtful. It was for Visa, and it was about Olympic speed skater Dan Jansen. It was the story of how he'd been inspired to the sport by his sister Jane. Jane passed away of leukemia the day that Dan Jansen was to skate in the 500m in the 1988 Olympics. He bravely skated anyway, as he'd promised his sister that he would win the gold medal for her. But it was not to be. Jansen fell in the 500m, and fell again a few days later in the 1,000m race, so was not able to win any medals.
He tried again in the 1992 Olympics, but came up short again and again. The 1994 Winter Olympics were Dan Jansen's final attempt to win an Olympic medal of any kind. He did win the gold, set a new world record in the process, and finally was able to dedicate his medal to his late sister. The sweetest part of the victory, as shown in the commercial, was when Jansen got to skate his victory lap with not only his gold medal, but with his baby daughter... Jane.
Don't ever give up. Fight the good fight. Keep the faith. Run the Race.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."-- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Double Digit Trip
As I look toward the beginning of yet another school year, I reflect on this past summer. It has been one filled with great times and some difficult challenges. GOD has been present in all. I am especially reminded of one day when His presence taught a very special lesson to one of our precious daughters.
Our middle daughter (Yes. I said MIDDLE. Some people steer clear of this word, but our family embraces it. GOD placed her in this position and she wears it proudly. We say she is the only one in the family GOD has chosen to be both a little sister and an older sister! What a place of honor!) turned 10. Or as we call it, she hit the double digits! In our family this means you get to go on a trip with Mom- The Double Digit Trip. So we planned the trip, made all the necessary arrangements and took off for a great adventure. We were about 15 minutes from home when our car started making a funny sound. So we prayed and asked GOD to take care of us and the car. My daughter has great faith and we both prayed this prayer believing GOD would answer it. The noise stopped. Out trip continued. A few minutes later, we had a blow out. We easily pulled into a new large gas station. My wonderful husband was ready to come. However, we were in a hurry and ready to get on with our day, so I asked him to let me get someone to help us change our tire rather than wait for him to drive to meet us. Holding my daughter's hand, I looked at one man as his car neared ours . . . and he drove right on past us! Then another man drove past us! Then a man walked out holding a coke, I knew he would help us. Our tire was shredded and had marked all over my car. It was obvious we needed help and this tire change was going to take more than just me doing it! He got in his car and drove away. It was Saturday morning, these men were in shorts, where were they going?!!! What had happened to chivalry? My husband always helps change tires, jump start cars, etc. We are teaching our son to help others- especially ladies. (We will also teach our daughters to change tires.) I was shocked that no one would help us. Maybe my next blog will be on raising boys to be gentlemen. Back to the tire situation in a minute . . .
The goal of the Double Digit Trip is a fun time celebrating the child turning 10. We focus on the child's interests and go for it. It doesn't necessarily mean shopping, but spending time and hanging out. I did, though, want to buy my daughter a treat on this trip. She is not a kid who asks for things or even likes to shop. So, I truly wanted to surprise her with something. When I told her this the morning of the trip, she could not come up with one thing she wanted. I was a little sad, but hiding my disappointment, I told her we would find a gift that would mean something to her. I never knew how GOD would do this . . .
Frustrated and not wanting to wait for my husband to drive to help us, I asked my daughter to pray with me again. We thanked GOD for protecting us during the blowout. Then we asked GOD to send us someone to help us change the tire. We claimed it in the "Name of JESUS." Then I told her we were going to go inside the gas station store and ask someone to help us. As we came close to the door a young man pulled up in his work truck and began walking toward the door with us. I smiled and asked him if he would help us change a tire. I knew he would. He said yes. I asked my daughter if she knew what the logo on his truck and shirt meant. She said, "I have no idea what GoodYear means." I told her it is a tire company. The GOD of the Universe sent a man from a tire company to help us change our tire! We praised GOD together! We also told the wonderful young man that he had been prayed for and was an answer to our prayer. He refused payment, but we snuck some money in his shirt pocket as a reminder of GOD's provision. We also called his boss to tell him what a great employee he had.
Now all of this matters why? GOD gave our daughter a gift for her Double Digit Birthday. No, not the gift I had wanted to buy her that day, but a lasting gift. A gift that would matter to her. A gift that would remind her for the rest of her life of the presence of her Heavenly Father at all times in big and small ways.
GOD has shown up in my life in astouding ways that would amaze people and fill blog after blog. But He has also shown up in my life in quiet unassuming ways that are not grandiose (to others) and do not have wild or fun stories. But, He has always "shown up." He never leaves. He just wants permission to be present, to act, and to be on the throne of our life.
"I thank you GOD for giving our daughter this gift on her birthday. I ask that we all remember your presence is a daily gift to us. Let us know you more as we love you and live in your presence."
jill
Our middle daughter (Yes. I said MIDDLE. Some people steer clear of this word, but our family embraces it. GOD placed her in this position and she wears it proudly. We say she is the only one in the family GOD has chosen to be both a little sister and an older sister! What a place of honor!) turned 10. Or as we call it, she hit the double digits! In our family this means you get to go on a trip with Mom- The Double Digit Trip. So we planned the trip, made all the necessary arrangements and took off for a great adventure. We were about 15 minutes from home when our car started making a funny sound. So we prayed and asked GOD to take care of us and the car. My daughter has great faith and we both prayed this prayer believing GOD would answer it. The noise stopped. Out trip continued. A few minutes later, we had a blow out. We easily pulled into a new large gas station. My wonderful husband was ready to come. However, we were in a hurry and ready to get on with our day, so I asked him to let me get someone to help us change our tire rather than wait for him to drive to meet us. Holding my daughter's hand, I looked at one man as his car neared ours . . . and he drove right on past us! Then another man drove past us! Then a man walked out holding a coke, I knew he would help us. Our tire was shredded and had marked all over my car. It was obvious we needed help and this tire change was going to take more than just me doing it! He got in his car and drove away. It was Saturday morning, these men were in shorts, where were they going?!!! What had happened to chivalry? My husband always helps change tires, jump start cars, etc. We are teaching our son to help others- especially ladies. (We will also teach our daughters to change tires.) I was shocked that no one would help us. Maybe my next blog will be on raising boys to be gentlemen. Back to the tire situation in a minute . . .
The goal of the Double Digit Trip is a fun time celebrating the child turning 10. We focus on the child's interests and go for it. It doesn't necessarily mean shopping, but spending time and hanging out. I did, though, want to buy my daughter a treat on this trip. She is not a kid who asks for things or even likes to shop. So, I truly wanted to surprise her with something. When I told her this the morning of the trip, she could not come up with one thing she wanted. I was a little sad, but hiding my disappointment, I told her we would find a gift that would mean something to her. I never knew how GOD would do this . . .
Frustrated and not wanting to wait for my husband to drive to help us, I asked my daughter to pray with me again. We thanked GOD for protecting us during the blowout. Then we asked GOD to send us someone to help us change the tire. We claimed it in the "Name of JESUS." Then I told her we were going to go inside the gas station store and ask someone to help us. As we came close to the door a young man pulled up in his work truck and began walking toward the door with us. I smiled and asked him if he would help us change a tire. I knew he would. He said yes. I asked my daughter if she knew what the logo on his truck and shirt meant. She said, "I have no idea what GoodYear means." I told her it is a tire company. The GOD of the Universe sent a man from a tire company to help us change our tire! We praised GOD together! We also told the wonderful young man that he had been prayed for and was an answer to our prayer. He refused payment, but we snuck some money in his shirt pocket as a reminder of GOD's provision. We also called his boss to tell him what a great employee he had.
Now all of this matters why? GOD gave our daughter a gift for her Double Digit Birthday. No, not the gift I had wanted to buy her that day, but a lasting gift. A gift that would matter to her. A gift that would remind her for the rest of her life of the presence of her Heavenly Father at all times in big and small ways.
GOD has shown up in my life in astouding ways that would amaze people and fill blog after blog. But He has also shown up in my life in quiet unassuming ways that are not grandiose (to others) and do not have wild or fun stories. But, He has always "shown up." He never leaves. He just wants permission to be present, to act, and to be on the throne of our life.
"I thank you GOD for giving our daughter this gift on her birthday. I ask that we all remember your presence is a daily gift to us. Let us know you more as we love you and live in your presence."
jill
"You will fill me with joy in your presence."
Psalm 16:11
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