How often do you feel like you're really tuned in to God?
I wish I could say I constantly have a clear picture of what God is communicating to me, but I feel like much of the time all I get is static with a few moments of clarity here and there.
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| courtesy of WholsNumberNone and photobucket |
But oh, how I live for those moments! You know, those times when you're really "tuned in" to God and pick up on His subtle direction.
There's a man from my church with a niece that lives out of town with her husband and eight or nine children. In the past I've helped them out with groceries, and God placed them on my heart so I asked if they were in need. My friend said he didn't think so, so I left it at that.
At church a week or so later he informed me that in fact they were in need (yay, tuned in there!) and he would be making a trip to their house the next day. He was headed out to lunch and we were attending the second service so we agreed to meet up at our house afterwards.
I was thinking we'd get home first and I could pull some things together but when we drove in, his car was already in the driveway. So instead of some thoughtful contemplation, I flew around packing grocery bags with what I thought they would like.
I shop with coupons and stock up when there are deals to be had, so I also was able to pack up a bag of toiletries. On the top of the bookcase I store them on was a roll of Scotch tape.
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| courtesy of Cobes04 and photobucket |
Followed by, "That's pretty random. They would probably think that was strange."
Do you ever have those kinds of conversations with yourself?
I believe in erring on the side of doing good, even if it makes me look stupid, so I threw the tape into the bag along with more normal items like toothpaste and deodorant and brought it out to my friend.
I wouldn't have thought anything else of it, but my friend sought me out the next Sunday and asked about the tape. I said something about it being a random impulse and he informed me there was nothing random about it.
One of the children was ecstatic upon discovering the tape. Evidently she had a homework assignment but couldn't complete it because, you guessed it, they didn't have any tape. And if you don't have enough food, you certainly aren't going to be spending money on tape.
"a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." ~ 1 Kings 19:11-12
God generally doesn't scream at us; He speaks with a still, small voice. Quite often, those seemingly random impulses are actually God's promptings. Just this week I was the beneficiary of some of those promptings.
I shared in my last post that I'm preparing to leave for Kenya in just under a week (!) and have been sick for the last 3-1/2 weeks. The good news is I've been feeling better the last couple days and the ENT gave me some new prescriptions and a guarantee that after my appointment next week I'll be ready to fly. The bad news is, I've spent the last 3-1/2 weeks just trying to make it through the day rather than preparing for our trip.
My friend Bonnie stopped by Sunday to drop off some extra washcloths she had accumulated along with a couple of skirts. I think she was feeling like she was being random, but I could've hugged her - and did! When we travel to Kenya we try to leave behind as much as we can, which means we need a new supply of clothes and linens for each trip. I have plenty of shirts I've collected since our last trip, but was in need of - you guessed it - skirts and washcloths! I can't tell you what a relief it is to have this taken care of!
Lord, I love it that you are concerned with the details in life. It's the little things that make me understand how much You love me. Thank you so much for the blessing from Bonnie, and for allowing me to be a blessing to others. Help us all to be more in tune to You!
Lisa
Lisa, that's amazing - God is amazing! I'm always looking for Him in the BIG things, but if I'm tuned in He will use me in small ways, and the rewards are BIG. Your story gave me chills- thank you!
I love this post! I think that more believers need to trust God’s voice in their heart,God can speak to us in so many ways and lead us to do good works.
I needed to hear this today... it's reminded me I have something to do!
Thank you for posting :D
Thank you, Lisa, for this encouraging post. I needed this today, and I love the bit about the scotch tape.
Blessings,
Charlotte
{sweet tears} I love this post. I always laugh when I have feelings like this because I know God is at work. The beauty is Jesus working THROUGH us and then working through someone else FOR us. So encouraging and challenging, too. It's easy to think our small bit won't make a difference. I was talking to a friend today whose husband left all his khaki slacks in Africa. He's a teacher and for the year end present a parent gave him a new $70.00 pair. I love how God works!
How special, Lisa. God is so good and I echo your prayer of how the little things help us understand better his love for us. I'm glad you are feeling better and I pray your upcoming trip is filled with more stories of his love to and through you.
Thanks for your encouraging words today.
Sometimes, we aren't aware of being 'in tune' and will never know how we bless someone.
what a great reminder of How God works!
One thing that's so funny: when we went back and forth to Uganda, we always had piles of what would be left behind. We rarely came home with much of anything [except rocks, of course, since that's my addiction]. Always tried to be sure that what we had would be what they needed.
So glad you are feeling better and will be doing what God calls you to do. It is so much fun to be a basic blessing for the significantly difficult lives of others. Thank you MUCH!! [I've posted many times re: Uganda challenges attached to Joseph Kony --was there in Soroti helping-- and miraculous ones that the Lord blessed us with. Loved it there and miss my friends, sons, daughters, grandkids, etc.]
Thank you for sharing your amazing story at Tell Me a Story. I can remember years ago our church was packing a box that was going to our missionaries in Africa. Just a quick run into our nursery I grabbed a bacy doll and washed it face and body and we stuffed it in the box. One of the wee ones at the orphanage had been praying for a doll and God supplied. Yes, he is the God of impulse but usually those are actually plans and we are the one who acts on it.