“Mark, it never ceases to amaze (and amuse) me how the Lord uses one situation or inconvenience to accomplish something totally unrelated. You do a good job at always being ready to share the gospel.”
Ann’s comment in response to my blog post this past Tuesday, “An Eternal Mistake“. Her words were humbling. I replied, “I feel inadequate, and therefore I am more than happy to partner with the Holy Spirit. He always knows what to do and say when we trust in, lean on, and rely on Him.” (I kind of went Amplified Bible on ya there!) But her comment got me thinking.
It’s not always about ministering to someone. Two weeks ago, we were buying groceries, and I decided to make chili, but I could not recall the entire recipe, and I don’t like having to run back out to the store to purchase the item(s) I had forgotten. As sure as could be, we got home, and I looked only to discover I had missed two essential items. Neither of which were in our pantry.
So, two days later, we reluctantly got in our car and headed off to a nearby grocery store. Before we could get to the end of our street, we saw where someone had thrown out an elliptical exercise machine. April recently mentioned she wanted a treadmill, and I told her that an elliptical would be better on the knees. I said they were expensive but that we would look into it. When we saw the free machine, I said, “Oh, wow!” and explained my excitement.
After getting the two items, we turned down our street, and the machine was still there. I knew we had to stop and check it out. It appeared to be in good working condition, but it was dirty. We loaded it up, took it home, and then cleaned it up. I asked April to look it up and see what the value was. Would you believe $1080.00? April can’t believe people just throw out good things. I said, “Welcome to America!” (She now wants to join “Dumpster Divers of America.”) So, another inconvenience wound up providing a “want” we had by God.
Then today, an old friend and coworker called me back. I called him yesterday after “randomly” thinking of him. We hadn’t spoken in a while. Toward the end of our conversation, I shared with him that last year I started experiencing some physical issues. I went to my doctor, and he sent me to have a stress test done, and by the end of that day, I had a stint inside my heart. Ten days later, I had three more put in. I found out that I had two arteries 99% blocked, and no one could believe I didn’t have a heart attack.
My friend got quiet, and I inquired as to why. He then told me he has the same physical issues I had. I begged him to get in immediately to see his doctor, and he assured me he would. After ending the call, I realized it was no accident or random thought to call him, but God placed him on my mind and prompted me to call, perhaps saving his life.
God is so loving and good to us. Even if people aren’t led by God for themselves, He still ministers to them through others. I have written many times in these blog posts that we need to trust God to handle everything in our lives so we can hear his Holy Spirit whisper to us about others and to be led by God for our own needs.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Rom. 8:14 (NIV)
Now, if you will excuse me, it’s time for me to exercise on our new elliptical.
DAY 1A man’s daughter was struck with a sudden severe illness that required her to be put on life support. The man captioned this event “The Psalms 23 Experience”. He felt his family, “walking through the valley of the shadow of death”, they feared no evil, because they knew God was with them. He believed this in spite of all the negative reports they received, at the hospital, on day one.
We judge most things by what we hear and see. We tend to believe these things because our flesh perceived them first, but what if there was climate change? What if we created an environment that showed God our faith? What would happen if we allowed our spirit to perceive God? If we began to hear what God said about the situation we were in?
If you’re going to pray for rain, bring an umbrella.
The man, whose daughter was sick, spoke of setting up an environment that gave God an opportunity to do some of his best work. They played Spirit Spa instrumental worship. They spoke of healing while in the hospital room, but they first “asked” God for what they wanted him to do.
Asking God, is huge!
I know, and agree, in the moment, we often believe what we hear and see. We too many times take the first words spoken in a situation as truth. The only truth. It’s okay to acknowledge truth, but appeal to the One who can make things more true. It was true the man’s daughter was sick, but what was more true was the fact, God, was going to heal her.
DAY 17The man’s daughter returned home with a clean bill of health. God, had the final word. God, was the last one, to speak.
brady, mark a. 