Sorry I haven't blogged lately folks! Between two girls on two different teams, I have made the ballpark a temporary home these last couple weeks and softball season hasn't even started yet! It's fun though! I love watching my girls play, even out in the damp night air like tonight!
Anyway, as I was driving home, I began to think about God's grace. How He knows EXACTLY what you need EXACTLY when you need it! We try so hard to control a situation that seems out of control but thankfully He steps in and grabs the reigns and takes over. And you know what? I don't know why I don't go ahead and give Him the reigns to begin with because I KNOW He can do a much better job with my life that I can! After all, He knows the outcome! But so many times, my carnality kicks in and I snatch the reigns right out of His hands and give it a try again. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days it will stick!
I saw a friend today that I admire so much. He was our minister of music at FFUMC up until August of last year when he decided it was time for a break. You see, his daughter, who is in her early 20's, is enduring a second bone marrow transplant in hopes of defeating leukemia. She has been such a trooper and I have learned so much grace, hope and endurance from this family. They are all fighters. There isn't many hours that go by that I don't stop and pray for that sweet young lady and her family. I admire them for keeping the faith like Job. This precious family is totally saturated in prayer. As a matter of fact, Chris told me today he has been blow away at the response they have received from people all over the world. Yes, the world. There are people praying in nations across the seas, even in countries where Christianity isn't the prominent religion. I know we aren't suppose to question God but sometimes I wonder how many more prayers it will take on her behalf to receive healing? Chris shared that the CEO of Lifeway, the huge Christian bookstore, sent out a mass email to all those at Lifeway and asked them to also be in prayer for Anna. Wow! One life, one battle has affected so many others!
On another note, I had something a little crazy happen to me a couple weeks ago and God has refreshed my mind of it today. If you know me, you know I zip around going 100 miles an hour doing 8 different things at one time. And if you are a cop reading this, I really don't go 100 miles an hour, it's just a figure of speech, okay :-), I only go 60! Anyway, I was zipping up to Wal Mart one afternoon around 2:30 so I could get my groceries before picking up the kids. About the time I reached the local college, I saw this womas walking on the side of the road. Then it was almost audible; God said, "Stop and offer her a ride". I am sorry to report that I told God I really didn't have time because I was trying to make it to the grocery store and back to the school by 3:00. Yes, I felt bad but I didn't meditate on it. Then a couple days later, I was driving by a local Exxon station and I saw the woman AGAIN and yes, God said, "Dana, stop and offer the woman a ride". A little frustrated I replied, "God, I don't know her and I have never picked up anyone" and drove on. (I know, shoot me now!) Well, Sunday of that week, I was leaving church and had a little time to waste because we get out of church at 11:00 and Anna Kate had spent the night with a friend and her church didn't get out until 11:30. Instead of going my normal "get out of church and find somewhere to eat" route, I went a different way. Now this Sunday was cold and rainy. I went to the light and turned left and about 100 or so yards up the road, I was someone walking. The closer I got, the clearer the image appeared. It was her. Walking down the side of the road with about 6 bags of groceries. You know the routine by now: God: Stop and offer her a ride. Me: Pause. God: Dana. Me: turn the blinker on. I made the block and pulled up beside her. Now my youngest was in the car with me at the time and she asked, "Um, mom, what are you doing?" to which I replied, "Finally obeying God" and she just looked at me. I rolled the window down and asked the lady if she would like a ride. Immediately, she burst into tears and answered YES! So in the car she gets and gives me directions to her house. I make small talk with her for the 3 minute ride to her house and we pull up and stop. She asked me to wait while she got something. I told her I didn't want anything but she insisted I wait. Out she walks with a Styrofoam cup from Sonic with the prettiest, most fragrant flowers. She said, "It's not much but it's all I have. Thank you so much for stopping." I busted out crying. That was the kindest thing I had received in a long time. The minute I pulled out from her house, I remembered Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
So that's been about three weeks ago and I have looked and looked for her since. Fayette is a small town and surely I would have seen her again but no. I have even driven by her house in hopes of catching her outside during the beautiful days we've had but she is no where to be found. How crazy is that? Did God send that angel in ordinary street clothes to see WHEN I would finally obey Him? Did He send her to show my daughter that we are to be kind to others and help them when they are in need, even if we don't neccesarily know them? I don't know the answer to those questions but I am thankful I finally obeyed Him! I would hate to think He might have shoved her out in the road in front of me so I would finally stop.
So what is it that God is asking YOU to do that you've been a little hesitant about? Is He asking you to step up and serve Him with your WHOLE heart? Is He tugging at your heart to step out of your comfort zone and do something for Him? There's one thing about Him, He's constantly moving in our lives the question is, are you hearing Him and if you are, are you doing what He's asked?
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