(Sorry for the length and detail but I desire to remember all the things God does in my life for it reminds me when I have "funky moments as the other day, just how truly rich my life is. Even as I write this post script after completing the post below, I am listeing to my Hawaiian music from my last missions trip )
Moments from a short bike ride, anxious to get to work! (Love my job, so much I WANT to do. As a praise reminder regarding this job: I needed a conventional job but was hesitant, God had a former business associate call me for only the second time in 2 years to ask me if I wanted to look at an opportunity he had...GOD gave me this job, I didn't even apply for it!!!! Praises go out, AGAIN, to my God)
Prayer Mid week service was GREAT, AGAIN. My pastor and members of the church are on a crusie that traces the footsteps of the Apostle Paul on some of his missionary journeys through Greece and elsewhere. So we had a visiting bible professor come to speak, Dr. B. He gave an amazing study on PERSISTENT PRAYER, illustrating examples from the account of a non Jew petitioning the Lord, for her ill/possessed daughter. He paralleled that with the account of Jacob wrestling with "a man" (a christophany) for the lives of his family, that they be spared from the wrath of his brother Esau. Jacob was persistent and because of that, he was afflicted and forevermore walked with a limp BUT his family was saved. From there, his name was changed to Israel.
The take away was persistent prayer is modeled in the bible, ESPECIALLY when it comes to praying for our loved ones and family members (I prayed for my sister and her children for at least 14 years before my nephew and then my sister began desiring the things of God and subsequently returned to church).
Praying about Romania Yesterday I felt God impress upon my heart the upcoming Romania trip in October. I felt He wanted me to go to the informational meeting after church and to let them know that I would be praying for them. I got side tracked with "Eddie," (see below) adn did not make it to that meeting. Later, after church a sister I know and respect but do not get too close to (emotionally, not physically) because I sense she is attracted to me mentioned something to me. We were in a circle saying goodbye to her best friend (see below, "Mexico Sister"). I felt strongly commpelled to ask the circle of friends if we could pray for Mexico Sister(MS) (including her daughters) so we did. Afterwarsd MS shared that her daughter (11) was feeling aprehensive and fearful and so I just porred out my heart and my knowledge to this little one on a level she could understand and would appreciate including telling her I was going to be praying for her (as would many in the church) ALL THE TIME. While I was oblivious to everyone, else the first sister I keep a respectful distance from was stanging next to me and approached me when I was done. She simply asked me if I had ever prayed about leading a group to Romania I shared that I am on the prayer team for the ministry that is in Romania and so the people associated with the minsistry and their needs are regularly on my heart and in my praers.
This is how God works in my life. It will not simply be one conversation or one "urge" but God wil direct me in no uncertain terms if he has something for me in Romania this year or next. My life will never be boring!
The social aspect of church was amazing as well:
Eddie in the wheel chair (using his name so I remember to pray for him) I saw him at a gas station and felt God telling me to approach him to share God's love with him. Turns out he attends my church but he comes and goes quickly and hardly knows anyone. I got his number and told him I would introduce him to men at the church. I sent him a text afterwards and looked for him after service several mid week services but had not seen him at church. Last night as service was closing I thought I saw him sitting accross the way but could not tell if it was him in his wheel chair or just someone sitting in a regular chair (everyone was standing and singing but this one guy was sitting and I could not tell). Midway through song, I realized it was not him but now knew God was telling me to go look for him so as soon as the song was over, I made a bee line for where he told me he usually sits and did so before the isles got really crowded. Low and behold there was Eddie rolling towards me. (This is how God directs my path, I cleave to Him, He impresses me with something or someone, I move in that direction and God meets me along the way)
He needed prayer for his body and so I cleared a path and brought him to one of my friends, an elder, who is in the prayer ministry. I asked him to come meet me aftewards and when he did, I introduced him to a number solid brothers and asked him if he might join us on Monday nights where we have a group of about 100 guys meeting to learn how to be accountable men in our christian walk/life.
Mexico Sister Last night, I also got say "see you later" to a sister I have been praying for who is moving to Mexico for a month to see what God has for her. She REALLY feels drawn to move there permanently and so she is taking this step of faith. She is actually one of the ladies I mentioned above, someone I have just been wondering about, off and on for the last 20 months except I certainly knew I wasn't taking any action with anyone through 2007. We are really good friends and it would take God stirring both of us up for anything to transpire but in the meantime I have been faithfully praying for her since she first shared with our prayer group that God was directing her to move to Mexico. I will see her again because she is moving to the unoccupied women's shelter we own down in Mexico. It is a beautiful facility for battered women but the couple that was serving and living there moved and we have not had anyone step forward to serve there until now. Her faith inspires me!
PBC (Possible Business Client) I can be in prayer about more than one woman I think the Lord may be showing me and so even as I mention the above sister who is going to Mexico, I am also praying about PBC. I sent her an email yesterday that was part personal and part business.
She is praying about a decision that affects her future and possibly becoming a client of ours. In our prior conversations she mentioned she had been praying to which I volunteered I would also pray for her. Well, yesterday I felt I needed to elaborate so I sent her a note. I shared that she is the first potential client I have offered to "pray for." The day before I let her know I take prayer very serriously and if I commit to pray for someone, I DO pray for them. I think I wanted to know it wasn't a flipant comment. I didn't want her to think I tell everyone I am going to pray for them. The note was complimentary to her but I was careful to be respectful and to stay this side of appearing to be pursuing her yet I know my interest in getting to know more about her is more than just for business purposes.
It is a fine line that I must walk because she chould become a client whom I will see regularly for nearly a year AND if this is not the woman God has for me, I need to make sure that neither of us will be uncomfortable in the future.
So far, so good.
Ok, so I typed past my riding time but this was a long but important post for me to reflect on down the road.
I will post more before the 4th but for those who will be back on the boards Happy 4th of July. For all our challenges and imperfections as a nation, this is still one of the greatest countries in world history and it is a privilege to be an American.
Yours truly,
Yankee Doodle Dandy (aka George )
Committed2Him- "C2H" All Things (Back from Spain!)...18
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Praises go out, AGAIN, to my God)
I shared that I am on the prayer team for the ministry that is in Romania and so the people associated with the minsistry and their needs are regularly on my heart and in my praers.
Ok, so I typed past my riding time but this was a long but important post for me to reflect on down the road.
