What a month!

What a month it's been. We've put a lot of miles on the car, driving on weekends and between.

The best thing? Meeting people who are interested in following God. We've seen how God repurposes many of us who think we're going in one direction - but then God sends us in another.

Think about three Bible examples:
Abraham: 75 years old and content in Harran. But God called him to become the father of many nations in a foreign land. He put a few miles on his sneakers before he was through.(Genesis 12:1-4)

Moses: 80 years old and sidelined after 40 years of education and influence in the royal palace. God asked him to lead a nation from slavery into the Promised Land. Moses had all kinds of excuses, but he went - and became a great leader. (Exodus 3)

Saul / Paul: an influential and upcoming Jew in the political and religious system of Jerusalem. God yanked him from his religious misdirection, pointing Paul's zeal and desire to please God in a new direction. (Acts 9:1-22)

W and I head to Indonesia in a few months. We are astonished. We never expected life to take this turn. God has used everything from the past to secure the present and design the future. Our days are full of wonder and mystery.

Where have you been? What have you seen? And where are you headed? Be prepared for surprises along the way!

Read more:
*I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV

*Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord. Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the Lord. May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem. Psalm 134 NLT

*Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 NLT

*Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

*God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. Ephesians 1:20-21 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Lamb of God, we adore life because we may live and love you. May we listen for your voice, be reconciled to you, and grow in righteousness. Although we sin daily, we know that if we come to you, you do not count our sins against us. Thank you for loving us so freely. 

Almighty God, you have loved us so much. We thank you that you made your Son the head of the church, the body of Christ. Make us faithful servants. As part of the body of Christ may we offer our talents in love and service to your people. Amen.

Grace in glass

"Take the vase." I'm almost ready to leave the house to pick up recut shelves from the glass company - when I hear clear direction. "Take the vase."

I open the door to our almost-empty china cupboard. There's an 8" footed pinwheel vase on the shelf. I guess that's the one. I start to turn away when a 6" plate catches my eye.

"Take that, too."

What? I know we have to get rid of stuff, but I've often used these items in 36 years of marriage. They're expensive European crystal. The vase is perfect for flower bouquets; its graceful foot adds an inch to stems and its lip spreads open the blossoms. The plate is just right for "littles" like teabags, candies, and cookies. Oh well. I grab them both and lean them unwrapped beside me on the seat of the car.

At the glass shop, I hold one piece in each hand. There's a lady behind the counter and a women in front of it.

I hand the vase to the proprietor. "I think this is for you. Felt like God said, 'Take this. It's hers,' before I left the house. So here you go!" I hand it to her.

She takes the vase, looking stunned. I turn to the other woman. "And this must be for you. I also heard, 'Take another piece,' and this is what I saw. I guess God knew you would be here, too."

"Beautiful!" she takes it eagerly, smiling in surprise. "I'm opening a nail school in the complex so I'm meeting my neighbors. I'll treasure this! Would you come in for a free manicure?"

Sure. I'd love to. She walks out the door with her dish.

The gal behind the counter and I talk for a few minutes. She loves flowers but has never had a pretty place to put them. As we chat, I know the vase belongs to her.

"You are so much like me," she says a few times as we discover many things in common.

I pull out the money for my shelves but she waves me off. "Please, no money. I really love the vase, and I would like to do this for you in exchange. I'll keep this in my office and think of you."

We hug and agree to have lunch together another day. Who knows what God will bring about in that conversation?

While I didn't hear an audible voice yesterday morning, I'm learning to trust inner direction. This happens over and over, in many different ways. Sometimes the outcome of obedience is so bizarre or unexpected that I walk away shaking my head in wonder. Other times, like this one, I just come home with a big smile on my face.

What a blessing to me! Could I have sold the items? Maybe. For a lot more energy. Following the small voice, I have shelves, with a potential manicure and two friendships on the horizon. Who knew!

When have you experienced that still small voice? What has happened when you paid attention and trusted enough to follow through?

Read more:
*Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7:22 NEV

*Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it. Isaiah 45:8 NEV

*Through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. Galatians 5:5 NIV

*If we have died with him, we will also live with him. 2 Timothy 2:11 NEV

Moravian Prayer: Spirit of the heavens, shower righteousness down on us like rain. Ignite the fire of faithfulness within us, so we may let your light shine through us to all around us. In your name we pray. Amen.