Questions

While at a writing conference this past week, I came upon an older gentleman where I was staying. He asked a lot of questions - questions which would eventually lead to a conversation about Christ.

Questions #1

"What kind of writing conference are you attending?"

I told him that I was attending a Christian Writer's Conference. He suddenly perked up, moved closer, and tuned his ears to what I had to say.

Question #2

"What kind of Christian writing do you do?"

I told him that I wrote devotionals and Bible Studies. He clapped his hands and leaned in even more exclaiming, "This is so interesting!"

Question #3

"I have friends who are Muslim. They ask, "How can Christians serve a God who sends people to hell?"

I told him that God doesn't send people to hell. He created us to have a choice. God's greatest desire is that we would choose Him, but he does not force us to love him, serve him, or want to have him in our lives. He is a God that honors our choice whether good or bad. If we choose not to have him in our lives then that in itself is hell - whether here on earth or somewhere else.

Question #4

"How can you celebrate Easter when it is named after the sex goddess Ishtar?"

We do not celebrate Easter - we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Our focus is on Christ and his resurrection. We had a wonderful visit and after a while we parted. I thanked the Lord for allowing me to have a conversation about Him to this man.

My Question:

"Do you suppose that encounter with this man was coincidental or did God have something to do with it?

I happened to have been outside at that moment. I happened to have been staying at the same place he was staying. I happened to have been the one he asked the questions to. I didn't do anything anyone else couldn't do - I just made myself available for God to use.

Look for those encounters with others that God brings your way. Find him in the details of your walk. Ready yourself.

A Journey with Another

Over the past three years or so, I have been counseling and ministering to a young woman in great distress. She came into my life broken and beaten up. The main focus became her son and the conflict she was having with him. After a while I referred her to another family counselor. About a year later she would call again and I would retreat to that quiet place and pray that God would give me wisdom and words. After a long while of speaking I asked her if she was ready to come to know the Lord. Tearful and broken she said, "Yes."

She took her Bible and on the phone we went through the steps of coming to know Christ. She cried and prayed from her heart. She cried a prayer of desire - a prayer of need - a prayer of yearning. No matter what she had been facing or will be facing she now could rest assured that the Lord is going to help her and she could have peace in Him. The Lord has always wanted to have her life - her problems - her worries. With the Lord she could now find peace and rest in the midst of her struggles.

I never met her son though I heard so much about him I still prayed for him and his relationship with his mother. Then through a chain of events the Lord would, several years later, bring us together. I would now be able to put a face to the name I had heard so often.

Wednesday evening I met with a member at our local recreation center to help get the sound system set up for the next morning. My friend and I would be singing for the National Day of Prayer. A young man stood by the stage and I was introduced to him. I heard the name - a common name - and didn't think anything of it. When I teach my class I tell people to "notice everything" around them. God is working in the details.

Busy working in my area, I looked up and noticed that the woman's ex-husband was standing next to this young man speaking to him way off on the far side of the building. I stopped and stared for a moment listening for God to speak. I then put it all together. The young man's name came back to my attention and then I realized that they were father and son. I then realized that the Lord had brought me face to face with a young man I had heard so much about, spent time praying for, at times defending to his mother and there I was standing next to him. Finally the Lord would bring us together.

I now know where he has been working for the past four years. He has seen me too know and knows that I have been working with his mother. I have no doubt that this is the beginning of something good. My encounter that day with this young man was not an accident nor a coincident, but a journey moment from God. At just the right moment God would bring us together - though several years later.

Look for those encounters with others today. Ask God how you might be able to minister to them or maybe their task is to help you today. Find God working today. Find him in the details. Have a successful journey!

Office Call

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

A small tap on the shoulder and a sweet whisper brought morning earlier than my desire.

“Telephone for you, mom,” came the soft voice from my eight-year-old son. “Doesn’t anyone sleep in on Saturdays anymore?” I thought while taking the phone. Clearing my raspy voice, I said, “Hello?”

I tried to listen as she spoke her name and shared where she was calling from but sleep lingered in the air. I understood the words, "doctor’s office." so I sat upright in bed to pay attention.

“How are you doing?” she asked. I could feel the smile through the phone. Cheery, uplifting, and personal - definitely someone of an early morning nature.

I began to tell her about my neck and the pain that appeared to be getting worse. I shared about how the terrible stiffness in my neck had broadened, making its way toward the back the throbbing increasing the whole while.

“Have you started your antibiotic?” She said in a nice tone. I assured her that I had. “Well, give it some time to work.”

By that time, I gathered my thoughts and appreciated the phone call from the office. “What a wonderful doctor’s office I have!” I thought to myself.

Upon further explanation that seemed to go on and on, she finally asked, “Have you tried the heating pad?” I shared that I just bought one and it did seem to help quite a bit.

We must have spent about fifteen or twenty minutes on the phone talking and sharing about neck stiffness, joint aches, pain, and remedies as well as my recent visit to the doctor’s office. We tried to solve it all. I took that opportunity to pour it all out and she took that opportunity to listen and share helpful tips. After the long conversation and after I felt I had said all there was to say, I ended it with, “Well, thank you for the call!”

Suddenly, as if in slow motion, I heard the words, “Oh, I just called to tell Dave his crown was in.”

I was motionless, speechless, and unresponsive. Did I hear that right? She just called to tell my husband that his crown was in. Whom was I speaking with on the other end of the phone? I suddenly realized that it was not my doctor’s office that called, but my husband’s dentist office!

Boy did I feel silly! "Oh - okay, I'll let him know," I said in dismay - hanging the phone up. Later I reflected back on that moment (all the while laughing) about how God had placed a wonderful woman on the phone who had called for some other reason than to listen to me, share with me, or help me. Never-the-less - she did. She took the time out of her busy morning. . . . She took the time to sit with a complete stranger on the phone and listen to her ramble on about her neck issues. . . . She took the time to provide helpful tips. . . she took the time. . . she took the time.

My journey that morning with a complete stranger opened my eyes. I was reminded of how little time I spend listening. I was reminded of how "my agenda" seems to take over. I was reminded that our encounters with others have meaning and purpose. I was reminded that God really does care about our little issues in life. I was reminded that I too need to take the time. . . I too need to take the time.