Friday, September 19, 2008

Seeing God in your own life

I recently was involved in a discussion online with some people regarding God being real. And if he's real, then why doesn't he show himself. My response was "anyone who thinks God doesn't show himself, hasn't bothered to look". God shows himself to me and makes sure I'm provided in my life with what I need.

So, I've been pondering this lately and I wanted to share a few examples of ways God has shown himself to me in just the last few years.

When we were looking for a house when we first moved to Tennessee, I found a house that I fell in love with. I wanted it - hands down. I brought Todd to see it and he agreed with me. We put in an offer and settled on a price. We signed the contract w/ our agent and sent it off to the sellers.

As soon as this was done, I started to have my doubts about the situation. Something wasn't right. I could just feel it. I began to become so nervous and upset about this that I made myself physically sick. I began to pray about it "Please God, if this is a mistake, tell me. If this isn't what I'm supposed to do, let me know. Give me a way out of this situation if it's not right". We'd given our real estate agent $1,000 as earnest money and signed a contract - we were a done deal.

And then about a week later our agent called us and told us that there was a condition in the contract that the sellers weren't happy about and they hadn't signed the contract. We'd assumed all week that it was done. But at that moment, we didn't have a signed contract - at all.

Todd hung up the phone with Brenda - our real estate agent - and told me the situation. I looked right at him and said "it's not happening, we aren't buying the house". I told him I'd been praying and praying for God to give me an out. And He'd done it. Talk about an answered prayer.

We told our agent "no deal" and about 3 months later ended up in our house - the RIGHT house in the PERFECT neighborhood. God really listened and helped me then.

More recently we've been attending and have since joined a church. I swear, every time I go there, I see something new that God reveals to me. To the point where I have actually thought "how can people think there is no God - He's EVERYWHERE!"

There was a week that I attended church alone. Which I've never done before. I can go to movies alone, eat dinner out alone, do all sorts of things. But I was scared to death to go to church alone. But I did it. And on the way there I prayed "Please God, don't let me sit alone. Let me know someone is there with me". About 10 minutes into the service, I felt a hand on my back. I looked and it was my friend, Lori. It turns out she NEVER attends the 11:00 service, but happened to be there that day. God put a friend there with me to let me know I am never alone when I am with Him. And of course I broke down and cried in church that morning.

Just 2 weeks ago we went to church - to the 11:00 service. We were running late and I hadn't grabbed a snack. To most people, that's not a big deal. But to a diabetic, it's important. I need to eat every 2-3 hours to keep my blood sugar up and at a level amount. In the car I stressed about stopping to grab something I could bring with me. I knew they'd have food out in the lobby at church, but it's always donuts and lemonade. And I can't eat that. But I walked into the church and there sat a plate of cheese and crackers at the table. I've never seen cheese and crackers laid out in the lobby at church before.

At this same service, the pastor read a passage from the bible about worry. At the time, I didn't think too much of it. But 2 days later, I received the news that I'm Type II diabetic. While I am still reeling from this diagnosis, I am drawing strength from the words spoken that Sunday morning.

Matthew 6:25-33

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It's funny how God put the exact words of scripture that I would need into Stephen's sermon just mere days before I would need them. As I am reeling with the news that food will never be my friend again and wondering how will I live and what will I eat, the answer was laid out before me.

And some people think that God doesn't show himself. Funny, maybe they should just open their eyes.

1 comment:

Ashley said...

That was a truly inspiring post to read. It is amazing how we yearn for God to show himself but we have our eyes closed and we don't see him. He is always there, He is everywhere!