You see, it’s not just Me!
I’m not the only one who has the experiences that I write about. A friend of mine wrote me a letter talking about some of his most recent ‘God Moments’ as he calls them. I thought I would share them with you.
He writes, ‘We have season passes to Dollywood and so we spent Tuesday at the park. We had a few things we wanted to do and got there fairly early, so we were ready to leave by 2:00 pm. Our season passes come with complimentary passes for a friend so we had four extra tickets that expired in just a few more days. We didn’t want them to go to waste, so we said that it might be a blessing to someone if we just picked them out of the crowd and gave them the extra tickets. We had started discussing tis as we were leaving the park and I had said a short prayer, “Lord, please help us find the right family.” We stopped by the ticket booth to rest for a moment. There was a man and wife and two small boys (no older than four, I guess) sitting there. Before I even thought about saying anything, the Dad looked up at me and said, “Are you from here?” I nodded yes. He then said “My family and I had come here to spend the day. It’s over $300 to get into this place! We decided to sit here few minutes because of how expensive it is!”
God is amazing, isn’t he?
You can guess the rest of the story. I said to the man, “We have some free passes. Won’t you please take them?” The fellow looked like I could have pushed him over with a feather! He said, “Are you kidding me?” I said no. We spoke for a few more minutes. Once he and his wife realized we were serious, we took them thru the gate. (We had to use our passes to let them get in.) Their names were Andrew and Janice. They came all the way from Starkville, MS. Home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs the wife proudly said.
The Dad said “God bless you” and shook my hand in which he had a $100 bill. I told him I didn’t want it, but he insisted I take my family out to dinner. I’ve still got the bill. I don’t intend on spending it but rather thought about framing it as a reminder that God is amazing in how he works.
We were greatly blessed in that moment and were reminded of how real God is and how he does answer prayer (Sometimes instantly!) and how it is better to give than receive.’
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4 (NKJV)
His second moment was more personal in nature but just as moving as the last one. ‘While staying in Gatlinburg at the Park Vista hotel, which if you are not familiar with Gatlinburg sits on top of the hill overlooking the city. Our room offered a beautiful view of the mountains, so I spent the morning watching the sun rise over the mountains as I did my Bible study. This particular morning, it was partly cloudy and it took the sun a few extra moments to peek through the thin clouds hanging above the mountains. When it did come through, it was amazingly bright and beautiful! Only the Lord God Almighty can paint a sunrise!
In my Bible study, I’ve been reading through the New Testament one chapter a day. I miss a day every now and then and just pick up where I left off if get behind. That particular morning though, just as the sun broke through the clouds, I read this verse:
You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drank are drunk of night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 (NKJV)
The first verse speaking about light and day is what got my attention, given the beautiful sunrise I had just witnessed. Once again, God’s timing is amazing and the Word is amazing in that it is a living document that speaks to our need NOW, TODAY, even though it was written two thousand years ago!’
He is an amazing God isn’t He?
Just think about it, He speaks to all of us like this. Are you watching, are you listening? When you hear, do you act?