Surprise!
I was extremely humbled on Wednesday at the way God works in our lives, sometimes in spite of us. I received an email from a guy that I worked with a few years ago. He was my manager and I felt that we had become great friends during that time but had kind of lost touch over the last few years.
In what has to be attributed to a total God moment, I ran into him in the airport while I was waiting for my flight back to Texas after Christmas and he was flying out West on a business trip for his new job.
It was great to catch up with him and find out how things were going with him and his family. The thing that caught my attention the most was that he was sharing how he and the family had started going to church a few months ago. I thought that was great that he had shared that with me and I made sure to make a point to pray for that relationship.
Here is the part that is humbling (The following is part of an email that he sent me yesterday):
It is really good to hear from you and yes it was great to run into each other! Next time you’re in Iowa or I’m in Texas, we need to catch up for dinner or lunch or something! I miss talking with you and gaining perspective from you.
Our family just recently (in the last 4 months) starting going back to church and your thought process / logic / etc. is great. I have started to really have a relationship with Jesus for the first time in my life and some aspects of it that I’m working with our Pastor on.
I have always thought of you as a very good friend and also someone who I look up to immensely. I find being around you very good for how I look at situations and how I perceive situations. PRAISE GOD!!! I am so thankful that God has put me in positions in my life to learn life lessons and develop abilities that help others. I take no credit for myself and I guess the biggest surprise of all is that in the midst of my own issues, I was confronted with the fact that God used me to be an influence in the life of another. Thank you God for you love, grace, and mercy!!!
What would you do?
I was all fired up about beginning this 30 Day experiment. Looking back, I really do not know what I was expecting other than to try to be open to whatever God had to teach me about myself and how I view the world. I seem to get motivation to write on this Blog the day after we have a Home Team meeting. I guess this is a testament to how effective and uplifting this ministry can be. The meeting this week was just a culmination of thoughts and steps that my life seems to be taking during this experiment: Where is my life taking me and How does God fit into all of that?
I am a very introspective person, and as such, I tend to find meaning and symbolism in different ways in everyday life. One of the biggest ways for me is through TV. I love to interact with how other people look at the world and filter this through my Christian World View, and then give thanks for all of the lessons that God has given to me. One such 'interaction' came while I was watching a show called Grey's Anatomy on Sunday night. Now, I am not going to hold this show up as an example of good character television in terms of the values that it portrays but I really like some of the actors and the way that it presents characters who are struggling with real life and trying to do the best that they can. Anyway, the latest episode concluded with the main character, Miranda Grey, asking: "If you knew that tomorrow was your last day to live-What would you do with it?!?"
I have to admit that as soon as I started this 30 day, Surprise Me God experiment, my life has been turned upside down. Things got worse at work. Things and people that I had counted on in my personal life started to fall apart and some of those foundational relationships that you count on for your
sanity began to erode around me. The constant throughout all of this chaos, however, is that there have been little things here and there that have shown me that God is still here in the "trenches" with me and I am constantly having reminders of past trials and victories come to my mind to reinforce that God has not forsaken me. I feel lost and encouraged all at the same time!
I do not know what the final two weeks of this experiment will bring but I do know that God will continue to be along for the ride because He has been their all along!!!
The 30-Day Faith Experiment
I went into our Home Team Bible Study tonight feeling a little guilty. I had not taken upon myself the challenge of committing to the "Surprise Me God" experiment. I have been through a rough time at work lately and I guess I was feeling a little sorry for myself (I tend to do this!). I tend to feel unworthy of the Grace and Love that Jesus has freely given me. I tend to get bogged down under the weight of the Sacrifice even though it was freely given to me.
After sharing, laughing, and praying with each other-I was encouraged by the support and acceptance that I have felt since Day One at Pioneer Drive. I have only been attending the Gathering for a little over 3 weeks now but it has been an answer to prayer. I have bounced around from job to job and town to town for the last 10 years and realized that I have never given any of those stops a chance to become "home" because I was always looking off into the distance for the next best thing. When you are constantly working towards the future, what joy is there in the present?!?
After hearing the courage, commitment, and excitement of my Home Team I was encouraged by the safety I felt as I began to get excited about the next 30 days. I am really looking forward to praying "Surprise Me God" for the first time tomorrow and see what ways I am challenged and, well, SURPRISED!!!
