The sun teased and taunted me outside my office window this week. It would peak out from behind the clouds as if to say "Come dear one, come and enjoy the warmth and the splendor of my rays". Work was calling louder though as emails and questions kept commanding my attention. So I ignored the sun's taunts. When I did look outside to see if it was still there, it would be hiding behind a cloud with just a hint of ray peaking out and shining. Lunchtime, I thought. At lunchtime I'll leave and drive down to the lighthouse and beach, then walk along the shore. Smelling the salt fresh air and looking for the sealions that occasionally pop their heads up out of the water to say hello, we're back from our winter stay in the south. Maybe I'll even bark out over the water and see if they'll respond. I have done that with my kids and it sends giggles through each of us.
If I go to the beach at lunch, the sun will most certainly stop its game of hide and seek and find me there to feel God's kiss on my cheeks with its warmth.
But I didn't go. I stayed inside the concrete building and ate lunch in the cafe. My spirit sagged. Later that day, it occurred to me that maybe God was beckoning me on another one of His adventures. And I didn't respond. Then I felt sad as all the other times I had obeyed His call, the adventure was marvelous and not what I had thought was in store for me. I had one idea in mind on where I was going and what I was doing, and God had another.
Not only am I blessed by God's idea, but other's are blessed as well. So who really misses out when we don't follow Him?
Next time, God, when you call, I'll come running in anticipation and not miss another one of YOUR adventures!
On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:13-15
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Sarah,
A couple of years ago, I was in a remote village in Mexico, on retreat by myself and the Lord. It was spur of the moment, therefore I didn't have reservations. I had asked him that morning to provide a safe house for me and let me notice miracles. I found out the next morning that where I was staying was called Casa Milagros. House of Miracles. The 2nd night God woke me up with an invitation to go look outside for shooting stars. I was tired, and defeated and just plain lazy. I turned him down. The next morning at breakfast,
2 other guests commented about the shooting star
display the night before. I cried. I begged the Lord to give me another chance, apologized. He understood, He wasn't angry. He had provided something special for me that I didn't respond to, that's all. I have been more diligent in accepting those offers to the dance, to the banquet these days. I don't want to ever miss out again........
The next night, I took a blanket and pillow up on the balcony. His grace was amazing. He not only provided the light show, but a piano concert wafting up to me on the warm night air........Mercy, Grace and Love!
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