On Sunday, the congregation was given a homework assignment. "What will you offer the world this week?" A question asked at the end of the sermon that landed squarely on my heart. We often talk about how quickly time passes. How weeks roll one into the other and suddenly another year has passed...wondering where in the world the time has gone and what we have to show for it. The idea of offering the world something seems so daunting when we're just trying to grind out our day.
The truth is God isn't asking for anything too complicated. Words are not often required. He is looking for us to get in that place of faith where what we do makes a bigger impact than what we say. Change yourself and watch the miracles happen around you. Slow down and look your fellow man in the eyes. Smile. Embrace. Listen. Walk toward opportunities that you might otherwise have passed by. See Christ in the eyes of the people around you. Believers or non, we are all God's children. And it might be your day to share the message of God's love with one of these people.
I recently found myself in the company of one of God's messengers while anxiously waiting for an MRI. The appointment moved quickly as I was immediately called back. I found an empty seat next to an elderly woman who was decked out in a cherry red velvet warm up suit. We began talking about our ailments and how we had arrived at this place. She was having several tests run that day with the MRI being only one of them. "God poured down his favor on me today, I tell you. He lined up all my appointments so I could have them in one day," she shared. I learned that she was there alone and had taken a shuttle service that was paid for by her health insurance. She only had 10 rides per year and God's favor had allowed her to only use one ride for all the appointments she was having.
I have always been curious when people talk about God's favor. But in such a simple way, my new friend made it clear that she had been treated with a generosity from God that was far more than what she expected. Not surprised, more matter-of-fact, she described her thankfulness for letting God put the pieces together for her this day. Expect the best, I thought, and enjoy the abundance of God's kindness. What if I could do this everyday?
I'm not sure how much time passed while we both waited to be called. I noticed nurses walking slowly by interested in what was happening in this little waiting room. She explained how many times she had been sick and how many times the Lord had healed her. He was not ready for her to die and she wasn't worried about it anyway. She had peace because she knew the Lord. She leaned over to me and looked deeply into my eyes, "I thought I was doing a good job. I was kind to everyone. I have no mens in my life. I do good for people everyday. But when I invited the Lord into my life everything changed." I learned that despite her age she was a new believer. Two weeks walking in the love of Christ. A twelve day church revival right in downtown Birmingham was where she met Jesus for the first time. "Its changed my life. I can do anything now. I can speak. LORD, I CAN TESTIFY". With this she raised her hands high in air and talked about her body being filled with HIS holy water and how it is rising up inside her. Tears filling my eyes, we hugged tightly as they called me back. "God loves you," she whispered, "and everything gonna be alright with you. God Bless you".
As they positioned me for the MRI tears continued to roll down my cheeks. I had forgotten all about my tests and all my fears. It was only this lady in the red velvet suit. "The Lady in Red" I kept repeating as they rolled me in. God's loving kindness being given to me. His favor.
I pray differently now. I thank God only for giving me this day and what blessings, unknown to me, lay ahead. I try to have little worry for tomorrow and ask that He use me for this day to do good things. Quite honestly, I sweat a little in church now with the thought of being thrown from the pew "revival-like" filled with the holy spirit and shouting, "Can I get an Amen." I love how my life intersected with this woman in the most random of places. I love that God put her there to enrich my life in ways I could never imagine. What will I offer to the world this week? Lord only knows. But I can tell you it will be good.
LizzieB
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