1 Ch. 28:19 (NIV)
My sweet sister in the Lord, Lysa TerKeurst, and I celebrated an anniversary of sorts recently. It was our “Chip Anniversary”. “The Chip Story” (click here for Lysa’s CHIPS post) is one of those stories that points directly to God, His divine assignments and His perfect care displayed in the details of our lives. Even when the details (like potato chips) are seemingly insignificant in the scheme of life, He meets us and invites us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8
I recently heard Charles Stanley talk about how, when we see and recognize God in the details of our lives, our intimacy with Him is deepened. Beautiful. One of my heart’s passions is hearing and sharing about how God is daily working in the lives of His people. How sweet (and salty) it is when we share of His faithfulness and provision in the details of our hearts. “Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man’s behalf.” Psalm 66:5
In this case, Lysa and her daughter Ashley tasted God’s love for them in a salty snack. For me, it was a timely and loving reminder from Him that indeed “My sheep hear my voice”. (John 10) And when He says, “Send chips”, then send chips!
In celebration of His goodness and the Chip Anniversary, I am hosting a “Salty Give-Away”. The winner will receive 1.) a box of a variety of Herr’s CHIPs! , 2.) one of Lysa’s books (your choice): “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” or “What Happens When Women Walk In Faith” and 3.) Andrew Murray’s book “The Holiest of All”, which is an excellent study on the book of Hebrews. This Bible study tool goes along very well with either of Lysa’s books offered herein. Lysa’s passion in life and in Proverbs 31 Ministry is to get women into God’s Word so God’s Word gets into them. These salty books do just that. (And thank you to my friend Jill who first introduced me to Murray’s “Holiest of All”…I love it!)
I will share how God nudged my heart to send the chips to Lysa. Then, I invite you to post a comment here on how God showed YOU His detailed love for you and/or how He nudged your heart to be His vessel of love to another person. All commenters will be entered to win!
One morning, during my quiet time with Him, the Lord put a few things on my heart that He wanted me to do, and I jotted them down. Now, this doesn’t happen all of the time. But that morning, I knew He had a few “divine assignments” for me. It is both humbling and exciting that He uses us as vessels, isn’t it?
So, at the top of my list (actually HIS list) was “Send chips to Lysa TerKeurst“. Yes, that’s what I heard Him speak to my heart. I’ve gotta tell ya….I did wrestle with the Lord a bit on this. “Chips, Lord? You want me to send chips? I have never sent anyone chips, Lord! Can’t I send chocolate? What woman wouldn’t love to receive chocolate unexpectedly? Or perhaps some cute note cards or some pretty earrings? You really want me to send chips? This is a little embarrassing!! Why would someone want to randomly receive chips?”
I knew it was Him whispering to my heart. So, I was resolved to obey and send the chips. After all, the Bible says “to love is to obey.” (1 John 14) However, still feeling a bit red-faced about how Lysa would feel about receiving potato chips randomly, I didn’t rush to send the chips. Each morning after my quiet time, I would look at my note-to-self: “Send chips to Lysa“. Yes, Lord, I will.
Finally, after a few weeks, the Lord impressed on my heart “Sharon, send the chips TODAY”! “OK, I get it Lord. Today is the day. I know I am obeying you, so the purpose of this random chip-sending assignment is in Your faithful hands.”
Detail: It had been on my “Summer Fun Things To Do List” for several summers to take our two children to the Herr’s Snack Factory for a tour, which is just an hour from our home. At the end of August 2007, out of the blue one morning, I called my mom and said, “Mom, we are coming to pick you up…we are going to Herr’s Factory today!” It’s no mistake that, after wanting to do this for several summers, a day in late August 2007 was the day we spontaneously did it. It was shortly thereafter that God told me to “send chips”!
I got on-line to www.herrs.com and ordered a box of 42 snack-size bags of chips. I did have fun picking out the varieties and flavors I thought the TerKeurst Family might enjoy.
Detail: When I finished my order, the Herr’s site indicated it would take up to 7-10 days to fill the order, and then several more days for it to ship and arrive at the TerKeursts. That seemed fine to me. They weren’t expecting the chips, so it was no rush really. According to Herr’s customer service, they’d get them in a few weeks. I made a mental note of it and exited the site. My heart was content knowing I had obeyed the Lord. I was, however, still wondering what Lysa would think about randomly receiving CHIPS!
Detail: The NEXT DAY, I received an e-mail from Herr’s customer service advising me that the order was processed and had SHIPPED. IN ONE DAY!
Detail: TWO DAYS LATER, I received an automatic e-mail from UPS telling me that the CHIPS had been delivered! In 3 days from when I placed the order, it was processed and the chips were on the TerKeurst’s front porch! Again, I noted this in my head but did not have any idea the significance of it all. To be honest, I thought business at Herr’s and UPS must be pretty slow to have handled this so efficiently in 3 days! In reality, they were unknowingly serving our awesome God.
My heart was at peace knowing the chips were there and that I had obeyed the Lord. The quiet little treasure in my heart, just between me and the Lord, of the joy and peace that accompanies obedience was good enough for me. I thanked Him and went on, content with that quiet little treasure in my heart.
A week or so after getting the e-mail notification from UPS, and just after arriving home from a scrapbook retreat with my girlfriends, I read the CHIP STORY on Lysa’s blog. Literally, my jaw dropped and I lost my breath. Oh my! Lysa wrote how the chips were “a love letter straight from the Lord! He loves me, cares about me, fills in my many gaps, and loves for me to experience Him in the most wondrous ways.” Chips! Yes, indeed, He wanted me to send CHIPS!
Detail: Lysa received the chips on her way out to a scrap booking weekend with girlfriends. I read her blog post about the chips on arriving home from a scrap booking weekend with girlfriends. I am still not really sure what significance that “scrap booking weekend with girlfriends” connection has, but it is interesting! Perhaps God was just making another “detail connection” somehow.
Tears streamed down my face! “Chips, Lord, chips! You wanted me to send chips! You reached down from heaven to put chips on the porch of a mommy who wanted to bless her daughter and fulfill her request for some chips for her school lunches. You filled in a gap for that mom. You care about chips, Lord! You care about the details of our lives! You love us so intimately and so perfectly! Thank you, Lord! Thank you that you spoke to my heart and entrusted this precious divine assignment to me! Thank you that you confirm to me that Your sheep hear Your voice, and that you want to use me, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for letting me see the fruit of obedience.”
Detail: A few weeks later, our first “Proverbs 31 Gather & Grow” gathering was taking place in my home. The book we had planned to read: “What Happens When Women Say ‘Yes’ To God” by Lysa Terkeurst. He was so gracious to start us out on our study by giving us one tasty testimony of what happened when a woman said “yes” to God. Is He amazing!?!?
So, on this Chip Anniversary, we are remembering His deeds. And we are having a Salty Snack and Books give-away! Post a comment about how God ministered His love to you in a personal detail, or how He prompted you to be a vessel of His love for someone else. The winner will be announced later this week.
May God be glorified and may our relationships with Him grow deeply intimate as we testify about His deeds on our behalf. He is involved in the details!
And Happy Chip Anniversary to my very salty friend Lysa! Love you sister-friend!
Thanks for stopping by! Look for the winner later this week!
And speaking of tasty treats…be sure to visit my scrap-booking-and-gathering-and-growing dear friend Lucille’s “Taste and See Psalm 34:8 Cooking Series” site. It’s art a la carte as you learn truths from His Word.
“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever. He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate…the works of His hands are faithful and just.” Psalm 111:2-4, 7
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples. With Your mighty arm You redeemed Your people.” Psalm 77:11-15
Melinda says
I absolutely ADORE stories like this! This has been a year of God-promptings for me, and the blessings that have poured over my head for listening to those promptings would take a LOT more space than offered here on dear ol’ blogger.
I celebrate the chip-o-versary with you and Lysa, and praise God for caring about EVERY LITTLE (CRUNCHY AND SALTY) THING!
Blessings,
Melinda
Alene says
What an amazing story! Love God stories – they make Him seem SO REAL! Just this week God put a new friend in my path. This friend was put there by God with such encouragement for the struggles I was battling. HE is definitely in the big and small things – sweet and salty things too! I hope I win this Salty Give-Away — hmmm, my mouth is watering. Blessings.
Kimberly says
Oh, I LOVE the little “I love you”s from the Lord like this that really are such a BIG deal to our hearts! To know that He sees us, knows us intimately, and loves us!
I love when things like this happen for my daughters! One day, my oldest, 6 at the time, was getting ready for school. She was telling me that she wanted to check out the book where Curious George goes to the circus. It was her library day at school. I was so blessed by God’s goodness and great love when she came home that day with that exact book to KEEP! They let the students pick out a book for their birthday. Megan’s birthday had been in the summer, but they were catching up on birthday books that VERY day and had that VERY book! I made sure she knew that was an “I love you” straight from God!
And I realize from this wonderful post of yours that I need to be praying for listening ears and an obdedient heart so that I may be a messenger of His love!!!
Blessings! And thanks for sharing this awesome testimony and the chance for winning a wonderful salty gift!
K π
Carrie says
Goose bumps!! Wow!! God is so good!!!!
Thanks for sharing this touching story of obiedence.
Crunchy/salty goes hand-n-hand with chocolate:)
Wanda says
I have a dear friend and co-worker that is fighting a mother’s worse nightmare.
Her precious college age son is battling cancer. They have done everything to beat it and still it is back with a vengeance.
This last week, I sat with her as she cried and lamented about how tired she was. She was feeling hopeless and as if God were tired of hearing from her.
I encouraged her and reminded her of the persistent widow and judge story in Luke 18:1-8
She immediately pulled the scripture up and felt energized!
I didn’t do much….but this mama needed a boost! She was giving up and I didn’t want to see her do that.
Be an encourager…..and be obedient!
Racquel Simone says
Wow. Discernment is awesome! I recently felt led to call a younger sister in the Lord and share with her a vision that the Lord had given me about her. She was speechless and said that she had been praying for God to send confirmation that she was on the right track with her life and that my obedience to the Lord to call her and tell her was the best thing that had happened to her in a while, because she knew for a fact that God loved & cared for her because he was so direct in answering her prayer through an unexpected means! So, I definitely relate to yours and Lisa's story!
Enriched-Mom says
Thank you for sharing your Chip story on this Monday morning. It was just what I needed to read to start off a hectic week.
Heather says
Happy Chip-o-versary!! Wow, what a beautiful “in the details” story. I think of Him being in the details when I get a good parking spot when in a hurry;)
Our finest “in the details” moment though, was accepting the Lord’s divine providence to send Uncle Jim on our mission to Hannah and finding our that Uncle Jimmy had scheduled vacation time during the exact two weeks that encompassed going to China – Jim had scheduled that months prior AND our trip was moved several times – God’s hand was steady as He called us to TRUST Him!
Just love re-living moments like that. I am working on an in the details post, myself and I will recount several of those Godly times when He spoke, I listened and it was all good:)
Just love you sweet friend!
Love,
Heather
Laurie says
I truly believe that when God places a person’s name on our hearts out of the blue that we are to stop and pray for that person.
Several years ago I woke up in the middle of the night dreaming about my cousin, Rhoda. I had not seen or heard from her for over 10 years and didn’t know where she was in her life or what she was doing or if she was happy in her marriage. So, I started praying for her not knowing how or why. I asked God to surround her with His angels and give her a shield of protection. I knew that God knew where she was and what hear specific needs were. I continued to be in constant prayer for her for the next several days.
Fast forward to a year later I was visiting my aunt and ask her questions about how various family members were doing. She brought up Rhoda’s name and said that Rhoda had been in a terrible accident and was hit by a car while she was jogging. Immediately after she was hit, a doctor showed up and ministered life saving aid to her before the ambulance came to get her. I asked my aunt when this happened and it turned out to be around the time that God woke me up in the middle of the night to pray for her!
I also have a Marine son who served in Iraq for eight months. I cannot tell you how many times I was prompted by my God to pray for him and his buddies. Chris came home with many stories about near misses and brushes with death. . . and felt the prayers of others.
Thank you for doing this giveaway and allowing others to share their stories.
Blessings, Laurie in TN
Anonymous says
i am a single mom so my budget is pretty tight. my car started acting up so i took it to a mechanic to see what was going on with it. he said i needed a new transmission, but also proceeded to refer me to another mechanic who dealt specifically with my kind of car. the second mechanic reiterated my need for a new transmission. however, he also made a call to a honda dealership because he had heard that they were sometimes helping with transmission replacement due to problems with that particular year. well, i took it in and they gave me an estimate of $1300 which is a pretty fair deal for a brand new transmission….but i knew that G-d is bigger and can do better so i prayed about it and called american honda and was assigned a case manager. he said he would look it over and get back to me. about 2 weeks later he called to tell me he had great news that they would go ahead and fix it for $500-$500. then the dealership called and gave me a final price to replace my transmission $467.50!!!! G-d is awesome and i have seen His hand on my life over and over again. Praise G-d!!
thank you for your wonderful ministry. i look forward to these blogs each day. they have been a continual source of encouragement.
shalonna
noble_shalonna@yahoo.com
Pen to Paper; Spirit to Soul says
What a cool story! I don’t really have one to share, other than praying over the Sam’s worker the other day…she sounded like she was coughing up a lung so I asked if I could pray for her. She said yes!
I wanted to comment that I love hearing Vicky Beeching on your site! My 18 yr old daughter absolutely adores her and had a chance to visit with her at a RSJ get together last year!
Have an awesome ‘CHIP’ day!
Pamela in TX
Joyful says
Sharon, I came over here to thank you for your comment on my blog and your great enthusiasm – but I have been so blessed!!!! I LOVE God-stories!!! This is truly AMAZING!!!
My mind goes back over so many exciting events in my life that only God could have orchestrated. I’d love to share one in detail, but I wonder which one? There was the time I was praying for the Lord to let me be instrumental in supplying funds for an orphan home that was to be built in Africa. I knew the exact amount needed. I do not work outside the home so don’t have an income myself. The people were leaving for Africa in about a week, and I had been praying for months that if God wanted to make me a channel of His resources that He would somehow supply me with the money to give. Well, a week before the trip was to be made an elderly couple showed up at my door with a cheque addressed to me (not me and my husband which I always found interesting) with the EXACT amount to build the orphan home!! Totally incredible!
I think of one day when I was feeling especially lonely and wondering where God was and if He even knew of the pain I was going through. I was desperately asking Him to tell me that He loves me. I was cleaning at the time and as I dusted around the computer the screen lit up and asked, “Do you wish to connect?” I had NEVER seen this message before. I decided to sit down and check e-mails. There was one message in my Inbox. It was from a friend of mine. She is a wonderful friend, but she never expresses any form of sentiment. I clicked into her e-mail and all it said was, “I love you”. She didn’t even sign her name. I knew that was God speaking His love to my heart.
One Saturday morning I woke up really early and decided to get up an have my quiet time with the Lord. The key verse in my devotional was “Go and feed my sheep”. I was aware of a Ladies Event about a 2 1/2 hour drive from my home that was going on that Saturday and I felt God strongly impressing on my heart to drive over and not attend the event, but offer to help serve in the kitchen. OK…this was just weird. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a ‘kitchen’ person, and to show up and just offer to help…like who was I???? Anyway, I felt so strongly that I had to go, I did! When I arrived I went and spoke with the lady organizing the event and she couldn’t believe it. Apparently the team of youth that were suppose to serve the meals that day (lunch and supper) had all been called away, last minute, on some special unplanned youth event and she had only one lady serving about 300 women. What a wonderful day I had and God somehow multiplied our efforts and allowed the two of us to meet the needs of all these women.
Ok…this comment is getting too long! But I LOVE God-stories.
If you want to read another totally amazing one – check here: http://princessjoyful.blogspot.com/2008/06/beyond-my-wildest-dreams.html This is a story of how I was the recipient of an amazing gift from God, when I was totally bound by the fear of flying, but followed God in obedience. He did more than I could have asked or imagined, and used someone else’s obedience to minister to my heart.
I hope you get tons of entries for this contest. (Please don’t include my name – I just wanted to share what God has done for me.) I’ll be back to read more of the comments you receive later!
Blessings,
Joy
BethAnne says
Love the chip story!
A few years ago,my father who is in the ministry, was praying that he could take my sisters and our families on a family vacation. He didnt mention this to anyone. He kept looking on the internet for places to go, but the ones that would accomdate all of us were way too expensive. A couple of weeks later a man who goes to his church came into my dad’s office and said, “I have a house on Santa Rosa Beach in Florida, would you like to take your family there for a vacation?” Of course, my father accepted the offer — turns out that the house is a multi million dollar home directly on the most beautiful beach in America…….God not only answers our prayers, HE answers them in grand fashion.
Shanda says
I loved this “Chip Story!”
The story of mine that jumped to mine is a “Sprite” story. I was driving one day and saw an elderly man out mowing his lawn. It was a VERY hot day and he looked worn. God began prompting my heart to buy this man a cold drink. I was on my way to the store, but I kept saying to myself, “by the time I get back there he will be done and gone.” (VERY small front yard) But I went ahead and bought a cold “Sprite” (you know how they have those coolers with drinks as you are checking out.) I have NO IDEA what kind of mechanical problems this dear man must have had, but when I drove back by, sure enough, he was STILL out mowing that tiny plot of grass. I said, “OK God, clearly this is your doing!” and I jumped out and gave him the Sprite. He was shocked. I was a little nervous so was quick about handing it to him, telling him it was “from God” and getting back to my car. I do not know what the implications may have been to that man, but I knew in my heart that God had a plan. Maybe one day I will see him in heaven and he can tell me his side of our “Sprite” story! Many Blessings!
GrammaGrits says
A few years ago just after the New Year, I had a specific amount laid on my heart to give the Lord that year. However, since I wasn’t working and I didn’t want to tell anyone, I didn’t know where the money would come from. I kept praying and waiting, and just before the end of December I received just over the exact amount God had laid on my heart, just in time to share it with five ministries around the world. PTL! That was so exciting!
Unknown says
Loved the chip story.
My story – nine years ago I was attending a new church. God urged me to make choc chips cookies for the Pastor. Okay, I put it off awhile, like you did, but finally God won and I left the cookies for the pastor and said “there God, are you satisfied?” and he said “no, do soemthing for him every month this year.” I was embarassed, but every month I did something for the pastor with a little note saying it was from God, not me, so please don’t thank me. I (much later) found out that the pastor suffered from depression and how much my little goodies, and especially the encouraging notes that went along with them, meant to him.
God is never wrong. Even when we don’t understand the why.
Toknowhim says
I can’t remember all the details, but I had two concordances, and I gave one to a friend that had recently really been diving into the Word. She didn’t have a lot of money, but she had been wanting a concordance for a long time. When I gave her one of mine, her face let lit up, and she has used it much since I gave it to her.
Thanks for sharing…
Shanda says
I’m still learning to hear those divine assignments from God, but like your “Chip” story, when they are so specific it’s hard not to know they come from a loving and very personal God.
My husband and I were out at a pizza place eating lunch before we were to get on a airplane. We had a couple pieces of pizza left over and were just going to leave them because we were headed to the airport immediately following our lunch.
Insert God Here:
“Take the pizza with you.”
Of course I tried to rationalize why I did not need to take the pizza, but it became very clear that it wasn’t me I was arguing with. So I told my husband that this might sound weird, but I wanted to take the extra 2 pieces of pizza with us. His response was that we can always throw it away later if nothing happens. On the drive to the airport, I kept my eyes peeled for someone who looked like they might need some food. There was nobody and we were pulling into the parking lot of the airport. We had to return a rental car. As we unloaded our stuff my husband asked if he could throw out the pizza. “NO!”, I said… still unsure what else to do with it. Then we got on a shuttle to take us from the car lot closer to the terminals.
“Give the driver the pizza.”
Lord, it’s after 2:30 in the afternoon, surely his lunch break is over. He’s not going to want this pizza.
“Give the driver the pizza.”
So I told the driver we had a couple extra pieces of pizza if he would like them. He smiled and very gratefully accepted the pizza. He had a short lunch because they were so busy and he thought he might have to work late and miss dinner, too!
Thanks for sharing your story and allowing us to share some of ours. I’ve enjoyed reading through all the comments and seeing the amazing ways God tends to our details!
shanda
Kristin says
That was a sweet post! Recently I went before the Lord with one specific, heart-felt plead. Some good friends of ours had recently moved away so the husband could attend a Seminary – he had been our church’s youth pastor. My husband and I had felt the need to step in this year with the youth group to help with their transition from our dear friend to whoever will pastor them in the future. We knew it was God leading us in several ways. But to make a long story shorter, our biggest need in doing this, in order to attend the 8pm Wed. night youth groups, was to find a sitter that would come and hang out at our home for a couple hours since that is the bedtime for our 3 children, and out of the kindness of their heart (because we didn’t have the money to pay a sitter each week and besides, all the ones we knew were IN youth group!). We had no idea who could do this, who to ask, where to turn. No one was placed on my heart or my husband’s. So as the school year grew nearer, I laid out my anxieties to God and pleaded for help. I told Him I knew He wanted us to serve and that we wanted to bless Him and would He please send someone our way. 2 days later I had an out-of-the-blue call from an older woman in our church who needed computer help (I am in charge of our church’s website) and when I realized I couldn’t solve it over the phone I offered to stop by her house. I went, took my 3 kids, and had a great conversation with her and her husband which culminated in them saying they would both love to come sit at our house every Wednesday and play dominoes, which is what they always do at their house anyway. My kids have gained an extra set of grandparents and our experience with them has been so wonderful.
pam says
Cool. Probably the biggest prompt I obeyed was to drop everything and drive 45 miles to be with a friend as she took her 6 week old baby from a doctor’s appt. to a Children’s Hospital to see a specialist for what turned out to bring a diagnosis of a brain tumor. God just told me to drop everything—and that continued for the 6 1/2 months that he lived. I was in awe of how God took care of my family while I was privileged to step in to help the mom whose farmer husband couldn’t always be with her. Some prompts seem big but every prompt that we obey, brings forth blessing and an opportunity to be in awe of God all over again.
Anonymous says
Sharon,
I just love these God stories–they bring so much encouragement to me.
We like a lot of Americans face months where the $$ just don’t look like they will reach. I am continually amazed at how during those times God provides. I clean houses for several older people who will often fill up grocery bags for me after they have family visit. It always happens when my grocery budget has been depleted for the month–it makes me almost giddy that God cares for me and shows me in so many ways!
One time at Christmas I was cutting back on things and decided that I would not purchase a pointsettia for my dining room table. It wasn’t necessary and I could do without. We attended my husbands Christmas Dinner and the centerpieces were pointsettias and were given to the closest birthday. It wasn’t me but the woman who was the closest had just purchased pointsettias and gave it to me. She didn’t really know me and she surely didn’t know that I so wanted that pointsettia–totally a God gift just to let me know that he loves me!!
Congrats on your chippy anniversary!
blessings,
Kim
Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife says
Wow. I just love God in the details. Big picture is great but when He shows off in the tiniest of places I just want to squeeze Him – if that is allowed.
When Luke and I felt God leading us to our current pastorate, I literally said, “I won’t believe it’s real unless someone shows up in our yard and offers to buy the house.”
They did. (And no the house wasn’t for sale.)
A couple we knew saw us standing in the yard, pulled in and told us they were house-hunting. We told them ours might be available, took them inside, showed them around, they said yes, and the sale was completed within two weeks.
I guess He wanted us to move? π
God is all that and A BAG OF CHIPS! lol
Mommahen says
I have only shared this story with two other people, so I feel kind of embarrassed to share it, but chips are a weakness.
About six years ago, I was in Wal-Mart behind a dad with three kids. They looked like they were ages 5, 4, and around 2.
They were looking at toothbrushes on display there at the checkout stand. They asked their dad if they could have the toothbrushes. But he looked at them while they held a bag of apples and told them they had to choose the apples or the toothbrushes, but not both. He was also buying a bag of off brand diapers.
When it was their turn they chose the apples and left the toothbrushes. He then asked the cashier to take the diapers off and add the toothbrushes.
I am a stay at home mom and we have three of our own. Money seems to always be tight, but we never go hungry and my kids always had diapers. And I never had to choose between apples or toothbruses.
I felt the Lord telling me to buy the diapers and give them to the man. So when he paid for his purchase and left, I asked the cashier to add the diapers to my purchase. The man had walked off to side and was counting change. He came back, I guess to ask for the diapers, but I handed them to him and he just looked at me. I said they’re paid for. He was so grateful. I knew we would manage to cut ten dollars somewhere.
I knew it was God’s leading, when at the end of the month, I got our bank statement and we had one hundred extra dollars in our account that I could not account for. The Lord returned my giving back to me ten fold.
It was a joy to give to that man, but the Lord trumped me still by outgiving me. I am grateful He used me that night.
Unknown says
God has ministered in so many ways…I don’t even know which one to tell. My husband and I have always wanted children and were unable to conceive. After 15 years, we finally began the adoption process and received a very special daughter with unique needs. She had been in 10 different foster homes in three years. She was physically and verbally abusive toward us during the first 6 months. Those deep dark days were extremely difficult. She has Reactive Attachment Disorder and Post Tramatic Stress Disorder. If it had not been for my faith in God and that He knows what He is doing and is in control, I know that we would have given up on her. Now two and a half years later, we are still struggling with many issues but nothing like we had at first. God has worked on her little heart (as well as ours) and has changed and molded us together as a family. Loving her through the hard times teaches me so much about God’s love for me.
Eight months after she came to live with us her birthmother had a son. We took him in (immediately from the hospital) and he has been with us since. His adoption will be finalized soon.
Unknown says
My God-in-the-details was about my husband and I getting engaged. I had been waiting and waiting and we finally decided to order the ring. We picked it out and placed the order, but the clerk told us it would take six weeks to process the order and certificate and for it to arrive at the store. I was disappointed, despite my excitement. We were talking about it later that night and I said that I was going to pray and believe it would get there that week (it was a Monday). On Friday morning my husband received a call from the store that the ring was in! Needless to say we went and picked up the ring that day. The clerk was in disbelief and said that she had never had anything come in that quick and I got to share with her how the Lord came through with something so important to little old me. After I admired the ring, I gave it back to my husband, who then proposed by me by the mac and cheese aisle at Sam’s club. One of the best days ever, all thanks to our wonderful Lord.
Unknown says
Hey Sharon,
Thanks for sending the comment to my blog that sent me to Lysa’s blog to see my name on the list of chosen blogs. What a great way to start the day! π
I really enjoyed reading your post last night, and I’ve been thinking about it trying to decide from the many times God had shown His love in those little details.
Lately, I’ve been suffering some depression, so I decided to start seeing a counselor. The whole idea is kind of frightening but exciting at the same time. A couple weeks ago, I was driving down the road with no kids or husband to interrupt my thoughts. I was praying and working through some of my feelings with the Lord. As I was praying, a song came on the radio that pretty much said everything I was trying to say. You can find the complete lyrics here http://artists.letssingit.com/sanctus-real-lyrics-whatever-youre-doing-7mhkjz5
But the main lyrics that caught me were: “Whatever You’re doing inside of me, it feels like chaos but somehow there’s peace.
It’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see,but I’m giving in to something Heavenly”
I felt the Lord gave me that song to fulfill the verse that says He will pray for us when we don’t know what to pray. You know?
When I quiet down and let God show me things, he uses me every single day. My blog post you congratulated me on tells one of those stories…you can link to it from Lysa’s blog.
Thanks for being such an encouraging, discerning person. Love that chip story…how awesome is that? When I read it, I said, “Lord…I want to be used by You like that. To obey You even when the idea seems hair-brained.”
Runner Mom says
Hey, Sharon! What a great story! I enjoyed reading the comments too! I love how awesome our God is when we listen to Him and obey Him…even when we don’t understand!!
I won’t share a story today, but thanks so much for yours!!
Love ya,
Susan
Sheena says
Hi
My story encourages me till this days.It really shows that you never know how much you have influenced or touched someones live.
I am an educator teaching eighteen and nineteen year olds chemistry.I love my students and love teaching and i know that God has put me in this career to touch lives for him.
Last year, there was one girl in my batch of students whom i felt i jus could not reach out to.For me its very easy to talk to my students and find out their problems,pray for them and jus give them moral support.And most of my students respond positively.But this particular girl was extremely quiet and usually has no response.Often i told myself,maybe i should stop talking to her or maybe she does not need my help but God told me to keep encouraging her.Which i did and it really was a huge effort for me.
A year later, after that batch of students completed their public exams and were ready to enter university, i met this girl again.She returned to school to get some forms and bumped into me.I chatted with her a little then i jus ended with the sentence i will be praying for you and then hurried off to my next class.
An hour later, as i entered the teachers room, i found a card and some delicious food on my table.I had no idea who it was from so i opened the card and part of it read…
“Thank you teacher for helping me in my studies.I will try very hard to do well in the future.Thank you for helping me improve my english too.thank u very much… ”
I was too stunned.There was no way i knew that this student actually was grateful to me if she had not written the card and told me.She was probably one of the last person that i could think of that i had any impact on .I thank God that i obeyed Him and he used me to be his vessel..but there is more to this story
On that particular day and week, i was feeling very discouraged with my students.I was thinking on thatday in my mind “is it worth it to be a teacher.It is so tiring and not worth it at all.
God chose the best way and best day to encourage me to run this race and to not give up and that he still cares for me and it is DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
Sheena from Malaysia