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