There is a very nice woman of the Lord named, say, Espanola.
She attends a church cheerfully and participates in the choir regularly.
She has a son who is not following the Lord, yet she is often found praising the Lord, trusting Him to Save. Yes, she is a student of the Bible and an example to follow. Espanola is a fervent prayer warrior who relies on God and go where He leads.
In fact, she is how I learned about a church that I am learning to call family.
I was out to eat, working on an editing project, when I crossed paths and it led to
us praying for each other and her inviting me to a church I knew nothing about.
I wanted her to meet my grandmother, but she has not.
However, today, a year later, she reached over and greeted another family member,
someone who is hurting and needs comfort that those closest cannot provide.
It happened as swift and natural as my chance encounter-- back at that Wendy's window counter--
that Espanola and a discontented loved one began talking with each other. While others fail to reach through
a barbed defense system of self-preservation, I saw him lower the drawbridge for this lady of another language.
In fact, his eyes were lit and his smile was stretched, as he casually yet quickly spoke with her in her native tongue.
She was impressed with his depth of understanding and ability. But more than anything, she could speak her heart language with another, someone who seemed to distant for heart-to-hearts.
Like hand-scales falling in that game of peek-a-boo, God uncovered a man's eyes and ears, and I saw hardness of heart soften. And it was not at the preaching of a solid message-- only. But it was at the mutual delight of being understood.
Praise God.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for understanding our needs and wants. Thanks for how you send people into our lives, those who "get" us, especially when few others do. But more than that, thank you for loving us, even when we do not know how to communicate effectively our love for others. Now, please grant us wisdom in how to listen to those who are still needing to be heard, and where possible and beneficial-- to meet a need.
Random Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
She attends a church cheerfully and participates in the choir regularly.
She has a son who is not following the Lord, yet she is often found praising the Lord, trusting Him to Save. Yes, she is a student of the Bible and an example to follow. Espanola is a fervent prayer warrior who relies on God and go where He leads.
In fact, she is how I learned about a church that I am learning to call family.
I was out to eat, working on an editing project, when I crossed paths and it led to
us praying for each other and her inviting me to a church I knew nothing about.
I wanted her to meet my grandmother, but she has not.
However, today, a year later, she reached over and greeted another family member,
someone who is hurting and needs comfort that those closest cannot provide.
It happened as swift and natural as my chance encounter-- back at that Wendy's window counter--
that Espanola and a discontented loved one began talking with each other. While others fail to reach through
a barbed defense system of self-preservation, I saw him lower the drawbridge for this lady of another language.
In fact, his eyes were lit and his smile was stretched, as he casually yet quickly spoke with her in her native tongue.
She was impressed with his depth of understanding and ability. But more than anything, she could speak her heart language with another, someone who seemed to distant for heart-to-hearts.
Like hand-scales falling in that game of peek-a-boo, God uncovered a man's eyes and ears, and I saw hardness of heart soften. And it was not at the preaching of a solid message-- only. But it was at the mutual delight of being understood.
Praise God.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for understanding our needs and wants. Thanks for how you send people into our lives, those who "get" us, especially when few others do. But more than that, thank you for loving us, even when we do not know how to communicate effectively our love for others. Now, please grant us wisdom in how to listen to those who are still needing to be heard, and where possible and beneficial-- to meet a need.
Random Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.