Hebrews 13:16
"Make
sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common
good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of
worship -- a different kind of "sacrifice" -- that take place in kitchen and
workplace and on the streets."
(MSG)
At a grocery store in our town, the shopping carts are
locked together, but inserting a quarter releases a cart. When we are done, we
put the cart back and we get our quarter back. Many times when we are done,
people will approach us before we get the cart back, give us their quarter, and
take our cart. On this particular day as I was returning the cart to the storage
area, a lady approached me. At first, I did not hear her ask for the cart. Just
as I was about to put the cart into the row, I heard her say again, "I can take
that cart."
I immediately turned and said, "Here you go."
As she went to pass me the quarter, I said, "No, that's okay."
Her reply was, "Here", and she tried to hand me the quarter.
Again I said, "No, that's okay."
Her reply was, "Hey! You can't do that!"
I was about to take the quarter to avoid upsetting her, when out of my mouth came, "I was bought by a price, and He came for all who want to receive Him, so please take my cart as a blessing to you."
We spoke a bit more, and then,
she took the cart, and I left minus a quarter but with a great personal
blessing.
We know we are to spread the good news of Jesus. At
times, we know what we need to say to people, and then there are the times when
we least expect it that He gives us the words and speaks into someone's life. I
have no doubt that the Lord wanted to speak into this lady's life, and He used
me in this moment. I also recognize again how important it is to hear His voice
or feel His prompting. When I had left home that morning, I had not planned to
be at the grocery store at that time, but felt something prompting me to go
there as my first errand and not the second, as I had planned.
Philemon 1:6 - I pray that you may be active in
sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good
thing we have in Christ. (NIV)
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that Your timing is
always perfect. Help us to have more of those moments when we can be vessels to
shed Your light into someone's life. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Julie Bowles
julieanni@rogers.com
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
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