Today I want to share two stories. The first story I want to share is one where I missed it. When I get it right it is all because of Him. But the reality is I miss it often for one reason or another. It seems like in order hear His voice and have the courage to follow through there are several that I miss. I feel it is important for me to share stories that don’t work out from time to time too.
But know that God is a good Father. He doesn’t throw us away when we fall or slip. He picks us up, brushes us off and puts us back in the game.
On the way to the grocery store I was praying to God. I was asking Him to place someone around me so I could buy their groceries. I was trying not to be picky but I was hoping He would bring a single mother in my path. As we parked our van I looked to the left. A woman was pulling up with a car that looked like it was on it’s last leg. It was a grey two door car. She got out and then a little boy got out. Then she reached into the back seat and pulled out another little boy. She appeared to me to be a single mother. God was really answering my prayer.
In my mind I told God that these would be the perfect people to purchase groceries for but how would I do it? I certainly couldn’t follow them around the whole store without them calling security about the weird guy that keeps following them.
So I came up with a real Holy Plan. I said (in my mind to God) if I am in the checkout line behind them then I will buy their groceries.
We start walking up to the checkout and I am excited to see who God has there for me to bless. No one was in line. Ellie said we forgot to pick up Yoghurt for Mom. We turned the cart around and headed back to get Yoghurt. When we came back into the line this woman was in front of us with her two young boys.
Perfect opportunity right. I mean God not only answered my first prayer, miraculously He answered the second one.
Now the story should end something like this…
She went to pay for her groceries and I asked if I could pay for them in Jesus Name. But I didn’t.
I totally blew it! I chickened out! I didn’t say one word!
I told this to a church one time and their jaws hit the floor in surprise and disappointment. I actually heard the congregation gasp and say OHHHH!
I chickened out! I didn’t say anything.
As we were walking out I told Ellie about this and how bad I was feeling for missing it. She said, “He’s already forgiven you”. “Besides I wouldn’t trade you!”
I’m so thankful for my family who supports this. It is like I am trying to keep one hand on God and go where He goes, but the other hand just won’t let go of my comfort zone.
It is never easy and sometimes you make it and sometimes you blow it. Every time I get it right it is always only because of Him. I’m so grateful that soon I will hear His voice again prompting me to get back in the game. I’ll pray for boldness to do what He asks. I’ll also be praying for boldness for you too:)
The next story is when my wife and I were Traveling to Minnesota.
Several years ago I was on our local Main Street in Cedar Falls and I believe He prompted me to take two pictures. The first one was the front of the buildings. Perfectly landscaped, trees trimmed, windows decorated, complete with traveling art. Then He prompted me to go to the back. It had the complete opposite feeling. The paint was old and discolored. The trim was hanging. Gutters were sliding off of the roof. Dumpsters were half open with heaping trash falling out. I will include the pictures in my written part of this podcast on Somebodydiedforyou.com
I asked why He was bringing me there and what He was trying to tell me. He said these words to my heart, “That is the current condition of many hearts.” In a moment I knew exactly what He was trying to say.
Our outsides are dressed up with clothes, makeup, jewelry, hats, etc. I’m not against any of those things by the way. But we (Me to) go to great lengths to dress up the outside of our bodies. But our hearts are hurt. They are hurt from labels people have placed on us. They are hurt from our own expectations and experiences. We are a people that are very hard on ourselves. Because we are so hard on ourselves we sometimes portray a God that is equally disgusted with humans. It creates distance between the lost and broken and the church. I’m here to say that you are much more valuable than you think. God is a loving Father that delights in you despite past mistakes.
So God through His Holy Spirit started leading me to pray for the hearts of people. God has used these heart prayers to break down walls, open up hearts, and change a trajectory of a life. That has been AMAZING FOR ME TO WITNESS!
Here is story of one of those encounters at a gas station/truck stop in Minnesota.
As my wife and I were sitting down for lunch in a truck stop I saw a waitress working near the back of the restaurant. We were traveling back from Minneapolis. I could feel that God wanted me to tell her that He sees her and that she has a wonderful caring heart for people. She wasn’t our waitress.
I believe He also wanted me to tell our waitress how special she is to Him. I don’t know why He will point out one or two people sometimes out of 10 workers, but He does.
I said something to our waitress and she was very appreciative. She thanked me for saying that to her. She had such a big smile. But it wasn’t an earth shattering moment. She kind of gave me a “You’re weird” look.
I get that a lot from some of my students.
I walked out of the restaurant but I just couldn’t keep going. I kept watching the other waitress. I knew that God wanted me to talk to her but I didn’t want another reaction like I just got or worse. One minute she was cleaning tables and the next moment she was in front of the restaurant seating people.
She had dark long hair and glasses. She had a real kind look to her but she was really working fast. She was busy.
I believe The Lord wanted me to tell her what a great heart she has and that she serves well. Serving is one of the greatest traits. Jesus served. The King of King washed stinky feet.
Now she was getting busier. More people (of course) started coming. She was moving back and forth seating more people and a line developed. The internal battle was on.
I wanted to leave and just forget about it, but I knew it was important to God so I wandered around the front and waited for enough boldness to talk to her. For an added bonus she was now joined by another worker to handle the influx of patrons. She was an older woman with red hair and glasses. She appeared a little less patient and that made me even more anxious to say anything. I was starting to get glances from the older waitress trying to figure out why I was still standing there.
I looked closer and saw the waitresses name tag. The one I was supposed to pray with. Her name was Hannah.
I wanted to leave but I didn’t want to drive all the way home wondering if she really needed this. I figured the embarrassment was worth the risk.
I walked up to her and said, “Hi Hannah”. I introduced myself and told her a little about our prayer group. I said that I felt the Lord prompting me to tell her a little about what a caring heart she has. I started talking about how important people are to Jesus and how I believed she had his heart for people. I started talking to her about when Jesus appeared to His disciples the third time and he kept asking Peter if he loved Him. He asked him three times. Peter would reply Yes every time. Jesus would respond with the command to take care of His sheep (US). Jesus knew that if Peter loved Him then He would love His sheep regardless of their preexisting conditions. It was meant to be a great compliment to her. Jesus didn’t have a ton of earthly words left for Peter. Peter was worth restoring and the importance of us were emphasized in that exchange with Peter. Taking care of Jesus’ sheep (US).
Something happened that was different though. As I mentioned Peter to her she put her head down and started shaking her head back and forth. She kept repeating denying Jesus.
The fact that Peter denied Jesus wasn’t really a part of what I was telling her. She was taking it that way though. It was like a wall was put up and she couldn’t hear the compliment I was giving her. I believe she was condemning herself as I was talking. Nothing was getting through. This was a spiritual block for sure. I asked her if I could pray for her. She said, “Yes.” I placed my hand on her shoulder and started praying. I thanked God for giving her a great heart for His people. I prayed that God would raise up Christian people around her to help guide her steps. She put her hand to her mouth and started crying. Then she started really breathing hard and her shoulders were heaving back and forth.
As I started to pray that God would heal scars and wounds from insults and judgments others placed on her she started yelling and sobbing extremely loud. She sank to her knees pulling off her glasses.
The lady working with her froze. Her eyes were huge in astonishment and fear. But her mouth was frozen in a smile. It was really funny.
I finished praying and she kept trying to get her breath. She was crying with her hand over her mouth. Her face was covered in hair and tears. Everything changed. Her body, posture, and facial expression was all different. The Holy Spirit was there and was loving her. It was a tremendous release. She hugged me over and over again.
Just then my wife returned from the bathroom and introduced them. Hannah started hugging Michelle over and over again. Michelle was smiling and looking at me. Hannah said that she recently moved. Her Father is a pastor and they just left a church in another town. She said that it was a real difficult ending to their time in that other town. She was hurt by the church. She thanked me for being obedient and asked how I knew to pray for her.
I told her the Holy Spirit.
I really believe He is the missing link. When Jesus went to Heaven He told the disciples that it was to their advantage that He left so they could receive the Holy Spirit. He told them to “Go”, but to first wait for the Holy Spirit. If people really knew who and what the Holy Spirit is and what we have in Him, I believe people would be beating down the doors to the church to get in.
I wanted to get her a book. This truck stop had a Christian section and I thought it might be there. It was. It is called “Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis. I told Hannah that I believe she has the same heart. I put my email address in there if she ever wanted to reach out and talk. I told her that I would love to pray for her anytime.
About six months later she emailed me. She was really going through a rough time. God used my small measure of faith to really impact her.
I’m happy to say that she did email me. Over the years we have prayed for each other. She is serving the Lord and I know she is using that great heart to impact the lost and broken for Him. I was proud that God used me to impact her. I couldn’t believe I almost didn’t do it.
Just like God used and still uses me I know God is waiting to use you to reach the lost for Him. He wants to use you to break chains and release people from false ideas about Him and themselves. He does the work we are the hands and feet. The Holy Spirit is an amazing piece of this walk with Jesus that I never knew. I didn’t know that He wanted to talk to me and lead me to people that are hurting and broken.
He leads me, teaches, comforts, counsels, protects, and shows me how to love those around me. He also teaches me how and what to say and pray. He always leads people in the direction of Jesus. His presence is refreshing and is difficult to be without now. I don’t want to move away from His presence, and I am passionate about telling people about Him. I believe I am just scratching the surface of the amazing things that are going to happen. He is waiting to take you into a deeper relationship and knowledge of God and yourself.
Feel free to message me with questions. I would love to answer and/or pray with you.
LIGHT ALWAYS WINS OVER DARKNESS!
Dear Papa,
Right now I pray for every heart listening to this Podcast right now. I pray that they not only see other people the way You see them, but they see themselves through Your eyes. Help them to see the value of the person staring back at them in the mirror. Draw them closer. Introduce them to Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Please call our phone number and leave a message of a prayer request, or praise report. You can also leave a message of prayer for a request you heard on a previous episode. Once again please leave a message of an area where the enemy thinks he has the upper hand. Watch as God pushes him back.
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