Isn’t it crazy how things just come together….how they all turn out? I know who is in charge…but it still amazes me when I see what something has become….when in the beginning it seemed so bleak, and like there was no hope in sight.
I’ve been listening to the Lowcountry Community Church podcast since we started attending. I’ve had 2 years of sermons to catch up on. On the way to work, on the way home….whenever I’m in the car, I listen. Today I made it to May 7th. As I started listening it was just a normal day…no big deal.
It came time for the hosting. That’s when someone gets up, talks about what’s going on in the church…makes announcements, and prays before the offering. On this day, my church “boss” was hosting. I had never heard her host before. Now sometimes I skip through to the sermon, sometimes I listen to everything…..but in a year and a half of services, I had never heard her host.
She was talking about a Mission Team returning from the Atlanta Dream Center that day. She was talking about fundraising for a Mission Trip to Italy. She was talking about the first beach baptism of the summer coming up in a few weeks. It hit me hard. I immediately opened my blog……searched all the way back to the beginning.
The sermon started….the opening passage from Psalm 34:18 and read as follows, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” It went on to talk about David, about rejection, about acceptance. Amazing stuff.
Now like I said, I checked back in my blog….but I was pretty sure I knew exactly when this occurred in my life. This particular Sunday was the day prior to my breakdown. If you have read all the way back to my first blog you know exactly what I’m talking about. The day before my life changed…..God’s plan was already in effect.
6 months before we ever heard of Lowcountry Community Church God said….”I have found a home for you. I have found a home for your family. This is where you will do my work.” Now, He didn’t literally say that to me, clearly, because I didn’t even know that was what had happened until lunch today. But I can see Him looking down saying, “So it begins. This place is where you are supposed to be. Now it’s time to start the journey that will get you here at your appointed time.”
I may have completely gone off the deep end this time. But I don’t believe in coincidences. The odds of these few things falling into place like this, especially since we had no idea about any of it, it too unimaginable.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” And then in Proverbs it says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established (16:3.)”
God was waiting for me to act….for me to step out in faith……for me to give it all up to Him. And that’s exactly what happened around lunchtime on May 8th. That fear and dread I felt that morning….that was God….getting closer and closer….saying, “It’s time. You have tried to do this alone for far too long. Just let go.”
Now here we are…6 months later…I’m currently fundraising to go on a Mission Trip to a Dream Center in Los Angeles. My wife is getting baptized at the first beach baptism of the summer…..exactly the things that were talked about that day.
……..And that’s where my thoughts had stopped…..that’s where today’s blog was supposed to end……..
……until this just hit me in the face. My church “boss” won’t be here Sunday. She texted me and two others this afternoon saying that we were her A-team….and she really needed us for this weekend.
I’m sitting in my car….using my son’s IPad to write this…while staring out across the soccer field where my boys are at practice and I just can’t wrap my head around all of this. The day before I broke down…the day before I put my life in God’s hands….this plan for this Sunday was already in place. So now it becomes not just about “my” life….but maybe God knew that she would need someone to help her out one day. Far be it from me to presume God’s plans…..like I said, I’m just trying to make sense out of something that I shouldn’t even be worrying about.
But……at the end of the day, I’m here, my family is here…in this place…at this time….for the reason we are supposed to be here. I’m just so grateful for a God who whispers in our ear when we need the encouragement to make the next big move in his plan. So don’t get discouraged. There is a plan out there for you too. And at this very moment….you are right where you are supposed to be.
Tetelestai 