Just before opening up my computer this morning I checked for messages on my phone. I do that most mornings as sometimes I'll get a prayer request after going to bed, and I can include them in my prayers during my quiet time. This morning, what I found, made me smile with joy. And, although some of you may think it coincidence, I believe God was in it.
I may have mentioned before that a friend of my son's was selling chances on some items that he made to help pay on medical copays for his wife. People had ordered items to be made from him, and never picked them up. It looked like maybe a total of 7 people took the 'chance'. I bought more than I normally would because I felt that God was wanting me to help this man out. I wanted to win something, don't get me wrong, but it didn't matter. God laid it on my heart to help this person, and I had the money in the bank. Without even thinking about what I was giving him, I sent him a text on what to do with the money. Days later he took a video of the drawings for the items.
I won the drawings for a large family picture frame (my daughter took it to hang grandchildren photos on - she has 3 now), a large wooden cross (that I kept and put on my front court area), and a large wooden flag with a blue line on it. This is what I'm talking about today. The large wooden flag with the blue line. I love the flag, but I have no place to hang it. I offered it to my son as it was his friend who had made it. He didn't have a place for it either.
How is God in this? Trust me, it isn't coincidence. God knew a certain man should receive this flag. God's hand is all over this. Someone ordered this flag to be made - then did not pick it up. The person who made the flag needed to get rid of it for financial reasons and couldn't wait any longer. It got put in with other items for chances. He posted it and my son saw it, and to help his friend out, re-posted it. I saw my son's post and felt led to put chances on it. I didn't really expect to win it - where would I put it. I had no idea what to do with it if I won. But I did win it. Now what?
I checked with my son; he didn't want it. I thought about calling a dear friend and offering it to her. Before I followed through on that thought, my son contacted me. In talking to a friend that night, he remembered the flag. This friend's father is a retired police officer. The friend wanted it for his dad. I could not be more pleased to give to this friend, whom I love as a son. (Yes, although I've only met him twice, he has been a good friend to my son so I consider him a son as well, and yes, he gets occasionally included in my prayers.)
When I checked for messages on my phone this morning, I found a note and a photo from my son, and this photo brought a warmth to my heart, tears to my eyes (no kidding), and a smile of joy. The photo is of this father holding the flag. He has the biggest smile on his face. He wanted me to know his gratitude for the flag. Great photo, for sure.
Can you not see God's hand in all this? It is not by coincidence that my son's friend's father is a retired police officer, and what we were able to pass on to him is a wooden flag with a blue line in the middle of it, which is used for mourning for a fallen officer. I am so grateful to God for bringing this full circle and it was given to someone who would find value in it. For that, I thank God for His faithfulness, His goodness, for giving pleasure not only to me for 'winning' the flag, but to my son for remembering to share with his friend, and also to my son's friend who thought of his dad. The joy this father has, that his son thought of him with such a special gift. I tell you, it is all God.
It is in times like this that we find pleasure in what God does. When we look at the 'big picture' of where it started, and where it ended, only God could have orchestrated it all. How can one not believe in God who loves us so much? He brings pleasure to us in the smallest things. Sometimes we may have to look for the joy in circumstances, but it is there. Even in hardships, the joy is there. We just have to look for it.
Take a moment and sit back in your chair, and think of the things you have labeled 'coincidence' - if you labeled them at all. Think of when something happened that perhaps was 'bad', but something 'good' came of it. Or perhaps it was just something good that happened. You probably did not give God credit at that time, but perhaps now that you think of it, you can see the good that came from it.
And God is a good, good, Father.
I may grumble a lot about my job, wanting to quit work. But God is using this job to provide for us financially in such a way that I was able to save some money and have it in the bank, so that I could help this friend of my son's. A year ago I would not have been able to participate in any of the chances. Perhaps I am still working.....for such a time as this.
And for that I'm grateful.
Thanks for the photo, son. It brought joy to my heart this morning.
Bring joy to others... just as God has brought joy to you.
Blessings!
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