God's Mysterious Ways

There are times when honestly I am astounded at how amazing my God is, in absolutely everything!!!

This past week I was able to experience something beautiful that only with God's help am I able to see with my eyes and know He is in. By saying He is in, what I mean is He is a part of, He is immersed in, He is complete in......so what exactly am I talking about here? Well, to make a long story longer, this past week as I was going about my own business, checking out different things here and there all over the massive wide web. I was checkin' into one of my normal spots...facebook, when I stumbled upon a name that seemed to be familiar, so I checked it out and sure enough it was actually someone I truly admire but had not had the opportunity to really chat with. Notice I said had...that should give you some type of knowledge as to where this might be going....no, no don't think of this in any other way than the way I am about to explain it because I know how you all can think sometimes, but no, seriously, listen first then process and make your own conclusion, thanks!

Ok, so back to the story...so as I am skimming through his profile, I notice the current status which stated he was getting a CT scan as well as asking for prayer.....I don't know why, but my heart was immediately burdened to pray, pray, pray. Here I was, someone who barely knows this person, but in some way I felt connected to him and simply knew in my heart that I needed to pray with all my might for God to be with Him. As I was praying, the radio played lightly in the background. In a moment of just sitting and being still in God's presence, I began to listen to what the song was actually saying...the words began to fill me as I drew from it the verses in Matthew 6 that tell us not to worry about our needs, but to remember that our Heavenly Father is there to provide for all that we need just as He provides for all Creation. The song was "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman from Switchfoot, it goes like this...

Heavenly Father, you always amaze me
Let your kingdom come in my world and in my life
Give me the food I need to live through today
And forgive me as I forgive the people that wrong me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune or out of place
I walk to the meadow and stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl on her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
Invade my heart, invade this broken town
The kingdom of the Heavens is buried treasure
Would you sell yourself to buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

Our God in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

I was amazed at how quickly God was speaking back. So I wrote this person a message sharing with him what God put in my heart. I didn't know if what I had to say would mean much, if it would be weird, if this person would even care what I had to say, but all I knew is that I hoped it would somehow mean something.

So I went about my day praying all day for those on my heart and their needs, and somehow I just knew that God was in control. After the song, I was sure that God was listening to my prayer and that He was letting His peace overflow on all of us. Later in the day, I went back onto my facebook, which gladly announced to me that I had a new message, haha....because facebook is very good about notifying me about every little thing, lol. I go to check and to my surprise, this person I wrote earlier had written me back. Now I want you to get the picture of this correctly. I sent a message in hopes of uplifting, and then received a message of thanks back, which ended up uplifting me. When I realized this concept, I began to think about it and said to myself "Wow, this how God works!" I remembered the book I am reading titled "The Shack" that always expresses how God works through and in, and as a part of relationships! I began to think of how we are all connected through our Heavenly Father, in a way that when we have the love He gives us inside of us, all we can do is interconnect with others who share in the same love. It is like a wonderful circle of love. We are loved by God, which in turn fills us with love that we somehow end up sharing with others who are loved by God. So now, there is not just a love between us and God, but between us, God, and each other. I know, I know, it's complicated, but think about it for a moment. It was the love God instills in me that made me feel a connection with this person whom I barely know. The thing is I didn't have to know him in order to feel for him, I just needed to know Him (God) who knows both of us, and links us through the blood of Jesus Christ. OMG, this is such a chaotic mess to explain, but the beauty of it is, it makes full sense to me. We wonder about how it is that sometimes we can come to care so much about someone we barely know, but it is because God places something within us that allows us to do so. When we allow God to use us in any and every way He likes, that is when things like this happen. And the even more beautiful thing about it is that while one thinks we are helping the other or being helped, what we fail to also see is that both people are actually helping each other simultaneously. God fills me from helping another, and God fills the other because they feel helped. And then, if both are connected to God, they will recognize that link and suddenly it is as if you know that other person from years ago, and you want to get to know them even more. What a weird feeling! That is how I feel at this moment. I feel like when I saw this person face to face, I felt like I had been his friend for years...it was like I had so much to say to this person that felt like I hadn't talked to for years and we had catching up to do, I don't know.....does this make any sense? It was like I had missed several important things in his life and now needed to be filled in, as well as wanted to fill in that person about my life. How the heck do you tell a person that that is what you feel? Maybe you don't, but why not, because it seems like something wonderful, to be able to connect in such a way, only by God's grace that somehow filled you with mercy and love through this person's deed. Little does this person know that he has blessed me tremendously. Everytime he plays or sings, it's a blessing to me to see such passion for our God. Every word shared in production meetings, they resound and leave me reflecting and longing to be closer to God. And even now, the words he has shared with me personally about what he is learning and being reminded of in many ways, it touches my heart and gives me hope for tomorrow. If only he knew the many burdens I carry within me, he'd know how much I can relate to his worries. But the great thing is, I may not have the words always, but I do always have the prayers, and as long as I am able, I will pray knowing that everything that happens, happens for a reason, God knows the ultimate outcome of every story, he knows the purpose of two strangers meeting, he knows the burdens and needs of those who love Him, and He holds our best interest at hand and will be our everything if we allow Him to be. Am I astounded by who my God is? Absolutely. He is the only one who could ever pull anything like this off, ever!