Before getting out of bed, this day began with words.
Words formed thoughts. From the thoughts, questions .
And at day’s end, a lesson digested.
4:45am. Waking.
Father, how am I supposed to spend this summer? What will my work be? Am I to volunteer or work for pay? Will it be with adults in Your amazing Word or with children discovering the joy of creating? Please direct me. I am anxious about doing the right thing.
I did not sleep well. And my husband reminds me that the Lord knows the exact amount of sleep that is needed for this day. It is time to start it, weary and in His presence.
5:00am. Time with Him.
Saul was chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. And he hid in the baggage. Father, why would a man anointed by You (1 Samuel 10:1), given a changed heart by You (vs.9), and publicly chosen by You (vs. 21) HIDE?
Is it because he had an ear for the people that caused him to look away from You? Verses 26-27 tell me that he knew what others were saying about him. Did that make him afraid?
Do people’s opinions of me make me afraid? Do I make certain choices in order to appease the people around me rather than follow Your leading? Isn’t that when my eyes are off of You?
KNOWING the answer to that last question, I leave my quiet time to dress for the scheduled day.
8:00am. At work with my husband and the summer camp assigned teams.
This group of people come to camp and work together making a place for families to encounter Jesus. They serve families who attend camp by cooking, cleaning, entertaining, encouraging, and teaching. Joyful enthusiasm of the Lord’s goodness fills the air and settles on each of us.
9:30am. Home with my daughter.
We make beds and clean two rooms. A family has been staying with us. They left this morning, but another is coming tomorrow. We love sharing our home, creating space for the ones who cross our threshold to rest, vacation and encounter Jesus. There is laughter and visiting and working in a hurry because she has class and I have another meeting.
10:45am. Women’s ministry meeting at church.
I hurry into an already started meeting. Around the room are precious women who set aside time in their already full lives to organize events that allow other women in our community to encounter the grace, mercy, and goodness of Jesus. The encounters with Jesus come in the form of Bible studies, baby showers, movie nights, retreats, meals brought to homes and private prayers. Joy and laughter permeate our reports of past events and of planning for things to come.
Noon. The local Christian school.
Drop off student’s collages from the art enrichment class that I taught. The students were asked to use one word to describe something the Lord had taught them in the past year and then express that word in a collage. They were describing and depicting an encounter with Jesus in their daily life!
12:30pm. Drive to Colorado Springs. Time to think.
3:00pm. With two friends at a coffee shop.
The Lord stirred my heart to set up an appointment for these ladies to meet. We meet. One is involved in helping women who have been involved in human trafficking to support themselves with honorable jobs. The other friend feels called to be trained as a nurse in order to help serve abused women. They visit. I listen. At this moment I thought of getting my camera out, but couldn’t. This was holy ground . . . watching the Lord orchestrate His work. And a dawning realization began to form.
6:00pm. Listening to a couple speak of living in Cambodia.
They have lived there for 20 years. Fighting for, nurturing, and loving the ones who have gone mentally insane from abuse. Loving them to Jesus, who is Restorer of all. There is joyful strength coming through their words.
Feed My sheep. (John 21:15-17)
7:00pm Calligraphy guild meeting.
These women use their hands to bring beauty to others. Each month a new technique is taught. And a piece of His Word is written . . . A reminder of Jesus for an everyday day. I see some of the hands, arthritic, gnarled, and graceful. Joyful eyes smile and mouths laugh at beginning attempts of creating playful, beautiful letters.
Letters make words. Playful. Beautiful. Tender. Instructive. Merciful. Redeeming. Forgiving. Loving.
“Tend My sheep in the capacity in which I give you. Give people a place to encounter My Son.” This is what I hear and see You telling me. . Father, keep me from hiding in baggage. You have been giving me examples of tending to Your people in my life and You have been showing me an inside glimpse of others tending Your people in the world. Thank You. This is so full and rich and almost indigestible.
9:30pm In the car again.
Miles pass. The day began with a weary body and is ending with an amazed, awe struck soul. Digestion of the day happens. Understanding is satisfying. Jesus anchors moments of understanding through the teachings of the Holy Spirit. All day, class was in session. Simple message, deeply taught. If you love Me, feed My sheep. Give them a place to encounter My Son.
11:30pm. Drive into my little town.
Our sleepy little town is very still as my car emerges from the pass. When I pull into the driveway and turn the car off, silence reigns. Velvet stillness. The bright, star filled mountain sky glitters. And my heart smiles in worship of God who knows each by name. He tells me that it is by His power they are held in place. I believe Him.
And He knows each of us by name, all around the world.
12:15am. Bed.
There is no mistaking God’s power or His goodness.
The click of the switch on the bedside lamp ended class for the day.
Love always,
Angie
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