There is a commercial on TV about Charles Swarb's Broker Company. This morning it was exactly what I was feeling. The cartoon like character says ...where ever she goes people greet her by name except when she calls her broker. He acts like he doesn't even know her. So the catch is to call Charles. He will know you.
I woke up thinking about simple love. You see for me, I love when God does big things, but what draws me close is the little things. God knows how to make me laugh and He knows what makes me cry. He knows the little things that pulls me close. Like parents know about their kids.
One of the ways I communicate with God is through the use of fleeces. It comes straight from the bible and I use the technique a lot. A long time ago, I was leaving a church and it was not an easy thing. I was looking forward and it was scary and different than anything I have done. It was emotional. God knew and it was His plan for me to jack knife me out of that particular church. God spoke to my heart and told me this was His path and I was to follow. It would not look like anything I had know and it would tough and sometimes lonely. How would I know it is you, I asked Him and how would I know I was on the write path. Using the fleece I agreed in prayer that when I would find a penny, I would know that God was near and I was walking as He wanted.
The pennies I have found, and the stories I can tell. That small gesture of love from God has carried me for more then 10 years. There was a day on Eagles Way when there was a couple walking in front of me and one bent down and picked up something. The way she looked at it I knew it was a coin. I wanted so much at that time to hear from God in a familiar way, I wanted to yell and ask what coin it was. I didn't She walked ten more feet and dropped that coin on the ground. It was a penny. A precious penny. I was right where God wanted me.
Another time years ago, I had a friend whom I communicated with on the Internet. It was a fun friendship. The email and laughter were great. Something happened and he had to go into the hospital. He told me one night as we talked on the Internet, and he had no idea when he would be back. He was vague about the details and I didn't want to push. The next day, I cried as I made my way to work. I put out another simple fleece with God as I prayed for my friend. When I would find a nickel, I would know he was ok. And that's exactly what happened. Anytime I got anxious or worried, I would find a nickel. Now, a nickel is not much in monetary value but to me, it was and is a life line. My friend came through fine and we continued our friendship. The nickel evolved to show me when I was most anxious, that things were going to be ok. I still love finding them. Simple love.
During my nickel time, I shared my story with my cousin. I told her about my friend. She actually got more anxious than me. How will you know, why don't you go ect ect... We were in a restaurant. I took a breath and told her the "nickel story". She listened intently and said (As most would ) You find a nickel ...God does this.. I am not sure that would work for me. As we walked through the foyer to leave the restaurant, she yelled and pointed, and I looked down. In the middle of the rug was nickel. God, as he always does confirmed His word. She picked up that nickel and was truly in awe. It was a God moment.
I use fleeces a lot and everyone I know that uses them ....it works. It is a simple way to communicate with God. And that God know my needs, wishes and wants still awes me. It completely changes moods. It changes the day. It is so simple. It is God's love in action.
Friendships to me are also God's love in action. Many of you have said just the right thing when I needed it. A few of you can say the tough things and have them received in love. God places people in your life to love you simply. I am blessed to have people like that in my life. They love me for me.
I love God in the simple things. I do pray for the big things. When God does something that's so personal to me. The penny, the nickel...that's "our" thing. I know just how much God cares about me.
I am very blessed by the people who are in my life. I love them and pray for them all the time. There are the seven who prayed here. Each one for many different reason plays a role in my life and helps to keep me moving forward. Some it is the love they display, some it is the intrigue that they cause. But each one does something that makes me smile.
I woke up this morning thinking of simple love and simple gestures. I thought of the people in my life and how blessed I am. It doesn't always seem that way. We all live in a crazy world. We are human. We all want the big things and want them now. This morning, I am truly blessed with the small things and truly filled with simple love.
Simple love...whispering a prayer for me when things are tough. Simple love...a phone message...thinking about me. ...an email saying keep going...Simple love...knowing I don't have cable and giving me the pitch by pitch report of the Red Sox game.. Simple love...encouraging me ..even when things are tough for them...Simple love ... a penny on the ground that so many walk past...but to me ...means my God has heard me and answered...
I am blessed and loved... I am loved simply and intimately and there is nothing like it....
I pray that God blesses you each abundantly above whatever you could ask or think. That God shows me how to love each of you simply as you do me. I thank Him for each one of you and I pray the angels surround you and protect you. I pray that God loves each one of you simply....
This is the place in the bible you find fleeces....Judges...
Behold, I will put a fleece of wool inthe floor; [and] if the dew be on the fleece only, and [it be] dry upon all the earth [beside], then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
3. Jdg 6:38
And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
4. Jdg 6:39
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
5. Jdg 6:40
And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Be Blessed everyone....