Co-inkadink? I think not....

I was thinking about the thumbprints that God leaves on all of our lives and was wondering how many these little things we forget as we travel through life...so I thought I'd share a few of my God stories...Coincidence? Not likely...

One time I was at church, Sloan was a baby and I was broke at the time...I had NO money. Actually I had 13 dollars. A ten and three ones right in my wallet. I was on my last diaper so after church I was going to get some. I had just enough money to get them. I needed exactly thirteen dollars. Diapers were twelve and change. But that day, the church let this guy speak...not a prophet but an exhorter I guess I would say...(thanks for making that word so real for me Cheryl)
He used to drive around town in this old beat up car with scriptures ALL and I do mean all- over it. Then there was a love offering for this man. Now I knew EXACTLY how much money I had which I had left in the car...and I knew I would not be giving any that day. But I couldn't shake the prompting to give it to this man. I wrestled and wrestled with the Lord, as we all do when He is telling us to do something seemingly impossible...but I just could NOT shake it off. It was a physical push. So fine, I mutter to myself...no diapers for the baby and off I go to the car to get my measly $13.00.
When I get out there and open my wallet, there was the thirteen dollars; a ten and three ones but next to it? ANOTHER thirteen dollars in the exact same denominations... A ten and three ones next to a ten and three ones. It stopped me COLD. I still ponder that day 15 years ago but I don't wonder what happened. I know what happened.

But probably my favorite and totally in-your-face God story happened many years later. Lauren was a baby and I was still attending the same church.
I was in my kitchen one day just walking across the room. I wasn't thinking about Him or anything else really when God, gulp-hold on to your drawers people...spoke to me. I mean, if it wasn't ACTUALLY audible, I would be surprised. And he said the most bizarre thing I had ever heard. B-I-Z-A-R-R-E.
He said, "You are going to wash Joanne's feet"
SCREEECH...............dead stop. "You are going to wash Joanne's feet".
Ironcially what I remember is NOT stopping dead in my tracks at the wonder of the Lord speaking to me so clearly but what I remember is immediately starting to argue. Lol
Oh NO I'M NOT,Lord. (literally) I am NOT going to do that. How am I going to do that? WHAT are you talking about???
Now, I had never washed anyone's feet before and no one had ever washed mine. And it was NEVER practiced in our church before, EVER.
So I go on to argue with Him... with him being a silent partner in that argument for the rest of the time, typical, lol- (Gosh,I can't wait to meet Him!)
when I hit upon the perfect answer. Ok, God, I will wash Joanne's feet...but just HOW exactly are you going to set that up? Because I AM NOT GOING TO. And I mean it. And He must have know that I meant it because....
the following Sunday at church I was sitting there and Joanne happened to be sitting directly in front of me. Joanne by the way, is the owner of our local Christian book store and we are great friends since I was a child and had gone to school with her daughter.
I am thinking nothing of the foot washing thing until my pastor actually utters these words..."Now, we have never done this before at Immanuel but I wanted to offer these buckets of water and cloths in case any of you feel led to wash anyone else's FEET.
I wish God had lighted me away at that moment I was so stunned at the truth of His reality... His coming down to earth and presenting Himself before me could not have made Him more real...I was struck down in awe. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. He had set it up. And there was no doubt, I was GOING to obey. And I did, Lol
Years later I re-told that story at her house at our good bye party and my pastor was there and evidently God was about that place that Sunday because He had worked about 3 other stories like that into that day that as well...He's funny that way...
Now I am not the foot washing type....you know, it just seems so Pentecostal! LOl But let me tell you what, if He EVER tells me to wash someone's feet again, He'll get no argument from me. I'll even set it up this time! Lol
Thanks Lord for being SO infinitely patient with me and for being so real in my life!