I Still Marvel at God's Mysterious Ways

Labor Day in the USA is all but over. It's been a day spent with my immediate family so far. (And I am grateful.)

Today, we went with our daughter and son-in-law to look at vehicles. They need transportation. (Don't we all?)

Anyway, if you've ever visited car lots trying to find the right ride, you are familiar with the stress. Our day was that way. (But God was in it all.)

While we were closing the sale, we learned that the salesman and his bride were married by my brother in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was a God-thing. (Yet, it gets better,)

After we finally sealed the deal and we were literally leaving the showroom (following a stranger-than-life-Twilight-Zone experience in the Finance and Insurance office), I heard a tender voice saying, "Pastor Kerry". It warmed the heart in this old worn-out body of mine.

The lady calling my name was a sales lady at the dealership. She had passed me several times but I had not realized that I actually knew her. 

As we talked, I immediately recognized who she was. A few years ago I met her and prayed for and comforted her in the painful passing of her young, beloved son, following a house fire. Her pain was so deep, and still is. 

Right there at the exit of the car store, I enveloped her weak, trembling frame in a strong holy hug. Tears came into her eyes. Mine, too. I knew immediately that my whole day of helping my family members shop for cars... sacredly boiled down... to that solitary embrace of a young mom, still grieving the absence of her lost boy.

While I don't pretend to comprehend the loss of a young mother's son in such a seemingly tragic way, I do still marvel at God's mysterious ways. His detail in the timing of our lives, to help others, humbles me beyond words.

Afterwards our family of five went to the Japanese Restaurant for supper. Even though the fire of the Hibachi grill was undeniably hot, it didn't come close in comparing to the holy spiritual temperature that my heart aflame felt as The Lord chose to comfort that single, precious, broken mother through the likes of my spontaneous embrace. Was it a God-appointment? I am assured of it!

Please pray that hope ignited within her soul, too. I choose to believe it did. Amen.

Grateful

A True Labor of His Love & New Mercy

On this Labor Day in the U.S.A.
I know new mercy from Above,
Yes, my God is still refining me --
A true labor of His Love.

Click here: The Refiner's Fire w/ lyrics (Steve Green) - YouTube

No matter what I may lose, I choose The Refiner's Fire.

* Bonus Song Link (One of my all-time favorites):
Click here: New Mercy (Phillips, Craig & Dean) - YouTube

New Mercy,
Grateful

The Gift of Cold Water & Continued Prayer

For a few years now, a righteous remnant of Jesus, The Nazarene, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, have set up a tent at the town of Buena Vista's Labor Day festivities to simply but profoundly give the gift of ice cold water to everyone who passes by. It is indeed a true labor of love and and as a witness of the event I can also say it is indeed a "Buena Vista" -- a "beautiful view".

My wife and I were humbled to partner with the Rockbridge remnant for a few hours on Labor Day 2010. We helped to keep the water cold and the troops encouraged. Pastor Kris and the local church family he shepherds came together in the name of Jesus to distribute some 100 cases of cold bottled water to those walking by. Yes, that's over 2,000 bottles of cool refreshment given free to the fainting souls of their neighbors.

In addition to free water, this year a table was set up in to a private corner outside the tent for people to write out prayer requests to place in the prayer box so that long after the physical water distribution was over for another year, the prayers of the people could continue to flow for the people throughout the year. All glory to God and all good for the people of Rockbridge County, Virginia.

A generous person will be enriched and he who gives water will get water. -- Proverbs 11:25 (NRSV)

I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
-- Words of Jesus, The Living Water, Mark 9:41 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful