Nothing is Random in the House of God...

Earlier Tuesday, I met with the Pastor from Iowa and after I left our lunch appointment I saw that I had missed a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. Keeping in mind all the craziness of the last couple months this didn't seem all that out of place to have a phone number I didn't recognize without a voicemail. So without any further delay, I called the number back and spoke to a women who definitely didn't sound like a pastor by any means.


In that abrasive (not sultry, sweet) southern accent, She demanded immediately my name and I told her. [I've attached a picture of what I immediately thought she must look like.] I was about to apologize to her for the inconvenience and be done with the whole thing, when she half-heartedly apologized for calling me, saying her daughter was in the hospital with some back issues and she's been really crazy lately (I kept my mouth shut, and repented for the thought that immediately came to my mind.)

For some reason, instead of apologizing in return, I felt like I needed to ask her if I could pray for her and her daughter. As the words, "can I pray for you and your daughter?" were escaping my lips she retorted back accusingly, "Did I spleep with you last night or something?" I blurt out a chuckle and had an all over body shiver at the mere thought of such a suggestion. I persevered though.

I re-asked if I could pray for her and her daughter and she sat astounded. She said, please do - and also to pray for her grandbaby who was 3 months old and died of SIDS. Appearently both mom and grandma have been taking it very hard. As I prayed for them I got to remind her (and myself) of the Lord being in control and got to see first hand what being Jesus to the world looks like (even in such a small dose as this.)

We talked for 15-20 minutes as I drove on back to work. I got to comfort her and see grace change this woman's heart with every second that passed in our conversation. It reminded me that if I'm about Jesus... Then I have to be about what Jesus is all about! John 1 tells me that Jesus is all about Glorifying the Father, and that he's all about Being grace and truth to a world that's harsh and full of lies.

For the first time in a while, I got to be a mouthpiece of Jesus' grace and truth to someone when it wasn't easy, when it wasn't what I wanted to do and was fairly inconvenient and insulting. Man, it felt so good!