You hear the phrase “in the right place at the right
time” a lot, and usually the circumstances are considered a coincidence or just
dumb luck. Well, I don’t see it that way. I see it as divine intervention.
God has not only placed me in the right place at the
right time, he has put other people in my life at the right time. A perfect
example would be last weekend.
(Divine
intervention is really the only way this connection could have been made.)
My sister is getting married to the youth minister
of a church out in west Texas. This youth pastor “happens” to work at the same
church as a good friend of mine who is the senior pastor. First Baptist Church
of Sonora is in one of the smallest towns I’ve ever been to. Sonora doesn’t
even have a Wal-Mart. (Which is a significant unit of measurement in my book)
Anyway, because of my sister, her fiancé, and Matt
(the pastor) I visited Sonora. Matt even asked me to share my testimony and my
journey in preparation for England with the church. After seeing the sights of
Sonora on Saturday, I attended FBC Sonora with my sister. I spoke to the young
adult Sunday school class about these last few months of preparation and how
I’ve had to depend on God and his provision. For over a year now, my life verse
has been Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and
assurance about what we do not see.” I’ve clung to that verse knowing that I
hope for God’s provision and having assurance in God, whom I cannot see. The
lesson the class was focusing on that morning related to faith, particularly
the same passage in the book of Hebrews. (so cool!)
During the morning service, I worshiped through
music with everyone. Before Matt’s sermon, he asked me to speak to the whole
congregation. Every time I have to speak in front of a group larger than 10
people I get kind of shaky. I suppose I should practice more, but hindsight is
only helpful after the fact. I felt as if I stuttered and fidgeted the whole
time, but God made what I said understandable. Many said I did well. After I
spoke, Matt mentioned my fund raising and suggested the people helped me out in
whatever way they could. And then he preached.
This is beside the point, but I absolutely love to
listen to Matt’s preaching. If you have any time, go to their website and
listen (www.fbcsonora.net); although I recommend just visiting and listening
that way!
So, after the sermon I stood with my sister and spoke with a couple
of the members. And this is really where God showed me His handiwork. One after
the other, people would come up to me and shake my hand, slip me some money,
and say they will be praying for me as I go serve the Lord. These people who
had no real connection to me were willing to give whatever was
in their pockets and offer up their prayers. I couldn’t help but cry out of joy
afterward and just praise God. God not only provided enough money to pay for my
visa, but He provided a prayer force from all the way in west Texas! God put me
in the right place, at the right time, and around the right people.
“For I know the plans I have for
you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
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