“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Florida has 2 seasons… one is Tourist Season. I don’t know what the other one is called, since it’s been a while! I was just wanting to run a quick errand to the store and planned my list and route. I mentally punched it into QUICK mode and took off. EEEEEHAW! I didn’t even need to hit a light! And then…there it was…an ‘out of stater’ driving 12 miles under the speed limit…in the left lane!! I had to hit abort on the ‘Quick Mode’ because it was OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO BE!
When I hit store 1, the line was long and a guy 2 people in front of me wanted to buy $2 worth of stuff… with a $100 bill! The next guy had a bad credit card. I know because I watched him scan it 5 times! My hopes of getting everything in 1 place went out the window, so I thought a quick jump to one in the same strip mall would work. I parked, jumped out, got halfway to the door and then heard “The Bell!” UGHHHHHH!
My plan to just say, “good job.. keep up the good work…” worked. That is, on the way IN. As I exited, I went into def-con 2 mode. “My church supports you guys!” I said. I say that because I dump a chunk into our offering every year so I don’t have to feel guilty every time I hear a bell. The ringer said, “yes sir… we are a church.” “No no,” I said. “MY Church supports the Salvation Army every year. I’m a Pastor.” And then… there was a crack in the force!
I cannot tell you how fast it happened because it was immediate! Faster than “Quick Mode!” She started to cry. “Pastor, will you please pray for me?” she asked as tears rolled down her face. Talk about being instant in season!!! I set my bags down, then asked her if it was physical, mental or spiritual. She said.. “YES! Please pray for me!” So I did!
As people walked in and out I touched her shoulder and PRAYED! When I was done, I gave her some Biblical encouragement as well… WITH Biblical examples. And then I left. I can’t tell you why, or how or what it was all about. I don’t need to. All I know, I within a period of 5 minutes.. OUR world changed, God made a move, and I left more blessed and honored than I could ever imagine.
I thank God that He stopped me in my tracks, right then and there, and used me for His purpose. I’m glad I don’t know what it was all about… HE does. But I think I’ll take my time going back to see if she’s there again… just to see hows she’s doing. I guess giving comes in many different ways. Because going to the store, I wasn’t expecting to receive a thing. Whew.. I need to slow down!!!
