GOD IS IN THE DETAIL – May 7, 2014

Running is one of those things some people are born to do.  Masai warriors are born to run. Eric Liddell was born to run.  Not me.  But, after logging 2,945 miles since January 2010, my body has finally figured it out.  Still, I hesitate to label myself a “runner.”  I’m just someone who likes to run.  I’m not fast or genetically inclined to run, just determined.

It’s a time when I can put in the earphones, listen to praise music, feel the breeze, let my mind ramble.  It’s when I think through a scripture puzzle, putting the pieces of God’s Word together into a picture I can understand, teach to someone else and apply to my own life. It’s when the Lord inspires  me with ideas and creative ways to explain the truths in His Word.  I’ve learned that when I have a lesson to teach that isn’t coming together, all I need to do is go for a run and He will unfold the plan. Sometimes, though, other ideas come that I don’t want to listen to.

One such idea was to start a blog.  If you knew me, you’d understand what an alien thought that was to my old-fashioned brain.  I still prefer cards and letters to texts and emails. The ability of a Smart phone stays relatively untapped in my hands.  Say “tweet and twitter” to me and I think songbirds, not social media.  I don’t follow blogs, shop on ebay or have a Facebook Page.  “What rock do you live under?” you may ask. It’s OK, you can tease me about that.  It’s deserved.  I know I’m behind the times.

So, the idea of a blog was bizarre.   How to get started, what to write, where to find the time, how to handle the intimidation factor of wading into something I know NOTHING about were all things that quickly followed the idea.  I told my husband, who was understandably amazed.

“I think it’s from the Lord,” I said.

“Well, if it is, it won’t go away, and He will make it happen at the right time,”  Brian said.  He knows, from past experience, what happens when I get an idea.

Every time the thought surfaced, I carefully and precisely moved it away.  I knew I was embarking on a Women’s Ministry Series that would be a perfect reason to start a blog; but still, it was easy to push aside the idea and make legitimate excuses about why it wasn’t feasible.  We all are good at doing that when the Lord puts an idea in our heads, aren’t we?

Then, about a month or so after the spark materialized, my dear friend Melissa told me she had something for me.  “What is it?” I asked.

“You have to wait and see,” she said.

“Is it a good thing?” I asked.

“Well, I think so,” she replied.  “It’s something I put together and you will have to decide what you want to do with it.”

Intriguing!  We met the next day and she sat with me in front of her computer.  The words she spoke to me were a gift by themselves.  She talked about our God-given friendship, the treasure of it which we both share, the knowledge she had of my desire to write a book, the support she felt for the messages I have to deliver and she said, “I set up a blog for you.” “You can do what you want with it, and I’ll help you learn how to use it.”

She had already typed in some information about the “Living Free Women’s Series,” added in a summary from a Lighthouse Class lesson I taught for the 2014 New Year, and had prepared a sheet for me with precise directions on how to get started.

I had never breathed a word about the blog concept to her.  She had no idea that it was swimming in the deep water of my brain, struggling to surface.   I know God inspired her to do this for me, because He knew I was clueless and needed more than  a nudge to get started. He spelled out His will in black and white through my precious friend.

So, here it is.  Thank you, Melissa, for being His instrument.  Thank you for unselfishly providing me with the tangible groundwork for this blog.  I stand amazed at how “in the detail” God really is.  Even though I’ve said that and noticed it before, each representation of it fills me with wonder.

My prayer is that you, the reader, will gain spiritual nourishment from this outlet.  May you draw closer to the Sovereign One who breathed the Universe into existence, orchestrated the Plan of Redemption, and cares deeply about the intricacies of your life. He has a purpose for you.

In His Name and for His glory, welcome to the “Live Your Mission” blog.

“O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt you and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”  – Isaiah 25:1