Shoved and Elbowed by God
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| Photo: Raul Lierberwirth, Creative Commons, cc license |
Drying my hands on my pants, I stepped around the corner. Sitting outside the church sanctuary on hallway benches, a young couple leaned close. Smiling and bending down to hug them, I talked briefly, already hearing the first song playing.
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| Photo: Theen Moy, Creative Commons, cc license |
My friend’s eyes were tired, her answers perfunctory although warm, and I saw her young husband stroke her arm. I touched their shoulders again in love, raved about how cute their round-faced baby was, and strode away.
Seven-year old Daniel skipped beside me, gripping his Sunday School papers, while we shook the ushers’ hands and stepped into the dimly-lit worship center. It was crowded but we found three seats, knowing Mark would join us shortly. Pushing my hair back, I stood and joined the singing.
“Go back,” I felt God say.
“Now? I just got here. Leave worship?”
“Go back. Go now,” God shoved me mentally.
“Daniel, I’ll be right back. Stay here, okay?” I could see my friend Daisy just two chairs away and knew Mark would be there any minute.
“Okay, Mom,” Daniel said, his forty-nine inches so short in the dark room.
In the hallway, her husband was alone as I approached.
“Is she in the bathroom?” I guessed, heading that way.
“No, she went out to the car.”
I spun around and bounced downstairs. He called out the car make and model but Honda-something was unfamiliar to me anyway. I walked the parking aisles, looking for a head in a car.
“Lord, help,” I asked.
Three passes later, I found her and knocked on the car window, crawling inside. Her eyes were red and she swiped a sweatshirt hand across her cute freckled cheeks.
“Hi, God loves you so much, do you know that? He told me to come back. He knew,” I said softly.
We talked and opened up our lives together. Worship in the parking lot looked like praying, raw talks, and reminding ourselves of God’s heart.
Thanks, God, that you are perceptive and tender, and that you are good at nudging me hard some days.
Wow, Jennifer, you were obedient! How wonderful that you heard God that clearly . . . I wonder if your instant obedience is the reason he speaks that clearly to you.
I want to be able to hear like that.
Jennifer,
I love how God nudged you because as you said, He loved that woman so much, and you obeyed Him and both of you were blessed and so were we as we read…Praising God with you, my friend 🙂
Wow. So good. I want to hear and be obedient as well. What a blessing you were to your friend. True hands and feet of Jesus, that's what it's all about, isn't it?
That's so cool… The only way to be perceptive to the Holy Spirit is to be abiding in Him. Thanks for your heart and ministry and being the face and hands of God.
What an amazing and loving God we have. And how wonderful that you were sensitive and obedient to His nudging, Jennifer. What a blessing you were to that precious woman!
Yes, yes, Jennifer … listening to His gentle promptings, tending to His wounded lambs …
This is Sunday morning worship at its finest. Bless you, girl!
Hi Jana and Bill,
Whoa, I wasn't intending to have me be the focus of this post. Drat. And it wasn't an audible voice, just a strong nudging/thought. I bet you guys get those too. 🙂
I liked how God showed that he cared so deeply for this friend of mine. That was what captured my attention.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Hi Dolly,
You said: "He loved that woman so much, and you obeyed Him and both of you were blessed " — yes, that's what I was feeling too! What a treat to be able to be part of adventures, huh?
Have a great week,
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Thanks, Alecia. Glad to have you here.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Thanks, Floyd.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Thanks, Cheryl.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Thank you, Linda. Yes, isn't it neat how worship can look differently some days?
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com