Holy Ghost Storm

I met God on the street today. 

He was bundled up in a coat and hat and carried his bag of possessions on his shoulder. He had a cup of coffee in his well-worn hand. His scraggly beard covered his weathered face, and when he smiled, his was a toothless grin. He approached the three of us - my husband, a friend, and me. 
With no apprehension at all, he declared in a  televangelist's voice and candor, "HALLELUJAH! THIS is the day that the LORD has made; I will reJOICE and be GLAD in it!" 

And then, the storm blew through...

...And then the storm blew through...

Without skipping a beat, he continued, looking me straight in the eye, "Here's what the LORD says, 'A virtuous woman,'" pointing at me with a finger that hadn't seen a nail clipper in years, "Proverbs 31. That's you."
He turned to my husband and friend and went on, "As IRON sharpens IRON, so one man sharpens another." 
And then with fire in his eyes and real passion on his face, he finished, "I can do ALL things through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS me. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. In JESUS' name. AMEN."
As he began to walk away, he gleefully proclaimed, "I've been an evangelist on the street for 20 years! And I like it! I don't really like being on the street, but I've been preaching the Word of the LORD for that long. I've got twenty dollars in my pocket, so I'm alright." And then he went on his way, singing the praises of God. 
Leaving us stunned and feeling refreshed like after a spring rain, our friend said it best: "I think a Holy Ghost storm just blew through!"

I love how God chooses to speak to us. He never fails to amaze, in fact. He might use a still, small voice in the form of a thought, a fluffy cloud, a moment of relaxation, a good night's sleep. He might use a definite word as read in the Bible, a book, a quote, a sermon. He uses people, places, things, and ideas to speak to us. And sometimes He likes to be overtly obvious and use a person who is full of His Words to come out of nowhere and speak boldly in a way that cannot be mistaken or forgotten, kind of like the homeless preacher on the street today. On the outside, that man looked like any other bum on the corner; but God used the usual to bring His Glory to my life in a very unusual way this morning.

This experience reminds me that my God is alive. He doesn't sleep. His Word really is living and active. It is the Bread of Life and Living Waters. It sustains living. It brings encouragement. It is truth. It is real. And it is yours and mine for the taking.

The Father Heart of God

One chilly evening, as the sun's final rays blessed the sky, I walked to my car ready to head home. I noticed a daddy with his shorty little son heading to the car parked right in front of mine. The little guy, who could not have been more than 2, was running around, keeping his dad on his toes as he tried to catch him and keep him out of harm's way. I noticed that they were both wearing warm, hand-made orange and blue beanies on their heads. As the little guy made a dash for some rocks, his daddy grabbed his arm and scooped him up, making them both howl with joy! I caught the daddy's eye and grinned, giving him a compliment on their matching hats. He turned around and put the little boy down. Then he opened up their black leather coats and showed me that they wore matching blue and white argyle sweaters, as well! Then he  looked down at his mini-me and said something that made my heart swell. With a great big smile, he took his son's hand in his own, stood up straight, and proclaimed, "I'm really proud. My chest is out to here!" 

I'll never forget that little glimpse of the Father Heart of God that I was witness to that evening. It got me thinking about who I am as God's own child and how He feels about me. My Heavenly Father is so proud of me as His child. He created me to be in His image. I don't know if I necessarily have His eyes or similar smile, but I do know that I take after His Heart. I take after the desire He has for loving people. I take after the compassion He has for those less fortunate, be they human or animal. I know that I have inherited His passion for beauty in art and music and  nature. My Father is an extraordinary story teller, which tells me why I have such a liking for excellent stories, both written and spoken. His heart adores kids. So does mine. My Father God and I are a lot alike. 

Just like that daddy's first priority was to protect his son, so is my Father's. He shelters me, comforts me, protects me, provides for me. He gives me space to run and play, but He is always right there to hold my hand or pick me up before I go crashing down. He keeps His eye always on me. There is real comfort in that thought. 

When that daddy puffed out his chest and stated how very proud he was, I believe he was saying two things:  

1. He was declaring how blessed he was to have that child. It was obvious that tiny guy was the apple of his eye.
2. He was stating how honored he was to be a dad. He evidently took his role seriously and thoroughly enjoyed it!

When God made Man, He said, "It is good." He is proud of His creation and takes every opportunity to declare how wonderful He thinks we, His children, really are. He showers us with blessings and love. He gives us boundaries and discipline. He corrects us and never sets us on a path that will lead us astray. Through Jesus, my Father has let me see how truly proud He is to be the One who not only made me but also adores me...

Little glimpses of Glory... Where will I find them next?