I would like to share an amazing "God Story" that happened a couple weeks ago. I was in Fresno on my old college campus and was graced with the pleasure and fulfillment of being used by the Lord to change someone's life, forever. I could tell you the story, but it's not mine to tell. So here is the first hand account of what went down, written by a normal guy, who had a crazy encounter with God!
Enjoy!
"After piano class, I started walking to my car as usual but in a non-typical slow, aimless and careless stride of a walk. I catch Brittany Baker out of the corner of my eye sitting in the Sports Information Director's (J Wood's) office with the door open. We proceed to say hello and Brittany tells me to smile. I barely made an effort to. Then after catching up on information of what she is up to with her missions trip coming up and my breakup with my girlfriend, she proceeded to ask me if something was wrong and told me she could tell I wasn't telling her everything. So I felt the need to tell her the reason behind never smiling- the depression- the 8-9 years of it.
She listened well, I could tell sparks were being ignited in her. She gave me background of her parents as Christians and explained how she's usually the reserved type until now, and how she is now going "around the world." She is growing.
She then asked me if I considered myself a Christian. I paused….being hesitant to answer I finally said yes but didn't see myself as a true Christian-haven't been to church in over a year etc…
The Holy Spirit began to move Brittany. She began to pray for me with her hand on my chest- asking for healing, clarity, confidence, inner joy, a smile, a purpose. There is more to life than what the world tells us. As she prayed the words and thoughts that God was putting on her heart, I began to weep. Trying to hide it I could not. Afterwards I was wiping the tears from my eyes explaining my thanks and that I have always hoped for someone to come after me, for God to come break me down, instead of me looking for answers when my heart was not ready in the past.
I began explaining the "Come & Live" video I watched last year and the healing of the skateboarder. Brittany became so full of joy upon hearing that because she had just watched it last week. Brittany began explaining to me that if she had plans today to see certain people and do certain things, she probably would have just said hello and went on her way, but it was perfect timing, it was God's timing. Bringing the two of us together on such unscheduled terms like that to carry on the most open, intimate conversation we have ever had was orchestrated by God.
When we tore our ACL's we spent time doing rehab together just chit chatting about this or that- girls in my life or guys in hers etc. She noticed in me that I was always sad. But she noticed at the time when we were coming off surgery, so it made sense why I was down. From then on to this day-two years later- when we would randomly see each other she always reminded me to smile, and that was about it. I hardly know her besides sharing the empathy of knee surgery and all that entails, yet I told her basically EVERYTHING TODAY. WHY???
I don't know other than the fact that I was so down I had nothing to lose, for some reason God put it on my heart to open up and be vulnerable..which is always hard…
Yet after today, I can see the bigger picture of things and feel more confident in the idea of living a meaningful life.
I need to keep reminding myself:
It won't be easy.
It's a process.
It takes time.
Stand strong in your faith.
Have courage to push through.
God is all healing and all powerful.
Be rooted in the Word.
Let God show you who He wants you to be, on a personal, intimate level.
Feeling this joy after talking to Brittany. I could not stop smiling. I was smiling so much my muscles began to hurt….the idea of soon having my mouth wired shut due to jaw surgery is a reminder of having inner joy- building from the inside out as a new person. I now hope to seek God and His council. To truly lean on Him in hard times. Believe in His timing. Search for ways to show others the joy that God can bring to their lives…"
(A picture of what he read that same night, and the words he wrote down…)
Almost a month later from this radical encounter with God, he would like to share these words with you to follow up:
"No longer do I feel lost about my life and no longer do I worry for what the future holds. Knowing that everything will work out exactly the way God chose it to, whether it may seem that way at first, or not until years down the road you realize it was Him all along. Having the love of Jesus Christ on your side is beyond powerful and in all ways beautiful. Having been a fool for the past 21 years of my life, I can tell you this, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1: 7
It is not fun being a fool. It only leads to pain and unhappiness. I never really believed of someone being able to pray for another person and have the spirit move within the two to create healing or just be present…He really proved me wrong the day I ran into Brittany. Realizing that I am not all of a sudden perfect, I know this work that God has done in my life, is now changing me from my foundation up."
Wow. To be honest, I believed this healing could take place, but I don't know if I truly BELIEVED it. Lord help my unbelief and may you continue to mold me and use me for the glory of you and your KINGDOM!!!
If you are reading this you are one of two people. Someone who needs God to show up and seek you out like my friend experienced. Or you are someone who God needs to USE to speak to someone. Either way, it will happen if you are reckless and step out and reach out, either for help or to help the helpless. Do it. God is waiting and wants to change both your life, and the lives around you!
Thanks for sharing Mr. Thanks for being vulnerable and allowing me to speak into your life. I was crazy that day, I was rambling, dancing, kicking my legs around, and God still somehow managed to use me 🙂 I will always remember that day and that time with you. It's not a coincidence, it happened and it was supernatural. God brought us together randomly all those years ago, and made you stay after piano class, and made me sit with jer and have the door open, and created me to hate planning things…all so He could meet you on that day to bring a smile to His precious son. Pretty cool. SMILE 😀 😉 =p :-] You will spread the joy that He has put inside you!!!!
(Here is the video mentioned in the story- "Come & Live" Don't make the same mistake I did of not watching it cause it's so long. It is worth it, trust me. I learned that the hard way…)
