This morning when I woke up, I was in such a sour mood. My alarm clock went off and I was much less excited about waking up early this morning than yesterday. Ten more minutes. . . I rolled over. Ten minutes turned into an hour more. I pulled some clothes on, washed my face and walked out the door. My parents and I were headed up to my grandmother’s house with my nephew; my sister and her family were headed back to TN.
After they left my parents and I headed back home. On the way my father wanted to “run” into the grocery store. I don’t know why I was in such a sour mood, maybe it was my sinus pressure, my fatigue or maybe I was just too caught up in myself after having missed my date with the Holy Spirit this morning. Either way, my father was taking too long for my taste and I verbally expressed my outright frustration. My mother remained quiet.
A little later, out walked a little elderly lady and my father close behind her. Her car was beside ours, as he approached our car, he handed my mother the groceries and then turned around and helped her lift several heavy objects into her trunk, then returned her cart for her. In that moment I saw the kingdom of heaven lived out in my father. As he got back into the car, I expressed to him that I was proud of him and he said he only wished someone would do that for his mother if they had the chance, then explained how they had started talking in line. She offered for him to go before her, seeing his few groceries compared to her many. He told her he was in no hurry and allowed her to go in front of him.
Immediately, the Lord humbled me. The Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit, “My reign, my rule. Not your schedule.” I had complained because my father was taking too long, while he was allowing the kingdom of heaven to come to earth in his heart. The Holy Spirit continued, “You will miss Kristen, if you’re not looking for it, if you’re too focused on you, you will miss it.”
“Forgive me Lord”
As I got ready to start my day, I bowed my heart and postured myself bent before him.
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The spectacular thing about our Lord is that he is GRACIOUS! Even when we blow it from the start, he is capable of redeeming everything.
This morning a couple hours later, I met a friend for coffee. I arrived at Caribou ahead of her. Instead of going ahead and ordering, I waited for her because I had decided in my heart that I wanted to bless her and pay for her coffee. After I had ordered, I told her to get whatever she wanted, this was my treat. She tried to protest “You’re the missionary!” She said. I just smiled. She ordered.
We both ordered coffee and a breakfast sandwich because neither of us had eaten yet. The barista made my latte; a large- I had ordered a medium! He handed Allison her coffee, put our breakfast sandwiches in the oven, then asked the ladies behind me for their order!
I stood there a little dumb founded and he said, “Don’t worry about it, this one’s on me!” I put a large tip in their tip jar and walked back to my seat thanking Jesus for his provision and asking him to keep my spirit sensitive to how he is moving so that I may join Him in bringing the kingdom of heaven to others the rest of today!!
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
You are blessed when you get your inside world- your mind and heart- put right.
Then you can see God in the outside world.
Matthew 5:8 (ESV; Message)
