"...it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him". 1 Corinthians 2:9
In my wildest dreams I never would have guessed what God had in store for me today.
My husband and I arrived at the airport and all too soon the necessary check-ins were accomplished and it was time to say goodbye. Trying to look as brave and excited as possible, I posed as my husband took a couple of pictures to chronicle this adventure.
I may be smiling on the outside, but inside I was feeling pretty hesitant. I turned to walk through the security doors - each step a step of faith...each footfall a following...each deliberate movement a new dance with my King.
Not being a seasoned traveller, finding my departure gate was an adventure. Thankfully the Lord directed me to a sign indicating I needed to board a bus that would take me to another building and I would be on my way.
Once I was seated in the correct terminal there was nothing more to do but wait and pray...and pray some more. I had brought with me 31 pages of typed Bible verses, prayers, and words of encouragement that friends, family, blog contacts, and Proverbs 31 Staff had sent to strengthen me along the way. Each thought was so precious. Each inspiration a gift of hope. Truths to treasure. More than sentences on a page, they were promises that spoke of victory already accomplished. I cherished each assurance and clung to every word, breathing in the testimony of triumph they conveyed.
With each passing minute, fear raced closer. Time was an enemy, constantly reminding me of the challenge ahead. I sat praying for God's peace to envelop me and praising Him for what He was going to do.
Suddenly my attention was drawn to a gal walking by. My heart skipped a beat. Gathering my belongings I followed after her, calling her name...."Lorie". She turned. We embraced. I had a friend. God was not going to make me face this journey alone. He had provided the sweet surprise of a travelling companion.
Lorie and I had attended school together in Grades 7 and 8, but over the last 30 years we had probably only seen each other about half a dozen times. What fun it was to sit and reminisce. My heart was overflowing.
As we stood in response to the boarding call, Lorie asked me where I was sitting. I told her I was near the front of the plane - aisle 2. She explained to me that her seat had been chosen and booked quite a while back, but when she arrived at the airport this morning she had been told that her seat had to be changed. She was disappointed as the plane was far from capacity and she couldn't understand why they would switch her seat. As she pulled out her boarding pass to see where she was now located, can you believe the joy that exploded in my heart like fireworks to discover that God had moved her right beside me!
Oh my friends, never doubt what God can do. God was still asking me to trust Him, but He was providing such wonderful evidence of His love for me. Could He have asked me to travel alone? Most definitely yes. But, in His great love, compassion and care He saw my timid heart and said, "Dear Precious Joy, I see how you have taken these difficult steps to trust Me. If only you had realized all along that I would never ask you to do anything too hard for you. I will always make a way for you, if only you would trust My heart. Before you had even registered for the Conference I had chosen a friend to travel with you on your journey from fear to faith. Where I guide, I will provide. You can believe My promises. I have good plans in store for you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Fall into my embrace and let me carry you the rest of your days, in peace and calm assurance that I will never leave you or forsake you. I gave my life for you, My precious child, don't doubt my provision any longer. I love you so very much!"
With a heart of reckless abandon I found my seat. God was going to fly me to heights unknown as my plane sped down the runway.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." Ephesians 3:20
(Be sure to be following the journey on my other blog, "Pondering in His Presence" as well.)
12 comments:
I love those moments that we couldn't even imagine. Thank You Jesus!
What God moments! Reflect on these spiritual markers often! Oooh, I have God bumps all over! God is so good! I thank Him and praise Him for showing you His presence in a mighty way.
Prayers and Blessings, sweet one!
Rebecca
I'm telling you Girlfriend, you can not see it from where you are sitting, but tears are streaming down my face.
God surely does provide and He knows our socks off, if we will LET Him! Carol to have been there as you drive out of the drive, and then Lorie.....and THEN....to have her be your seating companion.
God, You are a TRUE DELIGHT!
Love you, Love Him, and love the sharing of your travels to us!
Yolanda
Uh oh....
God surely does provide and He knows just how to knock our socks off, if we will LET Him!
Wow...I'm speechless...it is so marvelous to hear the works of the Lord. I don't know why it would surprise me, as it doesn't really, but it places me in such AWE of Him. I mean what in the world are the chances that you'd run into a person you went to grade school with and have seen so few times in 30 years. WOW...just absolutely wow! And THEN, for the airline to strangely change her seat knowing there was room. Indeed that was GOD. Because, I'm sure if the plane was not full, Lorie would've moved her seat (we've done this many times and are allowe when capacity is not full). But, no, instead of Lorie changing her seat because of availability, GOD wanted to change her seat...not within a few rows, not in the same row, but right NEXT to you. Absolutely unbelievable...well, you know what I mean. It's believable but only with the knowledge that it was God's Hand.
Thank you, Joy, SO ever much for sharing the Hand of God with us. Thank you for allowing us to see a glimpse into the marvelous works of God in your life and during this spectacular trip.
P.S. Yolanda, He does also "know our sock"...that' how He can knock them off...cute...that gave me a chuckle.
Blessings friend,
Paula
Hi, Joy. I don't think I've left any comments for you before, but I do so enjoy visiting your blog.
This entry today was such a wonderful reminder to me of how God watches out specially for each one of us and provides EXACTLY what we need, when we need. Thank you for your words today that touched my heart in such a special way.
Happy Thursday!
I love the way God is always working in every intricate detail of our lives. I am so glad you had a peaceful trip.
Blessings,
Wow..if any of us had any doubt that God was watching over you...you blew that out of the water!...I mean...your pal's seat moved next to yours!...wow...it was such an encouragement to me, Joy...I've slowly been 'stepping out' out of my cage...I shall continue seeking Him...Would love it if you remember to pray for me sometime...did you ever attend the Word Guild conferences?
Love, Sita
Joy,
I am so glad that you had the courage to come to She Speaks. It was such a joy to meet you! It will be fun to go down this road of His Dreams for our lives together...even if we are thousands of miles apart!
Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing story. This is one of those God-moments where we hear Him saying, "I see you. I remembered you. I'm watching out for you."
What a precious gift of His love. I am just overwhelmed by His sweetness and provision for you my friend!!
I am so proud of you for walking in faith when fear threatened to strangle you. I am so excited about the verse God gave you that spoke once again to the fact that He is El Roi, our God who sees. Do you remember Lindsey's song that night before I spoke - it's called "He Knows" and He sure did!! He knew just how to speak to you and what you needed to hear. I love it, love it, love it!!!
Thanks for sharing all of this on your blog and for sharing your verses on my blog so I could cherish these memories and ponder them in my heart for many days to come!!!
I love this! I remember sitting beside your sister in a small town in Saskatchewan as you were boarding the plane and she prayed for you. One of her specific requests was that God would allow Lorie to be on your flight! God heard your prayers and hers before they every left your hearts and He provided a travel companion for you and not only that....He moved her into the seat right beside you! Too cool!
We serve a GREAT BIG GOD who cares about the teeny, tiny details too!
Very cool story! He meets our every need!
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