New Weekly Segment: You Wouldn’t Believe It!

The thought occurred to me that there are times when things happen that I wish I had written it down. They’re unbelievable! Life is filled with many of those types of experiences.

You too could write those down from your own life journey. Over the course of time, we all encounter those strange experiences, or observe the most unusual of circumstances. They are stories that will keep us laughing and shaking our heads, wondering how that could’ve happened.

A few years back, I was ringing the Salvation Army bell. It’s become a tradition for me, though. I have backed off quite a bit and most recent years. You might call this entry a bit of a catch-up of these sort of strange events.

I was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Walmart. Yes, this is a Walmart story so it makes it more believable. 

I heard a faint voice echo behind me as I greeted people with the other familiar of Salvation Army Bell. The Voice carried with a bit of urgency, “Ma’am, you don’t want to do this!” I turned to discover to my surprise that a man was following an older lady who was pushing a large screen television out the front doors near me. He kept persisting and asking her to stop. He kept telling her that this is wrong and that she should leave the store without taking the large screen television.

I watched curiously. I stared in unbelief that the man walked her all the way to her van, insisting that this is called theft and that she would go to jail. She even attempted to load it herself. She was able to load it and the store security could not touch her to prevent her from this criminal act.  As she got into her car to drive off, joined by other security officials, they quickly wrote down vehicle descriptions, and license plate numbers as this strange thing happened right in front of my eyes! 

Eventually, the police did arrive, and I was an eyewitness to a crime. I was told that the security personnel were forbidden from touching or stopping the shoplifter, but that they knew who it was, and they would approach her later, charging her with a crime hopefully.

It was an absurd activity observed that day. I thought of the contradiction in the irony that here I was ringing the bell to collect donations to assist people in need while observing a woman who simply helped her self through theft.

Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Worship: Filled and Poured Out.

Have you been someplace spiritually where you feeling like you are never enough? Have you ever felt that you will never be filled enough to make an impact? These are feelings that I have felt. You?

As we worship, we are asking God to fill us so that we can be a blessing to others. BUT….. What if God is enough? What if our worship is for God alone? What if we worship so that we only desire to praise God? 

We are filled with His presence so that we can know God more and more! Our worship is for God alone. He is worthy! Praise is the goal! Worship is emptying ourselves of self and being filled with God’s presence. Whenever we are in the way we limit God’s presence in our lives. It is about Him! Alone!! 

As we are emptied of self, we make room for God to fill us by His Spirit! As we worship, His presence is living inside to declare His glory - in me! In all of us! 

Tonight, I “get-to” worship with others who are poured out for young people! The YFC family I serve with have gathered to be filled! 

As I write this entry, a faith leader of our team, a young lady, shared from 1 Samuel 7. She shared that the people “poured out” themselves at Ebenezer. 

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Wow! What a powerful experience to think that these people - and many like them - serve to journey with those going through hard times! In the lives of young people, they are poured out. 

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD.

Wow! The worship tonight reminds me and others that God is! God is ….

… powerful … present … provider … personal … protector … peace …

The God we sang about and sang to is in always present now and tomorrow. 

What is it that you are calling upon God for? Is it pride? Are you crying out for peace in broken pieces? What do you need to call out to God for?

God YOU ARE ENOUGH. My cry is to God and declare that YOU ARE ENOUGH. I need to remember that it is about God and His glory. 

Strange isn’t it? As I am emptied for God, He fills us with Himself! Poured out and filled enough to be used by God (for His glory)! 

God, you have done this again and again! Why worry? Why rise up in my own strength? Why give my answer when it is only God’s answer that matters? 

God, you are enough! Which means that I am enough! I declare your praise! I am not worthy BUT God, you are enough!

So, I declare tonight in my vulnerability! I declare that you are able! I declare that you will do it! I declare that you are more than able — to do exceedingly more than anything I can ask or imagine! (Eph. 3:20-21) It is according to your work in and through broken vessels. 

Thank you God for ….