Sep 26, 2007

a day in the life of me: god on the move

I was driving today, heading back home from an appointment and sat at a stoplight for a few moments. In front of me was a small U-Haul, towing a Jeep.

"Bet they're moving," I said to myself.

"Yes, go help," came the response.

"Huh?" I said. "Who thought that in my head?"

"Go help."

Weird.

So I followed the U-Haul a bit, thinking this was highly odd. Nonetheless, within a mile of where I live the U-Haul turned off down a road, twisting into an apartment complex.

"Here goes the weirder part," I thought.

Just as a woman got out, I popped open my door and said, "Hi there!"

"Are you Pete?" she asked.

"Nope," I answered. "Um, I know this sounds weird but I saw that you were moving and didn't know if you needed any help. I pastor a church here in town and if you did I might be able to find some folks willing to serve you."

The look on her face was priceless. "Are you kidding? Praise God! I kept telling everyone that somehow God would take care of all the details of this. Did you say you pastor a church?"

"Yes."

"Is it non-denominational?"

Smiling... inside joke. "Yes."

"Wow! I was just on my way here praying to God that He would find me a church!"

I approached her. "Well here's my business card, just so you know this is all legit."

(Reading the card) "Hmm... 'Being the Church.' I like that! So do you do a lot of stuff in the community?"

"Yes... stuff like this."

I love serving a great big God on the move who cares about the details... wow.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

You just blessed my socks off! Wow..that is great! Thank you!

Len said...

excellent! Thanks for sharing that Tony.

David Malouf -- said...

Dude, you rock!

But what does this do to your "does God answer prayer" post?!!?

Malouf

Bar L. said...

Dang I love this! This is what its all about. Listening to His voice (and ya know he's only gonna tell you to do good stuff) and then RESPONDING. I also love that this woman had such a great faith that she was not even overly surprised that you showed up....she expected and asnwer and got one!

Anonymous said...

It would have been a better story if your name was Pete :)

Carolanne said...

Wow!

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is great! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience!

Anonymous said...

God is soooooooooooo awesome!

PRAISE GOD! PRAISE YOU DEAR LORD GOD!

YES LORD!

tonymyles said...

So here's the cool thing... I was able to get three other guys together and we moved her into her new place in 45 minutes. Then we stood around a bit and talked about how awesome God is... which He is.

I told her this really was a no strings attached deal, but she said she'll see us Sunday. Cool beans - I just love the Lord.

I like David's question, though - it does sort of balance out my last post. My response is sometimes things do turn out the way we pray, but it doesn't mean things turn out the way we'd prayed because we'd prayed them... but because we were listening.

I know that sounds confusing, and it gets a bit into a follow up post I'll do on this at the end of my You Asked For It series.

Rodney Olsen said...

Where do you stand on stealing? Is it a really bad sin?

I just need to know because this story fits so well with what I'm preaching this Sunday. I thought you should know that I intend stealing your story. (With credit back to you ... of course.)

Anonymous said...

You will never know how much I needed to hear this today! Put it this way...it is 2:45am and I am reading your blog for a doze of encouragement and a reminder of why we do what we do.

Thanks Tony for the integrity you continue to display.

. said...

Wow! I love when stuff like that happens! I got goosebumps!

Anonymous said...

Good Day :) God is Love, May you experience God's Love this Day, may we really learn to Praise him in all things :) Lets Share God's Love today :) You are Loved!

Anonymous said...

uhhh..."christian"... do you mean "salesman"? (just because of your link??)

Derek said...

OK, I've met my teary eyed moment quota for the month! Great story... Thanks T!!!

Ed G. said...

Totally amazing... when God is involved, two strangers can be on the opposite side of a giving-getting relationship -- where both experience a miracle. How totally cool is that...

tonymyles said...

What a cool summary, Ed!

Derek - no doubt.

anonymous - where's your name?

Christian - thank you!

Marcia - me, too!

Jennifer - I'm humbled by that.

Rodney - I answered this on your blog.