An Amazing Hug

           The day had been long and hard. Decisions had to be made at work so I had stayed well into the night. In fact, I wasn’t anxious to go home so I sat in my car, alone, tired, and bewildered. I not only felt tension from my job but also in my house.

            Memories of the morning’s distasteful departure weighed heavily on my mind. Once again difference of opinions, critical remarks and closed minds surfaced from me and my husband. Like all marriages, we had our disagreements and grievances, and eventually most matters were resolved. However, it was the gray area before the resolution that I faced. What awaited me at home? Would the door be opened or closed?

            As I traveled home, which was a twenty mile commute, I tuned into my favorite Christian radio station and listened to the various Christian artists sing words of praise, comfort, and encouragement.  Before long, I felt the tension easing throughout my body. I began sharing my fears and concerns with my Heavenly Father. As I spoke, I mentioned how I sure could use a hug.

            Our farmstead stood silently as I drove down the path to our house. The farm light provided me assistance as I backed the car into the unattached garage located about 25 yards from our house. Our dog, Lacey, an Australian Shepherd, greeted me as I closed the car door. Usually, she runs ahead of me, but this time, she blocked me from leaving the garage. I was puzzled and told her to let me pass. Not paying any more attention to her, I slowly made my way to the house. But Lacey didn’t leave my side. I felt her wet nose on my fingertips so I stopped, looked into her soft, warm brown eyes and asked her if she needed some attention. She whined and acted a little strange. In my puzzled state, I looked up and tears soon formed in my eyes.

            In the Western sky across a background of stars, I saw a cloud formation that was in a design of reaching arms…arms, possibly covered by a robe, extended toward me. I felt a chill and then warmth and a glow of joy inside of me. I smiled as the tears rolled down my cheeks. I knew without a doubt that God had extended his love to me in the shape of angel wings in a cloud. Furthermore, He had used Lacey to make me notice. Yes, I had received my hug, one I’ll never forget!!!

 As I entered our house, all was quiet. Everyone had gone to bed, but I felt a sense of peace. Perhaps tomorrow my husband and I could settle our differences, but for that night, I fell asleep cherishing my God “hug.”

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them."

Psalm 145:18-19

A Sample of the Rocks

This is a sampling of what the Christ Rocks look like. Simple and common rocks of all sizes and shapes taken from the country road.

Rocks

            I pick up rocks, rocks that I have chosen to call “Christ Rocks”.  This type of ministry was initiated when I led a women’s Bible study on King David. To emphasize the stone that David used to kill Goliath, I gave a stone to each lady. These stones represented David’s faith and trust in his relationship with God. Likewise, these stones would serve as a reminder of our faith and trust in God as well as in His faithfulness to us.

            Several years had passed since that particular study when the Spirit led me to consider reviving that idea through an old hymn, “The Solid Rock.”  The chorus spoke to my heart when I heard it.  “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.”  Not only did the chorus influence me, but the Spirit placed verse after verse of rock references from the Bible in my reading. I knew I needed to pursue this idea.

            With the convenience of having a rock-strewn country road to walk, I began gathering rocks of all sizes.  After I washed them and they had dried, I wrote “Christ Rock” on one side and a Biblical rock reference verse on the other. Then, I began distributing them as the Spirit guided me. I have been blessed enormously by this tiny ministry, and I hope to continue it for some time.

“The LORD is my rock (emphasis added), and my fortress, and my deliverer.

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust.

My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold."  Psalm 18:2

Annoyances

Annoyances are common in life. They might include people, animals, nature, mannerisms, words and just plain obnoxious behavior. Where I live, the wind carries a strong and constant blow. Granted, there are times when a little breeze makes the summer heat bearable, but more often than not, I can do without the forceful, persistent annoyance. However, one day God proved to me the benefit of wind in an unusual way.

            As I was driving down a two-lane highway, I was enjoying the music on the radio as well as formulating a plan for my shopping spree. The wind had been stronger than usual that morning but not enough to notice when I left home. However, when I turned to drive against it, the car required two hands to control the wheel.

            Oblivious to my surroundings, I was surprised by two pheasants springing up from the right side of my car. Startled, I kept driving straight as the first flew ahead of me. However, the second one had been caught by the wind’s current and rose above my car. If it had not been for the wind, the second pheasant would have found itself beside me in the passenger’s seat. I sighed with relief, and yes, I thanked God for that annoying wind which happened to save me from an intruder that day.

“When He utters His voice,

There is a multitude of waters in the heavens:

And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain,

He brings the wind (emphasis added) out of His treasuries.”  Jeremiah 10:13

An Unexpected Walk

After supper I was gathering the dishes to wash when I unexpectedly heard God say through the Spirit, “Come, walk with me.”  At first, I thought it was my imagination, but then I heard it again.  Since the evening air was cooling off, I put on my coat and went outside. The sun was setting with various cloud formations, displaying their unique, whispering beauty, scattered across the darkening blue sky. I stood quietly, taking in the approaching night’s serenity.

But soon, I heard further instructions to walk into the trees. Our shelter belt contains a variety of trees; some have died from brutal winters while others are alive with their leaves beginning to change colors. I walked to the west toward our son Quinn’s fort he built years ago. Then I strolled on the edge of the milo field and walked along the outer edge of the shelter belt.  As I walked, I kept wondering what God might surprise me with like the dime/heart-shaped print He amazed me with a few days before. But tonight I didn’t see or notice anything unusual. It was quiet and peaceful.

Then, it dawned on me; God doesn’t always have to reveal Himself in dramatic ways. He enjoys the simple, every day revelations as well. He had told me to walk with Him….maybe to test me…to see if I would obey Him; but in my heart I felt He just wanted to walk with me…to see His beauty in the sunset and the rising full moon, to sense His Presence in the soft rustling of the leaves, to know He truly was there, all around, everywhere. As I turned to walk back to the house, I heard His gentle Spirit say, “Thank you.”  I smiled and contently and leisurely, returned home!!

From this experience, I was reminded of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when God walked through the garden looking for His children who at that time had sinned and had hidden. I was also reminded of what my mom had told me once. She had pictured walking with Jesus in a beautiful garden. I bet that picture has come true for her now as she met Jesus in 2004.  Someday it will come true for me, too!! Thank you, my Father, for the evening walk!!!

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”  Genesis 3:8

Photo

This is the photo I took in reference to my "Dimes and Hearts" story I posted earlier. It just so happened that I had my camera with me when I was on my walk that evening. I believe God had that planned as well. If you look closely, you should be able to see the heart print lying underneath the dime.