I was longing for a coke but the soda machine was on another wing of the hospital. This meant I had to find a BS (Behavior Specialist) to walk me to the other wing.

BS Lucy said she was free and would love to walk with me. She was so happy and full of life.

I asked how she could be so happy working with we crazy people.

She pointed to the road where cars were racing by. “You aren’t any crazier than those people.  You’re just strong enough to face issues that need to be dealt with. They aren’t!”

“But,” she continued “what really keeps me going is MY JESUS. He fills me …”

I grabbed her with both hands and looking in her eyes asked, “Do you know Jesus? Are you a Christian?”

“Yes I am,” she replied

Tears flowed as I shared how being separated from Christians brought me to a different kind of loneliness.

As I purchased my drink, she suggested we go to the visitors’ room. What a time of joy. For over an hour we shared our love for the Triune God and told our stories of how He was always with us. Even in the most difficult times, we are blessed to feel his presence.

This was a true over the top God sighting. He revealed himself in the midst of darkness by sending one of His children to minister to me.

What is a God sighting?

In a God sighting, He shows Himself in the midst of an everyday circumstance. It is normal yet it stands out because of place, timing, or uniqueness. It is God making it clear to me that He is involved in my everyday life.

As I look for personal God sightings each day, I am amazed and grateful as He reveals Himself.

The sightings I most remember have come in the midst of pain. It’s as though the Triune God is again dragging me through the streets of Jerusalem. I feel like I’m not going to be able to hang on much longer – then out of nowhere, in the most normal way, God gives me a sighting and I KNOW it is from Him. His love and strength flow into me enabling me to surrender to His way, not mine.

My garden has been a place where I have often had “God sightings.” 

My life was in the early stages of once again being turned upside down. It was 2008 and Joe’s “unknown pain” was just beginning.

I remember laying in bed in the early morning hours, wondering what would happen if Joe could no longer work.  But that wouldn’t happen – not after everything God had walked me through.  My senior years would be easier – wouldn’t they? Isn’t that what happened with Job?

Back to the garden.

I was in the last stages of arranging my new garden; I had a keen idea of wanting an arch leading to my “Reading Garden.” However, everyone told me not to do it because it was too close to another arch in the patio. I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED. 

Instead I bought a pot, put a rose bush in it and set it at the entrance to the “Reading Garden.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a beautiful spring day, I was out in the garden as the roses were all in bloom. I was working with the plant in the pot and then turned to do some deadheading of the roses in the raised planter opposite the pot.
Suddenly, I was aware that the roses in the pot and the roses in the planter were the same rose. Tears came as I realized that Almighty God had surprised me with His own special “arch” into the “Reading Garden.” He cared for me enough to give me a “God Sighting” of how much He loved me – even as He was preparing me to walk into more pain.

AND He loves you just as much.

Assignment 5

My CHALLENGE to you —

Grab a cup of coffee and imagine you are sitting with me as we chat right now.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. “  (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)

As the Triune God walks us through difficult, pain filled days (no matter the type of pain – physical, mental, emotional, relational, spiritual) when we stay focused on God, He promises to be present with us. Read through Zephaniah 3 and see God’s promise to those who remained faithful.

Have you had a recent God sighting you would like to share?

Is this something new for you? This week be diligent focusing on God, talking to Him continually – even about the TV show you are watching, asking Him to make you aware of His presence.

Come back and share with us how your week has gone.

Let’s chat via the comment section so others may join us. Your story can minister to others as the Triune God guides you to bring glory to Him on this earth.

If you have something that can’t be shared openly, write me at  refinersfire43@gmail.com

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