"It may be little, it may be big,
but surprises happen when you least expect it.
Take what life gives you...delight in it and enjoy it"
...L. R. Haake
Our kitchen when we lived in China. We hung the red lantern around our light; the neighbors surmised we were newlyweds...uh-oh. Evenings they gathered outside our window to watch us do our thing...little did we know!
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| THE BIG |
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| THE SURPRISE |
In August 2002 M and I moved to China...a most unlikely happening but with God? Ha, He is full of surprises; oh, He always knows what He's doing...He just doesn't let us in on it until we're ready...at least that's the way it's happened w/M and me. You're familiar w/our background so you know what's happened in our surprising life, yes? If you came in late, ask us and we'll bring you up to date on a personal level, okay? We love to tell 'our story'.
This trip that just took place was one that M felt called to take; he thought it was for one purpose but as God would have it...something quite surprising took place...a series of surprises it seems! This is just one of many; you should know it's touching to us; hopefully to you as well.
Michael stayed w/William and Maria the five weeks in Qingdao; they are wonderful, caring friends and Maria sees to it that Michael never, ever is bored...to the contrary. She brings in friends, relatives...friends of relatives, etc. She is a magnet and so relaxed about it.
One morning she and some lady friends had arranged a small trek (ladies only) so they agreed to meet at Maria's early that morning. Maria introduced M and one lady said she remembered Michael and I from our kitchen window. Seems she lived in one of the many apartments facing our kitchen window. She said she and her husband would watch us through our kitchen window...like all the other Chinese in the complex. They regularly congregated in the evenings to observe our every action (oh my, I wonder what they had to say about those foreigners).
It seems her husband is stricken w/a serious problem and is bedfast, unable to walk, etc. She has been praying for some time now that God would send someone to pray with and for them...since we left China they have become Christians and meet with a small house church in that complex.
Michael has felt that he lacked something in his personality, something that he really needed; that would be compassion. He feels that the reason he felt so compelled by the Spirit to go to China at this time was simply to meet and pray with this couple. And the result is...he has learned 'compassion'. It's a remarkable wonder to him that God would use an 81 year old agent to answer someones' prayers continents away, but that's precisely what our wonderful Father did. Is He not the most awesomely remarkable God? Wow, yes!!!
Michael took someone w/him, prayed with and encouraged that couple...and returned several times. They are now linked with others who can and will continue encouraging them. Praying for a miracle!
Charlie Brown said, "In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back"...but sometimes Charlie, they are found in and around the back door to the kitchen. Imagine...all the hundreds of times we were in our kitchen looking out our window seeing them and those two people were on their back porch looking at us...imagine??? Who would've thunk it, huh? Now here we are more than seven years later...being used to answer their prayer.
Sometimes (okay, much of the time) I sell God short; so foolish am I. But I've learned a great lesson; no matter how little a thing might seem to me, it's of great importance to someone. Or it may be so big that I think some others are taking care of it...and it falls through the crack. BUT...God does things when I least expect it so I'm doing my best to be aware of others...(you included)...making the best and most of whatever He gives me. And when HE's involved? It's delightful enjoyment...well, it's really heaven on earth.
From my heart...to yours!
