Oct
3
2012
Eavesdropping
Posted in Daily Living 2 Comments
I saw a friend of mine today.
We see each other, every once in a while, at the grocery store or when we are out shopping.
Our girls grew up together. We used to go to the same church.
It was good to see her.
It is so much fun to catch up with someone.
There is reminiscing…this is going on…that is going on…old stories we share.
There were people around us as we talked.
We had to keep moving our shopping carts so they could get down the aisle.
After catching up on each other’s families, we talked about the Lord.
We talked about Bible study.
She asked about the one I am teaching…I asked about the one she is attending.
It was pouring rain outside and we remarked how loud it sounded on the roof.
Each of us enjoyed this respite…before we dashed to our cars, in the rain.
I drove home…no music…just prayer today…talking out loud to the Lord.
I love that…just the two of us…in the car together.
No holds barred…nothing held back…no one to hear.
It was still pouring when I got home…the mail in the mailbox could wait until later.
I came into the house…the phone was ringing.
I had not gotten there in time, so the answering machine picked up.
I heard my friend’s voice.
I put down my packages and my keys and heard bits of her message.
I finally reached the phone…I’m here…I quickly said.
I wanted to tell you what happened after we stopped talking today.
There was a woman…who must have been standing nearby.
She heard our conversation.
She tracked me down in the store and told me that she heard us talking about the Lord and…
My friend recounted what we said…what the woman heard.
I mentally took note of all the people I vaguely saw around us as we talked.
Was it her? Was it that one?
I will never know.
It doesn’t matter who it was.
It matters that she was there.
God doesn’t waste anything!
He will take a seemingly innocent conversation and allow it to be overheard.
All for HIS Glory!
Amazing!
Really…why am I surprised?
God is in the habit of doing the unexpected.
God is always working…always revealing Himself to others.
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working. (John 5:17)
Sometimes, He chooses to use us!
It’s so much better when we don’t even know we are being used.
We can’t take credit that way!
My friend and I have not called each other in quite a while.
Our times to talk are just those times we run into each other.
It always seems to be when one or the other of us needs that encouragement.
Like today.
My friend said that she thought she still had my phone number, but realized she didn’t.
She looked in the old school directory, from when our sons were in school, but being different years, they were not listed together.
All of a sudden, a phone number popped into my head.
I found myself thinking…this can’t be the number, but I dialed it anyway.
Then I heard your voice on the machine.
God does amazing things…even brings a phone number to mind when encouragement and blessing are waiting on the other end.
I am grateful.
Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
The Israelites were being oppressed for seven years by the Midianites.
The Israelites, with their hard hearts, cried out to the Lord because of Midian.
God heard…and sent an angel of the Lord to a young man named, Gideon.
The angel of the Lord called Gideon a “mighty warrior”.
Gideon was far from the title of mighty warrior.
God sees who we are INTENDED to be…in His strength…in His power.
God was sending Gideon to save Israel from Midian’s hand.
Under the Lord’s directions, Gideon and three hundred men would fight the Midianites.
During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp, with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” (Judges 7:9-11)
Gideon obeyed the Lord.
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. ” I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands. When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. (Judges 7:13-15)
Gideon and his three hundred men went to battle and gained a victory for the Lord.
All because of God-ordained eavesdropping.
That is what happened today.
God-ordained eavesdropping.
This should make us pause…as we think about being watched…about being listened to.
May our speech and our actions point others towards the Lord Jesus.
May our speech and our actions never be a stumbling block to others.
Walking the walk and talking the talk is vitally important.
The two together can only happen in the power of the Holy Spirit.
You just never know who is listening…and what God wants them to hear!
Gina, I can’t tell you how this blesses me today. I will share it with my bible study – we are studying Gideon and also with two dear friends who live in PA. I still want to chat, forgive me for delaying make the call to you. Love and Hugs
Diane,
I am always amazed…though I shouldn’t be…at the way God uses the simplest thing to touch another heart.
I pray that I am more aware of Him in the little things.
Miss you friend…we will talk soon.
Gina