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Changing Your Landscape? Start Anew With God’s Plan

Life sometimes requires us to start anew, as in the case of a divorce or a move. Other times, we just have a tug at our heart, knowing we need to wipe the slate clean and start afresh.

My husband and I recently made the decision to redo the landscaping at our home. It took a lot of prep work to make that decision. We needed to agree we wanted to stay in our home and not move. Next came researching landscaping companies, followed by contacting the finalists, settling on a plan and price, signing an agreement, and submitting a down-payment.

You see, our landscaping was over 25 years old. It looked aged and worn, and we wanted a new look—one that involved fewer straggly bushes and less maintenance. Basically, we were tired of the same old thing!

The laborious work began this week.

We watched the crew not just “prune” our yard, but remove every evidence of the last 25 years of growth.

It wasn’t sad to us, because we hoped “the future” look would be better. Okay, it might have been sad to our neighbors when they saw the landscapers demolish the beautiful crepe myrtle that adorned our neighborhood.

But then arose the destruction—as trenches were dug a water pipe burst, then our Internet cable was severed. An emergency call to the water district, a three-hour wait to connect to AT&T, and disruption of my husband’s work-related Zoom call seemed quite problematic. Why? Because we were not anticipating any dire consequences from our well-thought-out plans.

As a believer, we face many decisions in life. We decide what ministries to be involved in, what church to attend, who to marry, what job to take, where to live, and more.

Just as there were steps in deciding to redo our landscaping, there are steps and choices to make in our spiritual life.

While we have the personal liberty to choose God’s plan or not, our lives are best lived in the presence of God’s will and direction. He is our strength and support in this life and the life to come.

Why is it important to know God’s plan?

It is important to know God’s plan because the Lord is the best person capable of running our lives. The Bible tells us multiple times that God knows our future. When we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we are positioned to receive His blessings. When we are following His will by trusting and obeying Him, we can have confidence He hears our prayers and is working things out for our greatest benefit. God will not hide His will from us if we sincerely seek Him.

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. (Psalm 139:4)

Every good thing [is] given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:30-33

You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:33

Starting Over

My husband and I don’t like yard work. In starting over from square one, we are trying to simplify our life by eliminating trees, bushes, and foliage in our yard. By removing unwanted debris, there will be more room for light to shine into our home—along with a simpler austerity.

In our Christian walk, sometimes we need to make decisions to move on, clear out our clutter, and/or change our priorities. Hopefully, when we do, our walk with the Lord will deepen and mature us to become more Christlike.

The “method to our madness” in discovering His plans entail making decisions by seeking Him, looking at options, and developing a sense of His guidance.

What are the steps to discover His plan?

  1. Ask God for His wisdom and understanding (James 1:5-6);
  2. Desire to follow His will. [That comes when we are repentant and obedient to His already established will in the Bible] (Psalm 51:2-3);
  3. Pray and meditate. [Do not make any decisions that have not been prayed over] (Philippians 4:6-7);
  4. Look for providential circumstances. [But recognize that circumstances and/or feelings alone should not be the deciding factor] (James 1:17);
  5. Talk to godly friends, confidants, or elders at your church for guidance (Proverbs 15:22);
  6. Rest and wait patiently in God through the power of the Holy Spirit (Psalms 27:14);
  7. Ask yourself if you have peace about your decision (Psalms 29:11);
  8. Understand that God’s will might involve some suffering (Romans 8:18);
  9. Recognize that if you have done these steps and are still unsure of His will, but a decision must be made, go with the best choice you can make (Romans 8:28);
  10. If you find you have made a “mistake,” keep trusting in the Lord to work everything out (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As I write this, our landscaping feat is not complete. Actually, we are deep in the midst of a huge mess.

However, I hope our decision to bulldoze all our greenery turns out to be the right one. Our expectation is to have an attractive and easy-to-keep-up-with yard. But, if it doesn’t, we still have a God who loves us and wants the best in our lives.

If you feel the need to start over, seek Him first. Be obedient. Follow His lead. And trust that He always knows what is best for us. And, don’t be afraid of a change!

Praying the Scripture

Dear heavenly Father, 

If I lack wisdom, I am asking You who gives generously without reproach to all who ask for it, because You have said in Your Word that it will be given. I am asking in faith without any doubting because Your Word says, “one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

Wash thoroughly from me my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Help me not to be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I am letting my requests, concerns, and upcoming decisions ascend to You. And Your peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.

I know that every good thing is given, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from You–the Father of lights. Give me wise counsel so my plans are not frustrated, because I know that with many counselors I will succeed. Give me the ability to wait on You for all plans and decisions that I need to make. Make me strong and let my heart take courage. Yes, let me wait for Your answers. I know You give strength to Your people, and that You will bless me with peace.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to me. And I know that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose, and that includes me. I want to trust in You, Lord with all my heart, and not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I want to acknowledge you. I know You will make my paths straight and my decisions honorable to You.

I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God Bless,

greenenpastures.org

Edited by E. Johnson

Bible verses come from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Books by Patti Greene – Order Below!

Christian Caregiving

Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending

Devotional Prayer Journals

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer

 

#bgbg2, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, GreenePastures.org, Jesus Christ, Life Issues, Patti Greene, Prayer, Testimonies, Writing and Speaking

The Fact Is: Chatting With God Is Awesome

I had the opportunity a couple weeks ago to spend a good part of my day in one of my favorite ways: chatting casually with my Heavenly Father. It was a beautiful time of fellowship, and I really felt myself the “daughter of the King”. In that conversation, I could express safely, with equal confidence, my joys, hopes, and fears.

We’ll get to that later. For now, let’s start at the beginning.

========================================

Lying in bed one cool fall day recently, I received a nudge around 6:17 a.m. The nudge was clear. It said, “Get up. Go pray.” I knew immediately from whom the nudge came.

I slipped out of bed, grabbed a cup of Folger’s Classic coffee, and went straight to my prayer chair. There was no time to question God. He made it very clear that He had something to say to me, and I was not about to keep Him waiting.

Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes in my spiritual life, I have been dealing with a lot that I don’t understand this year. My meltdowns, my concerns, my unexpected thoughts, my perceived inability to hear God correctly, and the fear of hearing Him incorrectly all played into the fact that I knew God either had some profound admonitions for me or indispensable words of encouragement.

Creative Inspiration

Most times God speaks to me in a small quiet voice or through His Word. But occasionally He speaks to me in very creative ways.

An example of that was last weekend when I was driving to a Bible study. I was on the agenda to share a few words of wisdom with the group.

I was empty.

I had nothing in mind to share.

God is so good. He knew I had undergone a week filled with one urgent issue after another. As I drove on the freeway (I-10, for those who care), I passed a storage facility followed by a billboard that had the word journey on it. Through those everyday roadside fillers, God graciously gave me His words to share at the Bible study.

He impressed me to tell this group that, “As women, we store so much within ourselves without sharing it with anyone, either isolating ourselves from others or stressing us out. However, we must remember that we are all on our own individual journey, and how God works with you and what He might want you to share or not share may be different than how He deals with others.”

Now, I am not suggesting you give up your daily Bible reading or prayer time to look for these creative signs from God. Not at all, but what I am saying is that God can use any method He so chooses to share Himself with you and me.

Back to that cool fall day . . .

Praying for months for more intimate moments with God, I zealously awaited a deep one-on-one time with the Lord that morning.

Preparing to Hear from God

When I first sat down in my prayer chair, I reread one of my recent Dear God letters.* Then, I recalled multiple Bible verses to mind and recited them aloud. At that juncture, I began talking to the Lord about what was heaviest on my heart—my not understanding the “whys” of what I had gone through, and was still going through, this year.

You see, it’s been a rough season of pruning, spiritual warfare, and not understanding circumstances. Through it all, though, my desire was to be absolutely surrendered to Him.

In all humility, I must mention I have been in the Word constantly and been praying daily, so I knew it wasn’t a matter of God telling me to do these two things.

It was much deeper than that.

God had serious business to conduct with me. And, I loved His creativity with me, especially since I have been in such a serious mode lately.

A Pen and Paper Conversation

Then from nowhere, God and I were sharing like two good old friends, chit-chatting about everything from smoked sausage to the latest lipstick trends. [Yes, I am exaggerating here!]

Being the “pen and paper” woman I am, I began writing down our conversation as it was occurring. God titled our conversational diversion with the phrase “The fact is.” This phrase became the name of our personal tête-à-tête.

In a short amount of time, 120 lines of talking with my heavenly Father had taken place. I could have kept going, but I stopped when a text message from a friend came through.

With her permission, I share her 6:59 a.m. post.

Patti, John and family, the Joy of the Lord will give you strength and you will live the life of victory God has promised you! Father, bless this family with victory in their personal lives, in their relationships, in their church and in their community. Dear Lord, thank you for blessing, encouraging and empowering them no matter what they may be facing. I ask You to fill their hearts with supernatural joy, so they can stand strong in all things. I pray that God blesses you daily with good health, divine healing, peace, hope and guidance. I am praying that in His perfect time and in His gentle way, God’s caring touch will comfort, support and strengthen you. Love you. In Jesus name. Amen.

It’s just like God to send a confirmation that He is right by my side—only 43 minutes after my wakeup call. But it didn’t stop there. All day long, I took notice of God saying, “The fact is,” and I responded with the same identical phrase.

This non-verbal dialogue between God and me transpired as I traced my path through several stores, specifically Walgreens, Barnes & Noble, Macy’s and Hobby Lobby. He even confirmed it was Him in Barnes and Noble when I randomly ran across a book titled, And That’s a Fact! *

The bottom line of this post is that I thought I would share a sampling of the heart-to-heart chat I had with the Lord today. Maybe it will help you—maybe it won’t. But I think God is nudging me to share it! So, I am going to obey.

Me:        The fact is, I love You, Jesus.

God:      The fact is, I love you so much I died for you.

Me:        The fact is, You will help me overcome.

God:      The fact is, Yes, I will give you strength.

Me:        The fact is, You want me to rest upon Your shoulder.

God:      The fact is, I can calm and quiet your soul by doing that.

Me:        The fact is, people fail us and let us down.

God:      The fact is, I am always true to My Word

God:      The fact is, I am your confidence.

Me:        The fact is, I get hurt when I don’t remember that. In fact, I get hurt a lot.

God:      The fact is, I will never leave you or forsake you.

Me:        The fact is, I try to remember that one day is like a thousand years to You.

God:      The fact is, I know you were summoned into service for Me.

Me:        The fact is, then You know I don’t know what to do with that calling.

God:      The fact is, just trust that I know the plans I have for you.

Me:        The fact is, I know You don’t have to share those plans with me now.

Me:        But the fact is, I am getting older.

God:      The fact is, some things I hide in the spiritual realm until the right time.

Me:        The fact is, that sometimes I feel battered down and feel forgotten.

God:      The fact is, I give My power to the weak and I am able.

Me:        The fact is, I can’t make sense of it.

God:      The fact is, you just need to trust Me.

Me:        The fact is, I do trust You and I know You hold me in Your hands.

God:      The fact is, that My wisdom will guide you to understanding. With discernment, you will know My ways.

Me:        The fact is, spiritual warfare comes out of nowhere and it lasts so long, then leaves temporarily, then returns.

God:      The fact is, I have allowed it, so your faith can be proven.

God:      The fact is, I want You to experience the “coming out of it” victoriously. I can only do it that through the way I am working in your life.

Me:        The fact is, I am depending upon You to come out victoriously.

God:      The fact is, I am also pruning you.

Me:        The fact is, that’s an understatement. I know You are pruning me, Lord—It’s exciting, but it hurts so much.

God:      The fact is, I am carrying you.

Me:        The fact is, being a Christian is the best thing ever, but it can be so hard.

God:      The fact is, I know that. I sweat drops of blood because of that, but the ending was and is sweet.

God:      The fact is, I am preparing you for great and mighty things you do not know.

Me:        The fact is, that’s awesome. Thank You.

God:      The fact is, I know you are weary.

Me:        The fact is, I know to come to You. You said, “Come to Me, you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

Me:        The fact is, I know I am growing through all this.

God:      The fact is, you must wait and then you will overcome it. When you see what I have in store for you, you won’t believe it.

Me:        The fact is, I’m having trouble waiting. I’m sort of anguished about it. But, thank You for me so much.  Furthermore, thank You for preparing a place for me in Heaven.

God:      The fact is, everything you have experienced and will experience has been experienced by Me.

Me:        The fact is, that’s comforting. I love You and need to be reminded of that.

God:      The fact is, I love you too. Go forth in My love. Trust Me. Put your faith in Me. Depend on Us—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God:      Make your requests be made known to Me. Then, believe that I know what I am doing. I know the details because I know the big picture of your life.

Me:        The fact is, I do believe that, but I may need more times of respite.

God:      The fact is, that the shepherd cares about his sheep. And you are one of my dearest sheep.

Me:        The fact is, I love You for that.

God:      The fact is, let’s chat more. Now, I’m nudging you to finish the book you are reading tonight! There’s something in it just for you. [There was.]

So… whether via roadside billboards or a text message from a Godly friend; whether I am in my lair’s “prayer chair”, waltzing through Walgreens or hobnobbing in Hobby Lobby, the Word of the Lord comes to me in many ways and places.

The fact is: whenever He is ready to talk, I, like Samuel of old, am always ready to hear and respond at any time.

But please, Lord, let me first get my morning cup of coffee.

Bible Verses:

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried – our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5 MSG)

The fact is, that ADONAI sent me to you to speak all these words, so that you could hear them. (Jeremiah 26:15b CJB)

The fact is, that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday. (1 Corinthians 15:20 LB)

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not take steps to receive Him by . . .

  1. Recognizing that God does love you. (John 3:16)
  2. Understanding and confessing that your sins are separating you from God. (Romans 3:23)
  3. Accepting that Jesus Christ is the only provision for your sins. (Romans 5:8)
  4. Individually receiving Jesus Christ through faith as your Lord. (John 1:12)

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

What a joy to fellowship with You all day long! Thanks for giving me the freedom to talk to You. Thank You for the precious words You have given me. Thank You for the facts we have shared together—especially the banter we enjoyed just between ourselves. I know You are with me. I just want to feel Your presence more and more in my life. I want to live in the spiritual realm as much as possible. Let Your truths enlighten me and guide me. I love You, Jesus.

Amen.

God Bless. Until 2019.

* My Dear God letters consist of letters I have written to God—usually on notebook paper.  I started writing these letters decades ago and I have them saved. Usually they are written when I really have something serious on my mind. Many times, God impresses upon me what to do or what not do during these letter writing activities.

*And That’s a Fact by Harry Bright. I have not read this book or even browsed through it. It may be awesome, but I am not necessarily recommending it. I just saw the cover in Barnes and Noble.

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Edited by E. Johnson

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Books by Patti Greene

Devotionals, God's Will, Most Recent Post, Prayer, Testimonies, Uncategorized

A Call to Writing

A Call to Writing by Patti Greene / Greene Pastures by Patti

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POSTED BY  AT WESTBOW PRESS ON DEC 14TH, 2016 IN AUTHORS IN THEIR OWN WORDS |
If you would like to learn more about Patti’s life or work, visit her blog Greene Pastures. 

Childhood Interests

Growing up my family valued books and reading. The bookshelves in my parents’ home were always overflowing with novels, magazines, and encyclopedias. Newspapers were delivered in abundance to every home we owned. My two brothers and I were raised to believe that bookcases were an essential piece of furniture in every room.

Where I lived in the northeast, there weren’t any brick-and-mortar libraries close by. Despite that,  I found much enjoyment going to the bookmobile that showed up weekly at the local shopping center. While my mother was in the grocery store, I would anxiously and excitedly climb the big bookmobile stairs. I was always in search of the perfect books to check out. Every Christmas I looked forward to receiving good books to read.

By the time I went to high school, I was not as interested in reading anymore. I remember one day my father restricted me to the dining room table until I read an article in a Newsweek magazine. Reading was always valued in my family, and it still is.

As I write this article, my 91-year-old mother is sitting at the kitchen table taking notes from her medical books.

A Call to Writing

As a child when we traveled on our vacations, my parents had my brothers and I write diary entries on our days’ adventures. This was my first recollection of enjoying “collections.” When I was seventeen, I began logging my prayer requests in various types of note-books. Basically, I found myself prayer-journaling before prayer-journaling came into vogue.

For many years I worked as a librarian. One day after retirement, I prayed fervently about what the Lord wanted me to do. In his own way during my quiet time, I was impressed to go into my bedroom closet. My first thought was, “Oh no God, you aren’t going to make me sit in my messy closet and pray, are you?”

As I stood in my closet, I was impressed again to, “Look up.” There stood 42-years of prayer journals on my top shelf. It was then I heard the still, small voice saying, “Patti, I want you to write prayer journals. This is what I have been preparing you for all these years.” While I have tinkered with writing articles and stories most of my adult life, I became serious at that point. My mission was to write prayer journals so others could experience joy, comfort, and security. Blessings which I’d experienced throughout my entire adult life.

Prayer Journals

My devotional prayer-journals combine Bible study and prayer. The two cannot be separated. Each journal includes black datelines, topics, and Scripture verses. As well as a suggested Bible reading, prayer request sections, and a section to honor God with your thoughts.

My prayer is for others to become serious about prayer and Bible study. I practice my writing skills on my own Christian blog Greene Pastures. While I believe “practicing” a skill is of utmost importance, I believe continuous daily practice in communicating with God is essential. That is why I am honored to have the following three journals published with WestBow Press.

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer – A 365-day devotional incorporating interesting phrases from the Bible.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer – A 181-day devotional filled with both spiritual and social issues.

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for God – a 90-day devotional prayer journal for those desiring how to have a deeper prayer life. NEW RELEASE.

– WBP –

To Order from Amazon:

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.

Other Books by Patti Greene:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. It comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.

Christian Living, Life Issues, Prayer, Testimonies

From a Mother’s Heart: Praying Christian Community into Existence

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From a Mother’s Heart: Praying Christian Community into Existence / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

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Our family lives in Houston, Texas. In the fall of 2004, our son Jimmy started his first year at Babson College. It was during this time that God impressed on my heart the absolute need for believers to dwell in union and community in Jesus Christ.

In high school Jimmy applied to many colleges, but after much prayer he made the decision to attend Babson in the Boston, Massachusetts area – which is 1,848 miles away from home.

For background, we are a middle-class family. Jimmy attended a public high school and was raised in Bible-believing churches. Our church, and church friends, were always like family to us.

Jimmy stayed his first year at Babson, but the calls and emails home were increasingly breaking this mom’s heart. That first year was tough for him; for the first time, he was competing with private school kids, prep school kids, and kids much more ingrained in education than he was. The academic standards were higher than expected.

Jimmy was unhappy, stressed, and deeply regretting his college choice. He attended a high school with 3,500 students. He was class president for four years and an outstanding athlete. However, Babson was a D-3 school and there wasn’t much pride in the sports arena compared to D-1 schools. This college was strictly an upper level business school whose attendees consisted of those who considered attending other prestigious schools, e.g. Harvard, Yale, MIT. We were all astonished this was where Jimmy was being led by God to attend. It didn’t make sense to us other than Jimmy had a deep desire to attend a school in the Northeast where he would be challenged academically.

Every day I would come home from work, and I would pray long, hard, and continuously for him. It was sad because my two older children enjoyed their college life, but this post-secondary adversity was a new experience for both my husband, Jimmy, and myself.

I prayed more than I had ever prayed for anything in my life. I prayed for him to find a church family. I prayed for Christian friends. I prayed for him to find a Bible-believing church. I prayed for him to be strong in his faith. I prayed for him to become closer to the Lord. I prayed he would read his Bible. The list could go on and on.

This mom’s heart was breaking. Tears flowed almost daily.

I had been made aware of “prayer-walking” although I had never done it in a church situation before. GotQuestions.org, an online source for answering Biblical questions, defines prayer-walking as “the practice of praying on location, a type of intercessory prayer that involves walking to or near a particular place while praying.” ¹ While unable to be on the Massachusetts campus myself, I decided to prayer walk in my own creative way.

I sat down in the chair in which I normally pray in with a map of the college campus. I “walked” around the campus in my mind, praying for what happened in each dorm. I prayed for Jimmy to meet nice people in the cafeteria and prayed for his classes. Thus, within time, I had prayed for every building on campus, including the chapel, which was mostly used for lectures, not religious events.

I seemed to dwell and pray more in and around the chapel. Of course, in my mind, the chapel represented God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit.

I continued to pray fervently and long. I prayed for any Christian church to reach out in ministry. I prayed for Christian influences to show up. I prayed for spiritual strength. I prayed for the Lord to speak to others to help. I prayed for the community people. I prayed because I love my son and I wanted him to be happy and to keep his Christian faith strong during college.

Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as CRU for Crusade) had occasional meetings on the campus. While CRU was helping to fulfill the Great Commission by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ and building them in their faith, more was needed, e.g. fellowship, Bible study, opportunities to serve.

I was reading the Bible constantly looking for verses to help him and to guide myself in what to tell him.

I was touched by Bible Verses such as:

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! (Psalm 119:28).

Redeem [him] from the oppression of men, that [he] may obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:134)

And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. (Nehemiah 4:9)

Most importantly, I prayed for students to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior. I claimed verses for these college students to have the ability to stay strong in their beliefs and to avoid evil and temptations.

Our son tried to transfer after his first year to the University of Texas where he was initially accepted, but they wanted him to do summer school first. The timing didn’t work out, and it became obvious that God had other plans. He was going back to Babson.

Long story short: in the fall of 2005, I received a phone call. Jimmy said he went to church. When I asked him where, he said, a church started on the college campus IN THE CHAPEL. When he told me it was a Christian church that believed in the Bible, I was absolutely thrilled!

Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think that a church (a CHRISTIAN church, no less) would be right on the college campus where students could just roll out of bed and be ministered to by the Lord and the community.

The vision of this church is to be a local supportive community of authentic followers of Christ who experience transformation by the grace of Jesus Christ and bring God’s love to the world. It was through their ministry that Jimmy’s attitude changed regarding being at Babson. He met fellow students who were believers – one to this day who is his best friend. He found solace and comfort in meeting Christians from the community. Being invited to meals, dinners, and functions by the members of this church boosted his faith and that of those who attended with him. He played his guitar during the church services.

Finally, after a year of zealous praying, my son and others had a spiritual community of believers that cared for them, guided them, fed them, and loved them for the next three years.

I asked Jimmy (who has been out of that scenario for 6 1/2 years) what his involvement with the church meant to him and his buddies. He said, in his business tone, “It was an excellent way for the campus students to mature in their spiritual life; to see how ‘older’ Christians lived their lives; and to see how Christian employers and businessmen act and conduct business.”

Then, the goose bumps came when I heard what God had been doing behind the scenes the entire first year I was praying. One of the founding members of the church shared with me about how their home-church contacted the chaplain at Babson to ask about the availability of their church meeting in the chapel for services. Much to their amazement, they were told that the only time the chapel was available was on Sunday morning.

What a blessing to see how the Holy Spirit was working things all together as only He can do. Only God can take the prayers of one mom in Texas and one congregation in Massachusetts to work things together for good. There was no doubt in my mind that God started the ministry on the Babson campus and there was no doubt why. He always knows the big picture and puts it all together for His glory.

College is hard enough. Having an outlet for fellowship, love, and good Bible-teaching is a true blessing and outreach. You may not ever know how much it means to these kids, but believe me, it does. I continue to see the spiritual fruits of this Christian community in Jimmy’s life. God knew his unmet spiritual needs and He chose to meet it through this church.

The fall after my son graduated from Babson, the church relocated from the college chapel to a different facility. While I was happy for the church when they moved to a new location, a part of my heart was saddened by the lack of spiritual needs that might go unmet with those college students. But, fortunately, their new location was close to the college campus!

All I can say to this wonderful church is “thank you from the bottom of my heart for being receptive to the Holy Spirit and heeding His call.” While I was praying for a local church, God was creating a “ROLL OUT OF BED CHURCH” for all those Babson students who attended. God answered above all expectations. He even knew that my son would thrive best when church was within a five-minute wake-up time to sitting in a pew.

Praying ‘community’ into existence is powerful. Not only was I impressed by the need for believers to dwell in union and in community in Jesus Christ, I experienced firsthand how prayer can spur Christian community into existence.

Bible Verses:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6).

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Prayer:

Dear Father, Thank you for being with me during the difficult and painful times of my life. With your love and power, you can change circumstances and situations. You are an awesome God. May I always trust you to know best. Help me to always realize that through our tough times we grow more in faith and love towards you. Thanks you again. I love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God Bless,

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive

Testimony given with permission from Jimmy.

Houdmann, S. Michael. Got Questions. GotQuestions.org. Accessed 27 Oct 2016.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

Edited by E. Johnson

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Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

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Christian Living, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, Prayer, Testimonies

Divine Encounters

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Divine Encounters

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Divine encounters come and go. Sometimes we act on them; other times we allow them to pass us by without even giving them a second thought. God places people in our lives with His purposes in mind. It is through people we encounter the opportunities to see God orchestrating our circumstances. A divine encounter might be a majestic incredible moment or it might just be a simple everyday activity like opening the door for someone or giving them your seat on the bus. No matter what, each time we are obedient to his appointments we are opening ourselves up to more appointments. In Mark 4:24 Jesus states, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” The more we take advantage of small opportunities to be used by God, the more He will entrust to us. It works similar to credit cards. The more you pay your bills on time, the more credit you might be able to get. If you don’t pay your bills on time, there is less chance for a larger credit limit.

A divine encounter might be a majestic incredible moment or it might just be a simple everyday activity like opening the door for someone or giving them your seat on the bus.
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Using a Biblical example, let’s look at an incident in David’s life where one ‘unnamed man’ was placed in David’s life for a specific purpose. In 1 Samuel 30, the Philistines rejected David. David’s wives were captured by the Amalekites. Great distress filled David because the people spoke of stoning him, but God miraculously strengthened his soul. David asked God if he should pursue the Amalekites, and God answered, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” While the Amalekites were dancing and drinking because of the great spoil they just received from the Philistines, David took 400 men to defeat the Amalekites.  In a “divine encounter,” David’s men found “an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David.” David asked him where he was from and he replied, “I am a young man of Egypt, a servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.” In God’s orchestration, this one man led David to the “rejoicing men” and David’s band of men struck them down! David rescued his wives and his men regained all their losses. God took this one sick man whose master let him stay behind to be the instrument for David’s men to defeat the Amalekites. Some may say this happened by chance, but I believe it was a divine encounter.

Yesterday, I was in a FedEx store for the sole purpose for FedEx to cut the spines off two books and hole-punch the rough draft of a new book I am writing. When the clerk brought out my completed work order, a woman who was standing at the counter next to me, saw the covers on my books and commented on how pretty they were. She noticed that they were Christian books, so she probably felt comfortable asking me if I had a smartphone figuring I might be a nice person. This lady had just stopped by the Fed-Ex store to ask for directions to the Attorney General’s Child Support Building. She had been driving around for 2 hours trying to locate it without success. I assumed she wanted me to find out the location of the office was with my phone. So, after I paid for my order, we moved over to an unoccupied counter and I looked up the directions for her. We introduced ourselves and I proceeded to call the Child Support Office. While being on hold listening to the Child Support Office’s recording requesting me to push Number 1 for this; Number 2 for this; Number 3 for this, and more, Terri was sharing about all her family problems — moving to Texas, her son, and other miscellaneous concerns. I really couldn’t concentrate on all she was saying between being on the telephone and trying to listen to her. But here was a perfect stranger sharing her life with another perfect stranger in a FedEx store. As I was helping her find directions, I knew this was a divine encounter. I gave Terri detailed instructions on how to get to her destinations, which she really needed as the major street she needed to go down was closed, due to Houston’s torrential floods in April 2016. I gave her my Greene Pastures business card and asked her to call me to let me know she arrived at the Child Support office. I haven’t heard from her, but she does have my number.

The point is that God orchestrates even little encounters (some call them divine appointments) in our lives.  We may or may not even know why these encounters occur, but God does.

  • What are the chances I’d be ministering to a lady who happened to be in a FedEx store just looking for directions?
  • What are the chances I knew that the exact route she needed to take had been flooded and was closed? [Remember, this is Houston, Texas with a population of 4.5 million people.]
  • What are the chances that I had been to the building she was looking for a few years ago with a friend?

I will not look upon this simple chance meeting as a random meeting. It was a God-orchestrated event to fulfill His purpose.

  • I could have ignored her at the counter.
  • I could have cut the conversation short and gone on my way!
  • I could not have cared.
  • I could have missed the opportunity to pray for this lady.

Only God knows the purpose. Maybe she just needed to know someone cares, maybe she just needed directions, maybe she just needed to know there are some good people in life, or maybe it was just that we were supposed to exchange pleasantries. I would love to know what her thoughts were about our encounter, but I probably won’t ever know. But, that’s okay. I know God was guiding me to be nice to this woman. God can use one person or a multitude of people to create divine appointments. To use an everyday cliché, we may be the only Jesus someone sees. And visa versa, they might be the Jesus we need to see.

I decided to look over my prayer requests over the past week. They included:

  • Show me what is missing in my ministry;
  • Lord, let me stop and smell the roses; and
  • Give me creativity in my next blog.

Through this encounter at FedEx, all of these requests were answered — In His time and in His way.

Have you had a divine encounter you would like to share? If not, I trust you will keep your eyes open for your upcoming “FedEx” experience!

Bible Verses:

Be prepared for divine encounters.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am about to come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people will hear me talking with you so that they will always trust you.” Moses told the Lord what the people said, and the Lord said to Moses: “Go to the people and take today and tomorrow to make them holy. Have them wash their clothes. Be ready for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai for all the people to see.” Exodus 19:9-11

Divine encounters can change your life.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:1-5 ESV

Prayer:

Oh Heavenly Father, thank you for being in my life. Thank you ahead of time for the divine appointments you have already planned for me to encounter. I pray that my eyes will recognize how you desire to work in my life. Use me Lord. I love you so much. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God Bless.

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It’s an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! And, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

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To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment in this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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