So just last night a very good friend of ours from NCU was on my heart as our family :) (I love saying that!) was on our way to bible study. If you've been around me long enough you'll hear me say or I'll text you that "you've been on my heart" It means expect a text or call from me because there's a reason. Often times it's when someones hurting, or discouraged, lonely or just needing someone to talk to. As a number of our dear friends/family have experienced I get restless if I don't respond to that urge. But this is why I mentioned grace because last night I dropped the ball.
So as we were driving by NCU I had her on my heart but didn't tell Zechariah. And we went to our bible study. Unbeknownst to me there was spiritual warfare happening because as soon as I felt this thoughts came like oh she's probably in class, she might not want to go, she might feel awkward. Now I can say it was most definitely Satan because at about 2 am we received a text from this friend asking for prayer from receiving night terrors.
Now I'm not saying if I invited her to bible study that would have prevented night terrors but what I'm getting at is if someones "on your heart" there's a reason. If we look around us we'll see a mission field right in our backyards! People all over have all kinds of needs. One thing for sure is when a need is to be met there's a reason. I had no idea why my friend was on my heart I just felt led to ask her to join us last night. Here's what I love about Jesus Christ and the free gift he gave us, grace!
Grace to make mistakes, grace to "drop the ball" grace to act out of emotions, grace to not act, no matter what I do Jesus' love does the rest. His work on the cross covers up my messes! He paid for my disobedience, defiance, and reliance. I would be racking my brain with thoughts such as oh wow how could you do that? You knew she needed something and you didn't respond what kind of a Christian are you really? once again I recognize the origin of these thoughts, the address is Hell. The enemy loves to destroy what God has built. If God really is in the business of building relationships then Satan is in the business of destroying them.
Picture a block tower kids play with, (I think about toys a lot more as a mom) I picture God building this beautiful tower and then Satan just comes and knocks it down. God just goes ahead and builds it again, this scenario is repeated over and over. How long does a child stay at that block tower before going to play with something else? The beautiful reality of this picture is that God never leaves our block tower! No matter how many times Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy God keeps on rebuilding and rebuilding our lives!
Another experience that I want to share is with my mom-in-law. Since Christmas I've had a not so great attitude towards her. So finally yesterday I called her and told her what I needed to months earlier. That conversation was beautiful and full of grace. That part of my block tower God sustains. My mom-in-law and I shared an experience earlier in our relationship that I will never forget. She came with me to my court case the last day I saw my dad. No matter how crazy things get between us I will never ever forget that! She barely knew me opened her home and arms to pretty much a complete stray cat off the street and supported me through the most difficult time of my life.
The summer of 2012 I thought my block tower was being trampled to the ground. But after August 2012 God was in the business of building it and he has been ever since! I'm sharing my testimony at church next Sunday both services, (prayers most definitely appreciated) and in it I say God changed the landscape of my life. He really really did. I'm now married, a mother, a daughter, a youth leader, ministry member, and friend. Originally when I started this post I didn't intend to go this direction but the way I see it the best storyteller is God!
We don't know what having someone on our heart may do. What I know now is that what I've always believed there's always a reason for everything makes so much more sense to me. What we see as small, inconvenient, boring, crazy God sees as beautiful. I picture him looking at a flower that's the prettiest shade of pink and white in the middle and he's smiling at it. Then I picture him staring at a dandelion and smiling just the same. God doesn't see things the way we see them. I'm so thankful for that! My encouragement to you in this is the next time you have someone "on your heart" are thinking about, wanting to call/text just go for it you never know what that small act could prevent or do! I'm so glad to know a God in the business of building relationships and the block towers of our lives!
Love you with all my heart
Tina Martina Putney