GOD SHOWS UP AGAIN TO REVEAL HIS PRESENCE WITH US (HUGE SMILE)

This is another one of my God winks, where everything lines ENORMOUSLY TOO PERFECT to be considered an ordinary coincidence. This one started yesterday morning in a conversation with a friend about her marriage. I kept telling her that she had to set the tone for the house, being her most loving self, going the extra mile, and staying on the high road with God, no matter what her husband was doing. Then, by her showing up with that spirit, her husband would be motivated to change. She should do her best and leave the rest with God because nothing was too difficult for Him. No matter how terrible the situation may seem, she should keep giving her best for God.

Fast forward about an hour later, I randomly opened my meditation book of Bible verses, and God confirmed what I said when this was the very first verse that I opened DIRECTLY to:

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. – 1 Peter 3:1

I immediately sent a pic to my friend and called her. But she freaked me out when she told me that she had just read the same thing five minutes before. I told her I didn’t believe her and that she should send me a picture of what she had read. She sent this:

“If matters of conscience come up, an unbelieving husband is more likely to respect his wife’s position if it is presented with a “mild temper and deep respect.” Some unbelieving husbands have been won through the conduct of their wives (Wink! Wink!), because of having been eyewitnesses of (their) chaste conduct together with deep respect.” — 1 Peter 3:1” – The Happy Family

Wow! The love of God in action! See how He is so deeply and personally involved in our lives! How could this be some mere coincidence? For me to open this book of over 300 pages of Bible verses and read THAT specific one first, then to call my friend back saying this is God’s marching orders to us, for her to tell me in an entirely different book this same message from 1 Peter 3:1 showed up only 5 minutes before, was completely and totally orchestrated by God to make us ALL aware of His invisible Presence with us. It brought such great comfort to my friend, letting her know that God was there with her helping her to fight and stay strong for her family.

And that’s the love and connection I want the world to feel, knowing that there is never one moment when God is not with us. In every thought we think, every conversation we have, everything we do, and everywhere we go, God is there standing with us. That’s what gives me the courage to keep going no matter the challenging situations I come up against with the mentality of “if my God is with me, who can be against me?” And having that bravery and strength to joyfully tackle my life, walking by FAITH and not by sight.

Like I told my friend, nothing is too difficult for God! It’s just for us to keep moving forward, holding onto His hands as tightly as possible, asking Him on a moment-by-moment basis what He would have us to do. Sometimes that means walking with great pain, but we do it as a sacrifice for God (handing the hurts and disappointments over to Him and keep going!), who is doing so much for us that we can’t even begin to count, hiding the pain behind a big smile. (Wink! Wink!)

Life is not only about our happiness; it’s learning to think of others and continually asking God to help us do His will, not our own. We can then respond to disappoints with love, forgiveness, hope, optimism, mercy, courage, and purpose to spread more goodness in the world. I promise you; this is how God lovingly guides us on the best paths. Not always pretty, but always worth it!

I loved a conversation with my brother, Kevin, yesterday, who said life is like you’re flying a plane. Sometimes you get to land on a nicely paved landing strip, and sometimes you have to land in some messy bushes, but wherever you land, you must keep recalibrating and figuring out how to GET UP AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

And once you know that God is there with you, wherever you land with whatever the challenges, you hold on to Him for guidance and direction on a moment-by-moment basis, asking what He would have you to do (or not do), where He would have you to go (or not go), and what He would have you to say (or not say) following His voice with you! WE FACE NOTHING ALONE; GOD HIMSELF IS WITH US! It’s a practice of learning to go to God in every move you make! KK? “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27 God, may the entire world learn Your voice and direction for our lives. Amen!