Peterson's section on signs reminded me of the variety of incidents we call God glimpses or God-sightings, or, as one NPWL Board member called them, Godincidences. (I think there's a fun sermon title!)
Anyway, I love these. I'm not all that good at seeing them in the moment, but my kids are leading me there. They have such a sense of wonder I'm trying to learn from. They assume these events are of God, when I tend to look for the scientific explanation - as if God can't work with and through science. So, part of the challenge is awareness.
Part is also the ordinariness of the signs. I like that Gene says "submit to and receive Jesus whenever and wherever" (p. 99). It gives the sense of the always-present-God a new image for me.
Anyone got a Godincidence to share?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Thanks for your question, Tracie! I have been having a hard time with wonder lately, and I think it's because God seems to be so silent in regard to our future. As we wait, week after week, for ANY word from graduate schools that Phil has applied to, it's getting discouraging. I long for a "Godincidence", but they seem few and far between these days.
I remember when I took the leap of faith to go out to CA to attend Fuller. I had a car load of my stuff but no furniture. The place where I was living was tiny, and I wanted to find a bunk bed that had a futon underneath to save space. The ones I saw in stores were too expensive. One day, I was driving past a thrift store that had furniture and I decided to stop. Looking around, I found a bookshelf/desk that would fit perfectly. I noticed a stack of metal and asked what that was. The clerk said it was the frame for one of those bunk beds with a futon underneath, and it was $50. I couldn't believe it! To me, it was such a "God-moment" because I knew God was providing for my needs in a specific way. I keep the receipt from that store as an "Ebenezer" to remind of God's faithfulness.
Okay, I know I asked YOU for your God-moments, but when you start looking, you see 'em!
I was outside today in the first sunshine of the Spring in PA, and Madelen was trying to learn how to roller blade. She was barely moving, but spent the entire 45 minutes concentrating hard, and repeating, "step, glide ... step, glide ..."
As I watched her move no more than 2-4 inches at a "step, glide" I suddenly thought of the church, and all those enthusiastic folks moving at what many pastors see as a snail's pace, happily saying to themselves "step, glide" as they think they are rolling along.
The vision gave my eager heart a little space to slow it down and wait a bit more for my congregation to get moving.
Post a Comment