Some of you know the story of how RuthAnn and I met. It is one of those modern-day tales that seem very unlikely for two widowed people who were neither looking for or seeking a spouse or partner. In many ways that is what makes the story even more of a ‘faith moment’ because we both believe it was God’s plan for us that we would have never imagined for ourselves.
In the year and a half since Dianne had passed away my earlier faith crisis had faded to be replaced with a busy Christian life. Along with the Prayer Meeting Ministry I was led to by our young assistant pastor, I was now leader of several other ministries, Youth Sabbath School, Fellowship Meal, weekly Soup Kitchen and was a member of the prayer committee. I had also become involved in a recovery ministry at our sister church in Cave Junction, Oregon and was about to start the same 13-week program at the Grants Pass, Oregon church. I was busy and most would say too busy.
I still was working full time on a job that kept me going from 5:00AM in the morning until about 12 hours later. I had left myself very little time to be worried about my own walk with the Lord. Yes, I did my devotions every morning and never missed a day of being in God’s Word for at least 45 minutes or an hour, but those time always seemed so rushed. Also, my job had begun to be a problem. I had been hired before I accepted Jesus as my all and all. I had a reputation of a guy willing to do anything to make money for the company. Lie, steal and certainly use anger and even violence to get the job done. But the Lord had changed me.
This had caused conflicts with the new management team. They wanted the ‘old’ John they had heard of back. I knew I needed to decide about my career. This, my busy ministry life and other things I will write in a future blog were all on my mind in May of 2016.
Around that time a well-known minister lost his wife to cancer and I wrote a note to him on Facebook. Just a comment on one of his posts to assure him the Lord could and would comfort and strengthen him. I felt his pain but once I wrote it, I thought very little of it again. Little did I know that it would be that comment that would spark the interest of a schoolteacher, who lived a country away, in the state of Georgia.
The story, as RuthAnn tells it goes like this. She too had lost her spouse in 2014 and was a ‘friend’ of this minister on Facebook. While she was perusing his post, the comment I wrote interested her enough to do something she never did, go to the page of a person she did not know and see who he was. And by another ‘coincidence’ when she did, she noticed I had posted pictures of an artichoke plant which had bloomed and was about to produce several yummy artichokes. She had a plant that was not doing so well and decided she needed to ask me my advice. In the process she sent me a friend request, something also that she never did, especially to a stranger.
For my part, I had only been on Facebook since my wife had passed away and had only joined so I could stay in better contact with my kids. I had posted the ‘artichoke pictures’ to tease my green thumbed friends. Most of them knew it was Dianne who was the gardener and not me. The artichoke plant had survived more than had been nurtured. So, when I received this woman’s friend request, I was suspicious. I had gotten friend requests from strangers before but normally declined them. But this one seemed genuine and without much of a thought I accepted. And even though we did not know it at the time the Lord had just directed RuthAnn and me to a moment of faith.
That is the amazing thing about how God works in our lives. Sometimes his leading is so subtle that we do not even see his hand gently directing us. Allowing us to make ‘free will’ decision. Oh, yeah, I could have just as easily declined that friend request. But looking back at it I know there was a ‘rightness’ in accepting it. There was a peace and a lack of suspicion that I had so many times before. These moments are a fulfillment in what God promises, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) I was sure I had the rest of my life planned out but was God who sought to establish my next step. It is he who opens new paths that we can choose and in that moment of accepting RuthAnn’s friend request, I chose to open a new door and so did she.
There are more moments of faith that happened in the sequent months and I will venture to share a few of them in following blogs but I want to leave you all with the thought today that maybe you are not aware of or take for granted. God really works in every aspect of our lives. If we are willing and are bold enough, he will lead us. Here is a favorite verse of mine that reminds me of what is available to us daily, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) This promise is shown in our moments of faith. Look for his working in your life today, it is amazing!
Blessings
John
6/26/19
