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The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3
I am wrapping up working with a client.
She smiles and reminds me I need to go buy a lottery ticket.
I smile back, counting out her last repetitions on the leg machine.
She looks at me stern, and points, as if she knows I won’t do it.
She knows I don’t believe.
In Lottery ticket dreams.
She smirks, one last emphasis to convince me.
Just one ticket. She looks hard at me as if it is her lot in life
is to convince me to buy this one ticket.
It’s some ridiculously large jackpot enticing many to spend their
hard earned wages on shifting sand and winged cash that can’t save.
But it can buy a few things.
It can pay a few bills.
It can lead you on a path straight to hell if you let it.
The love of it, anyway.
Ironically this woman does not need to win the lottery,
she can afford to see me three times a week.
Regularly.
I find myself standing, awkward asking for a lottery ticket.
Everyone around me is pushing and shoving and it’s called a
convenience store but people seem really inconvenienced in demeanor.
They are not amused with the girl who has never bought a lottery ticket before.
They readily fork over cash on a multitude of numbers and tickets and all of a sudden it seems so dirty around me. I want to run from the place. I take my ticket and shrug off the line of hurried people.
I look at the ticket. Then I look at the sky.
It is a beautiful afternoon.
My break from the gym with blaring music and dungeon clanking sound leads my
by a river. I sometimes sit in this spot for lunch or just to grab some QT.
I sit down on the grass, cross legged, looking at the ticket feeling foolish,
heart in hand, pleading within my soul to the God who hears my silent whispers.
I am feeling weepy and realize that God’s ways and man’s ways are not the same.
I realize His love is enough.
I feel small.
I am wrapped up in my inner world of thoughts when I realize I am hearing music.
I look up.
Across the river stands a man playing an acoustic guitar.
I am fascinated.
He is singing and looking across the river at me as
he plays the guitar singing these words.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Over and over he sings the words and I am captivated.
Tears of joy stream down my face.
I am feeling that God is so close to me that
I am certain my heart will burst from the fullness of it.
I want to thank the man for this encouraging message and reminder.
I decide to circle the gristmill which stands between us so I can meet him to thank him
for the God message.
It takes me a couple of minutes.
As the place he was standing comes into my view, I see he is not there.
Gone.
Without a trace.
This happened to me many years ago friends.
I was a fairly new Christian.
God was wooing me with His faithfulness and he did not
want me distracted by things that would make me stumble,
or draw me away from Him.
I have heard many stories of God using strangers to speak love
and truth into the lives of His people.
Amazing and true!
God uses family and friends but also strangers.
God sometimes chooses a stranger as a Faith Life Preserver!
Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2
Have you ever been ministered to by a stranger?
Have you ever been a stranger that God used to touch another?
31 Days of Faith Life Preservers
October 1-31, 2012
31 Days of Faith Life Preservers
October 1-31, 2012
See all other Faith Life Preserver Posts HERE.
Check out all of the other
31 Day Topics and Bloggers HERE.
Linking with Jen @ Finding Heaven
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Enthusiastically, Dawn 
Oh my goodness, this is so wonderful! I can see you and hear the strummer. I love those moments!
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Gave me chills Dawn…God is so good to woo us away from what can harm us as He pulls us toward His love. Thanks for the post 🙂
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What a beautiful gift from Him to you, my dear!!!
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Oh my goodness that gave me goosebumps!! I have had many instances when God has used strangers in my life and I just love it!
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What a beautiful encounter this must have been. Gave me goosebumps! Thank you for sharing.
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