A couple weeks ago our church did a VBS camp with 550 kids and over 200 volunteers–amazing!!! It challeneged me to be thinking about seeing God in the ordinary. Because I’m caring for my mom at this time of my life, I wasn’t able to serve, but I was so blessed on Sunday when I got to see the wall where kids could put up a note and share a “God sighting” that happened during the week. This one really touched my heart . . .
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Table of Contents
We take so much for granted
Our pastor read a few of the notes that kids had put up on the wall. One that really touched my heart was from a child that said something like, “I saw God when my family got to come to America.” Wow. I was struck by how many blessings and answered prayers that I miss on a daily basis–how much I take for granted where God is present, active and providing.
Seeing the world through the eyes of a child
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Children have a way of helping us get back to basics; to center ourselves and open our eyes to the simple. Having your family move from an impovershed country and have the ability to make a new life in America is no simple thing. But, to recognize that God moved them and provided that opportunity, is pretty amazing for a young child. That’s a God sighting!
Do we see God in the ordinary?
You’re going to work and a car crosses over the center line. A moment of panic sets in and rapid thoughts of tactical maneuvers you’re going to have to make to survive flash through your mind. But then the oncoming car jerks back into their lane and crisis is averted. Whew. Do you recognize God’s provision and protection? I would say you probably would in that situation, but how about some of the things in the course of a seemingly ordinary and mundane day of the week? Blessings that we take for granted. His provision in the day-to-day is still His provision.
- You wake up and take a first breath
- Your dog wags his tail and looks up at you with those adorable puppy eyes?
- A friend offers to buy you lunch
- Your car starts up with no problem and enables you to get from point A to point B without any trouble
- Free wifi š
- A piping hot cup of coffee with hazelnut creamer (yum!)
Looking and listening
I’m a visual learner. How about you? Do you notice what’s around you? God sightings are really cool when they’re visual. At any time of year nature is just a doorway away and displays so much of the Lord’s creativity. I’ve been wheeling mom outside and sitting on the porch which is surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers. The birds provide a soothing, yet lively backdrop of song that is so restorative. Do you ever just go outside and sit for hours without the intention to do anything else? I haven’t done much of that since I was a kid growing up in the country. But I’ve been forced to slow down and that’s been one benefit of sticking by mom during hard times. The switch has been flicked on and I’m seeing, hearing and listening to God with my heart tuned to worship. Another God sighting. Could you try this on your lunch hour or in the evening after dinner? There’s something about it that revives the heart and uplifts your spirit.
Helps are all around
Your arms are full–lunch box, backpack, purse, laundry bag, water bottle (that’s me heading in to see mom), and some kind person opens the door as you walk through just in the knick of time. It’s like a little hug from God–another sighting.
Surrounded by handicapped people in a facility, it’s pretty easy to be overwhelmed by the needs around you. It’s pretty heartbreaking š But, if the Lord prompts you to do even a simple thing to help someone, it can speak volumes of love pouring forth from His heart to the person in need. I had that happen the other day when a gentleman in a motorized wheelchair was telling me that he needed to get a few things from the store. I asked where the store was and how he would get there and found that it was a mile away on the busy highway. He was planning on driving his wheelchair on the street. So I offered to go to the store for him. His face lit up like I’d just given him a million dollars! He zipped inside to make a list and came back a while later with his list in hand and was so excited to have someone help him. I got to be part of a God sighting for Him that also blessed me. We either receive or give “helps” from above each and every day. More God sightings.
Answered prayer
Is your prayer list huge like mine? How often do you go back and review those prayers from days or weeks ago and marvel at the answers? God works things out in His perfect timing, so sometimes we wait. Sometimes He says no. At times He blows our minds with how He answers in a way that we hadn’t even thought of and it’s soooo much better! So many God sightings!
Keeping track of God sightings builds faith/brings peace
You can probably see where I’m going with this. Seeing God in the ordinary is not so ordinary after all. His protection, provision and care of His own is so precious and poured out in abundance on us every. single. day. Let’s not miss it! Let’s take time every day to recount where we see Him working in the ordinary.
Free printable resource to help
I can’t let you go without offering you a free resource as a faith builder, so here ya go, friend. Here’s a little template to print out or fill in and keep track of what’s going on around you, in you and through you. If you reflect on just a few things for a week, you’ll be blessed and amazed at how much God loves and cares for you. Enough to open your eyes to see Him showing up BIG in the small things of life!
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