Ok...so obviously I am a Christian and I believe that God is real. But if I am honest, sometimes I let myself grow numb to the fact that He is REALLY REAL...and more than that, He is a REALLY BIG DEAL. Over the past couple of months I have had three of those moments when you just sit back and go, "Wow. Lord...You're real."One was in September. A couple of years back I went through an amazing program called DownLine Ministries. They are gracious enough to allow past students the privilege to come and sit in on any of their current classes, so when I heard that Tom Nelson was coming back to teach on Daniel, I jumped at the chance. If you have not studied or listened to someone break down all the end times prophesy in Daniel, you are seriously missing out on some of the most jaw dropping stuff out there. I sat and listened, astounded that much of what was prophesied in the book has already come to pass. So much of it added up in such an unmistakable way. It was like a math problem that your teacher solves so easily...and then backs up to show you how she came to that conclusion. After the huge equation and formula is spelled out on the board you realize how perfectly all of it fits together. The Bible shows us the Answer, and if you study it, you get the pleasure of starting to see a wonderfully complex formula come into focus. Just hearing about what the final pieces to the puzzle are and the fact that one day Jesus in all His splendor and majesty will come back in a spectacular way, and our God will have some divine business to take care of....it all just made the hair stand up all over my body. This is not just the God that I speak to daily, the God I complain about work to, or laugh with or thank before I enjoy a latte....this is the Creator of the Universe! The King of Kings...the Alpha and the Omega! This is GOD. Wow.
Then a few days ago I decided to re-watch a documentary called The Star of Bethlehem. It is an absolutely fascinating film about an ordinary man who had his interest peaked by God to dig into the mystery of the North Star. He was a lawyer who had no prior interest in astronomy but could not stop reading and digging to find out as much as he could about this star. Could a star really guide people to a destination...how could a star just move and then stop over a city? Well, through much study and the modern conveniences of amazing software which allows you to see the constellations on any given day, he unraveled another part of God's intricate story. He saw scripture come alive in the sky. So much of which pointed to Jesus and His coming and even His death on the cross. It was FASCINATING. Please watch it, I could never do it justice by explaining it. But again, I sat there with my jaw on my lap....thinking, Oh my goodness...this God...Our God....is FOR REAL. He tells the stars what their places are, calling them out like actors in a magical play. He threw the universe into motion and all of His creation points to, and tells the story of His Son.. and His redemptive plan for us. Wow. How can we deny this?
And then, on a much smaller scale...but huge for me, was yesterday morning. I woke up at 6:45ish, and tried not move. You see, my dog Lola has this supernatural ability to be able to tell the exact moment when I have woken up, without me even moving or opening my eyes. But of course she knew I was awake and began pouting until I was annoyed enough to get up and take her out. We stepped out and I saw hundreds of birds flying over head. {I have come to the hypothesis that God created birds specifically to praise Him. Have you ever watched them? Especially at the dawning of a new day. They sing, and swoosh, and dip, and float, and play.....they are just so joyful. I really think they are praising Him.} But anywhoo...I digress. I took her out and she actually did her business in record time which was awesome because it had to have been the coldest morning in a very long time here....probably about 27 degrees. {that's arctic-like for Memphis} So we headed back to the door and I reached into my pocket for my keys.....nothing. Oh no!!! I couldn't believe it! I'd locked us out! I thought...there is no way Austin will wake up and figure out we're gone. I usually come back in and get on the couch with Lola to sleep some more, so surely he would think that's where I was. Then I thought about the first and last time I was locked out...Austin and I both...with Lola, and we ended up outside for 3 hours in the rain. We live in a condo, with a gated parking lot. So if you don't have your key card to get back in the building, and you don't have your gate opener to get out of the parking lot so that you can go up front to the call box....and you don't have a phone....you are out of luck. Your only hope is that someone will come out so that you can get in. So for a quick sec I panicked. I thought that maybe Lola and I wouldn't make it...it was freezing! Then I thought of how ridiculous that thought was and almost laughed at myself for thinking that I could die from a few hours of being cold. Then my eyes got watery and I almost began to cry knowing that it could be hours before anyone would be up and out on their way. Then I prayed. I said, "God, please...please...I know you can do all things....please let someone come out for something." Instantly I had a strange peace...as if The Holy Spirit had whispered in my spirit..."It's going to be ok." After spending about 5 minutes checking all the doors and realizing they were all locked, I began to pray again...and instantly a car pulled up front. I could see it through the window. And a wonderful girl whom I've never seen before, saw me knocking on the window and came to let us in. She looked like she was in a rush.. I think she must have just come by to pick something up from a friend....at 7:00 in the morning on a Sunday!!! I was soooo grateful!
God...the God of the past and of the present and the future, the God of the universe....GOD.....saw me in my parking lot, cold and on the verge of tears.....and cared. He, in all His majesty, Who is sitting on His heavenly throne...with angels praising and worshipping Him nonstop....answered my teeny, tiny prayer of hope and faith. He let me in from the cold....and at the same time thawed this heart of mine that tends to get numb and cold to the glorious recognition of His REALNESS. He is real my friends! And HE sees YOU. He loves YOU. Can there be anything better? Take comfort in that fact, and at the same time have some holy fear and reverence.
Oh Lord, let us never take for granted the extraordinary privilege it is for us....us teeny, tiny ones....to know YOU...The LORD of ALL.
LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. - Psalm 8:1-5
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