Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Unmerited, Undeserved Favor

I've shared a story, "He Owns the Cattle on a Thousand Hills,' not too long ago. It is an article about how I had prayed for a leather couch set for my home and how the Lord provided it. Sounds simple, and actually it is rather simple for God, who owns everything, to give away a leather couch set, but for me it was much more complex.

The God of the universe heard my prayer. My silly, little prayer for a couch set for my family. I prayed and then surrendered the thought because I even realized how absurd my prayer was when their are missionaries, the lost, and the dying around the world who need God's hope.

I let it go...
I moved on...
I didn't pray for the leather seats again.
Two days later the Lord spoke to my heart. "Today you'll find your couches." I still cry thinking about it. Why me? Why does He love me? I've never known such love before knowing my God.

Fast forward to this summer. My daughters are getting bigger and their room seems to be getting smaller. The girls and I realized that we needed to do some purging, but when all was said and done, still the room was small. Then I had an epiphany! Why not get rid of the two dressers in the room and somehow get one large, tall dresser for them to share. My girls loved the idea. I told them to begin to pray.

Monday morning my daughter said, "Mom, today is the day." We drove just a few blocks and sitting there waiting for us was the dresser.


I cried.
What else does one do when the Lord Himself presents you with an answer to prayer? How else do you respond to the awe and amazement to such a loving God?

With much excitement, squeals and bubbling over of emotions, we got to work. Cleaning out drawers, purging more clothes, cleaning the new drawers and setting up the girls room. My daughters and I are still in shock and one of my boys each day has commented on how much God loves us. BUT if that wasn't enough love from God, He decided to go even further.

Two days later, after the house was settling down, I realized that some of the drawers looked a bit empty. The girls have grown, and we have given away the clothes that were too small, but there was not much left for them to wear! Shopping day was upon us. I told the children that we could only get a few things each. Our first stop was to our local thrift store. We walked around the store and found some great deals.

We stood in a long line of customers, and as my turn in line came up, I gathered my items and put them on the counter. The cashier, with tears in her eyes, looked at me and tried to hand me money. I  was so confused. I explained that it wasn't my money, but still she reached over the counter and tried to place it in my hands. I tried to refuse again, but she said, "The gentleman before you in line told me to tell you that he wants to pay for your things today." The children and I looked up and around and could not find him. I looked out to the parking lot and there was no one there. I looked back at the cashier and began to cry. She smiled and just began to ring up my items. The children were bouncing up and down, and yet all I could do was cry. Tears streamed from my eyes.

"Why, Lord, do you love me so?"

When the total came, a lady who was in an aisle looking for clothes for herself, came up and handed the cashier a coupon for 25% off my total bill of sale. I didn't ask her. I hadn't even noticed her before she came up to us. Then, I saw the red digital amount come up on the screen of the cash register and it was the exact amount of money the man gave to me...

What do you do when the God of the universe pours out His love on you?
I'll tell you...
You tell the world about Him.
It has nothing to do with me. It's not my prayers. It's not a strong faith. It's simply my God, my Father, who adores His daughter. He loves me for no other reason, than the fact that I am His and He wants to bless me.
HE is Good!
He is Love!
HE is my Daddy! and I love Him so! 

No comments:

Post a Comment