MORE ABOUT SPECIFICS: PART II
After I dropped my daughter off for prom, I was heading back to Publix to look for a lime green plastic table cloth and yellow flowers or something. For Faith’s birthday, we were not doing any major decorating, but we were having a Toy Story theme. I planned on using her Woody doll that she got for Christmas as some type of center piece. I also got a Toy Story balloon. On top of that she wanted lime green and yellow streamers and stuff. As I was headed in that direction the Holy Spirit spoke and said, “Go to Kroger.”
I thought, “Kroger? Why Kroger? It’s further and it’s still torrential down pours out here…..” I knew He wouldn’t respond. He had already spoken, and based on the boutonniere incident, I decided I better go to Kroger.
I said, “Okay, Holy Spirit, here we are.” I headed towards the paper supplies/party section looking for a lime green plastic table cloth. There was none. Then the Holy Spirit said, “Go over there.” So, I went over there…. It was the other side of the store, next to the bread isle. Right behind the balloon and floral area there was a small section of little gift books. On the bottom shelf there was one lime green Toy Story (with Woody all over the edges) plastic table cloth. “No way!” I said out loud. The lady next to me thought I was kind of odd, but that’s okay. I was so excited!
There was also a small pack of Woody napkins. I picked those up to. I said, “Okay, Holy Spirit, now we need something bright yellow for the center of the table….” I turned around and there before me was a large bouquet of bright yellow sunflowers! They were only $4.44! Everything else was 12.99 and up.
“Yes!” I said. That lady turned to look at me thinking, “Whatever she’s having, I want.” Well, I don’t know what she was thinking; I just know she kept looking at me.
“Bye,” I said. I waved to her as I practically skipped to the check-out counter.
I was so excited to decorate. I made myself a salad and poured myself a glass of milk and I talked to God about how amazing He is. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I had been praying that my life be an ongoing conversation with Him. I was asking Him to help me not miss a word He says to me. What made me laugh a little is that I thought that meant that I would hear what He was saying about all the things I had prayed about. I never considered the fact (and I know that sounds completely narcissistic on my part) that He would be speaking about such seemingly, insignificant details of everyday life.
I was reminded about the specificity of God, and how He cares about every little detail of our lives. He knows the exact number of hairs on our heads. Since He cares so much about, a red Honda Civic, a boutonniere, and a Toy Story Woody table cloth, and even yellow sunflowers – how much more does He care for the widow, the orphan, the neglected, the abused, the addicted, the broken, the lost, the sick, the angry, the hurt, the mom, the child, the husband, the father, the grandmother, and on and on and on!
My faith soared to amazing heights that day. May we never forget how God is speaking at all times about all things. May our hearts be receptive to His voice.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House http://seymourkristina.wix.
Originally published Tuesday, 24 May 2016.
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