EXTRAORDINARY HIDDEN IN THE ORDINARY
When we take a step back to look through the ordinary we can witness the EXTRAORDINARY goodness of God. In the last few weeks this has completely transformed my train of thought. That God Himself would so intricately form every detail of my life. Through really tough stuff to awesome AMAZING things. From being abused as a child and walking alongside my best friend in the biggest loss of her life to do the World Race and launching in to this life of ministry. A few years back I was laying in bed with my mom in Thailand joking around and thanking her for raising me in the lower middle class with all of our hardships because she was "teaching me how to be a really good missionary". Looking back this had nothing to do with my mom and everything to do with how the Lord used different lenses to transform the way I looked on my hardships. I have to stop there or I'll go in to a completely different blog subject.
If you don't know my story then let me fill you in on one main event that flipped the course of my life. In 2011, I received a concussion that lasted nearly a year with some issues still sticking around. I would love to say that this concussion was the worst thing that could've happened to my brain and body- at the time it sure felt like it. However this is a post about the goodness that came from said concussion. In 2015, post my journey around the world the company who's product had essentially caused my brain injury reached out to settle with me. This was an unexpected blessing as the financial side of this had never crossed my mind. Here's where I saw God transform my ordinary moment in to a domino effect of extraordinary goodness. This settlement check came just in time for my car to break down beyond reasonable repair. This check that came from the most physically painful two years allowed me to buy a car. I went in to it knowing I needed to buy a mom car complete with that third row seating. This car was a car that everyone questioned. However, there was this overwhelming sense that there would always be children in my car. I clung to this conviction the whole time I car shopped.
Looking back on the time I've spent with my car I feel extremely nostalgic. I had a new car to drive from Colorado to Georgia for CGA with mine and Joshua's stuff in it. I had this car to hold all of the Grove Girls on our first week as the Grove when we drove to the Ark, it drove us to the office on occasion and eventually took us to a baseball game that will always hold a special place in my heart. This car has seen me drive from GA to TX to eventually CO where I packed all my belongs and moved down south again. It has been with me as I picked out houses and found a new job. It has driven me to New Orleans to visit one of my Grove sisters and up to Pennsylvania to visit my i68 family, it's driven to Midland a handful of times to spend holidays with Tay's family. This car has seen some really really good times. It's also witnessed me shed so. many. freaking. tears. This car has taken me many places in the 45,000 miles it's gotten in the 2.5 years that I've had it. I almost didn't buy this car, in fact I was sitting down to sign the papers on an older car with significant miles on it. My stomach flopped hard when I went to sign that fateful dotted line, I pushed back and whispered "I can't do this". Just as I said this another car was pulling in to the lot, third row, newer model, higher MPG, with only 13,000 miles... same price. I jumped at the opportunity to make a better purchase. You can catch me now driving through Texas with 3 car seats buckled in the back. Using that third row to it's fullest potential and loving the goodness this car has brought to my life
Holy goodness, that is Jesus right there. I can't help but to think that had I signed for that other car I would be writing a different story. I wonder if that car would have made it across country this many times. Each mile represents something strong and powerful in my life. It's only getting better and more powerful. I can't even begin to thank Him enough for just how good He is in knowing the insane intricacy of my life plans. This car has been amazing and it's just a sliver of the hope we have in Jesus to provide us with the necessities of our life as we go along. A car in the grand scheme of His plans is miniscule. Yet He sat there and made sure everything aligned for me to get this car.
What things has He perfectly aligned in your life today? Where has God breathed and you haven't thought about it for another second? Everyday there is an opportunity for us to witness miracles of perfect timing both big and little. Today is a new day to find the Lord hiding around every corner. Walk in to a heart of thankfulness. Be foolish with your joy over the little things. Passionately look for the little God nods in your day. Maybe it's in the way the sun sets or when your friend calls you right as your mind starts to wonder in the direction of anxiety or maybe it's just the simple fact that you got out of bed today! Whatever mountain you are climbing today, let this be your reminder that God is right there with you in the ordinary.
Even if you did just wipe your 6th bottom of the day. Oh just me? Oops. Jesus, I pray that every person who reads this can see your goodness and your blessings through their big and little moments. I pray that you would continue those blessings in double increase and double portions as we continue on today, tomorrow and this year. That you would come in, cover and coat all of your promises in extraordinary goodness. That we would see you around every turn God. Thank you for what you are doing in the background, behind the scenes. I thank you that you are a good good father who holds our hands even in the toughest times.