Long time no write! I hope all of you are well and that the peace of our Lord is filling your soul during this Lenten season.  I recently had 2 encounters I wanted to share.

I was in the grocery store and was starstruck at who I saw.  It was our favorite lecturer at church.  During a Catholic Mass, we have different lecturers read bible passages, and then the priest or deacon reads scripture from one of the gospels.   This lecturer's voice is so deep, smooth, and clear he could be a radio announcer.  So being the dork I am, I asked him if was who I thought he was.  He smiled and said that he indeed is a lecturer at our church.  I told him that he has such a gift and we are grateful that he uses it to read scripture to us.  I told him that his delivery made it easy to connect with what he was reading.  He looked at me stunned.  He said that he didn't think he was very good, and never planned on reading God's word at church.  He said he went through a struggle and someone suggested to him to become a reader to help heal.  I told him that I was glad that he listened to that call.  Here is this man with a gift, but because of doubt (that comes from Satan) thought he wasn't good enough.  However, a life struggle redirected him to sharing the word of God.  God wins again.

A few weeks later I was at the gym.  After a workout, I like to sit in the sauna and detoxify.  (If you have never done this, I highly recommend it!) I walk in and immediately get perturbed because there is a gal lying on her stomach across one of the benches.  This is not great sauna etiquette.  This isn't a big sauna.  It may fit 6 sitting people comfortably.  She was taking up half the sauna.  I then noticed that the gal was reading a book.  I could see she was reading the bible.  Sometimes our thoughts get redirected quite quickly by God.  I immediately looked up and apologized for being frustrated as one of His children was just trying to absorb His word.  Shame on me!  So as the gal got up to leave I asked her what book she was reading.  Her entire face lit up and she responded, "Philippians!"  I shared with her that my favorite verse is Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me).  She continued that she was going to read chapter 4 but a friend had directed her early that morning to chapters 1-3.  She said she was nervous about going into the sauna to read her bible as she had never done it before.  I encouraged her saying that I thought it was fantastic!  As she was leaving I introduced myself and told her my name.  She stopped in her tracks amazed.  She shared that her friend who had directed her to the scripture she was reading name was Sara.  I told her that apparently, God had scheduled a Divine Appointment for us.

I just love it when God puts us in situations that allow us to encourage each other and help battle Satan's negativity that he tries to inject into our spirits.   Don't miss or turn away from the opportunities God provides to lift each other in His name.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:14

FAITH over fear,

Sara