This week I was reminded that sometimes divine moments can come wrapped as detours, distractions or even defeats.
We’ve been working on several exciting projects at the church this week, which means we have literally spent 12-16 hours a day at the church the last four days to finish them.
(Side note - we are so thankful for the people that were a part of completing those tasks. We could not have done it with you!)
As we quickly worked through the weekend and looked to the next major project, every minor detour and distraction put the next project, task or our Thanksgiving holiday in jeopardy.
As we set up the monster of a tree in the lobby of the church, all the usual things began to happen. Certain sections of the pre-lit tree don't work, you can't find all the decorations, can't remember how it's supposed to go and when you try and guess it is always wrong! And of course, you always end up blowing a fuse or two (or three if you're like us) in the lights and extensions cords!
Just so you are aware, a little-known impact of the Christmas supply chain issues include, five amp fuses! We blew the first one and quickly scoured the boxes and found our only extras, in the plug itself, only to plug it in and blow it too. So we rearranged some of the extra lights but couldn't get the pre-lit tree lights going again until we could get another 5 amp fuse. I went to 6 different stores looking for these tiny tyrants. Every store had a price sticker where they should have been but were sold out—lots of 3 amp of course, but no five amp.
As I drive by the 5th store, I make a last-minute decision to whip into another decorating store to see if I can find them there. I walked in only to have this little fuse evade me again, but stumbled onto a few more ornaments we had been looking for. I quickly scooped them up and headed to the checkout line. As I'm waiting in the long holiday shopping line, I hear a familiar voice of a church member that I have yet to have a “real” conversation with since being back. He was someone I had intended to call all week to ask about his expertise on a project we were about to take on. It was a divine moment that would have never happened if I hadn’t been out chasing down fuses. Come to find out, it was his first time to ever step foot in that store.
Now you may call that a coincidence, but let me continue with the blessing that comes next. After talking, he asks me meet him at a home improvement store first thing in the morning to ensure I get everything I need for my projects.
The next day, I arrived several minutes early and am browsing through the isles only to now hear the much more mature version of a familiar voice greet me. I turned around to see one of my former youth students, who greets me with a hug! This is a guy that I had on my list of people to reach out to and check on now that I am back in Wichita Falls but hadn't had the chance to yet.
So once again, God orchestrates a divine meeting that wouldn't have happened without my quest for a fuse!
Within a few minutes, the church member shows up, we get everything purchased, and as I'm heading out the door he says, “I may have a couple of hours today to swing by and help,” and I simply respond, “that would be great, but no pressure I know how busy you are and have already been a blessing to me.”
Sure enough, about an hour later, he and one of his guys come in. Casey and I had set a very modest but realistic goal for the day and had lined out several more workdays before Sunday to make sure it was all wrapped up before church.
It quickly became obvious why professionals are called professionals. There is a vast difference between the pros and the pastors! After being there all day, they left Casey and I to put the final touches on a project that is now 95% done and Sunday ready! This FAR surpassed our original goal for the day, ultimately enabling Mandey and me to get to our Thanksgiving family celebration a day early. What had turned into an eat and run plan, is now us looking forward to a whole extra day with the fam.
I know we, as believers, quote Romans 8:28 a lot.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT
But this is such a great example of how God takes the detours and the loss of an entire afternoon searching for an impossible-to-find fuse and, in turn, gives us back a whole day because of a couple of divine appointments.
I'll leave names out for a more personal thank you, but I will say if you are reading this, you have no idea how big of a blessing you were to Mandey and me and the church. It's always fun to watch your vision come together, and you helped fulfill one more part of that vision. We love and appreciate you.
Know that your set back maybe a set-up for what God is trying to do in your life.
Find joy in everything because you never know how God is going to use it.
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