Seemingly Random Moments Orchestrated By God :))

Seemingly random moments you know were orchestrated by God are the best. I just had one : )) We are building a home for a French couple from Canada. I love this couple and I love to hear them talk, they will begin conversations in English then without warning will begin to speak French and it always catches me by surprise and takes me a moment to realize I don’t understand what they are saying anymore because I am mesmerized by  the lilt in their voices   : )). They have mainly worked with Jeff so I haven’t really gotten to know them personally. That changed today as we began to talk.  Somehow we began to talk about our families and they have been deeply saddened because their son went back to Canada to finish school. They miss him very much and I am not sure of the details to why he left the states but he is 16 and going to live with family. After they shared about their 16 year old and other 2 children they asked me about my family and they remembered I had a granddaughter that I took to the State Fair in October. So I began to share and somehow felt led to share my whole story: The tragic losses as a child, the very poor choices as an adult that led to prison and then the death of Alex Jensen which ultimately led me to the Lord.  As I shared about Alex Jensen’s tragic death  I told them how I observed his parents stand strong in the Lord in the midst of their grief and how that was the tipping point in my life causing the  walls around my heart to come tumbling down as I stepped into the arms of the Lord. Tears filled the man’s eyes and  he told me he had a lump in his throat but he asked me to go on. I then shared about God’s redemption and restoration and then of course I shared about the death of Alexis . I shared that she was working hard to get her life on track as a young mother and was succeeding after making some poor choices that caused her legal trouble. It was a moment of connection with a couple on a deep level and I don’t know why but I could feel God pulling us together through Alexis, that was the key today . I could tell they needed to hear my story and for some reason and maybe more importantly Alexis’ story so I continued as I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit.   It was a moment that led into an hour and we weren’t interrupted once !! No one came in the model, Jeff was showing homes on the property,   and the couple’s two other children sat quietly in the other room. It was a time orchestrated by God I know.  I told them when you have God in your life there is always hope . I shared there are moments when I am still in shock that one of my babies  has died and when I feel that despair HE swoops in and comforts me without fail. It was an amazing hour. At that point they both had tears in their eyes and they told me they appreciated me sharing this painful part of my life.   I thanked them for listening because  I told them by sharing my pain God brings forth healing. I gave them a DVD and my information card asking them to check out my website .  They were so appreciative and said they wanted to buy my book. They then both looked at me and told me this encounter had changed their perspective that although their son was far away he was a phone call or a plane ride away. They also told me they were about to go hug their two other boys a little tighter and be sure to let them know that they love them unconditionally because you just never know what might happen.  I thanked them again for listening . We are now personal friends and I am very thankful God used me as an instrument.  That is all it was, I was his instrument and he spoke through me reaching them in places that I don’t understand.  I gave them all my details but I still don’t know much about them and that is okay, I don’t need to worry about that God has it all under control. I am just glad he used me. There is always that moment when I fear  rejection and judgment when I am about to  share that I am a felon and was convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine but I always remember I need  to worry more about what God thinks about me than what man thinks. That always gives me the courage to take that leap of faith. As we said our goodbyes and wished each other Happy New Year they looked at me shaking their heads and said you never know someone’s story.  They said in a million years they would have never thought I had been to prison. That made me really smile because each day I try really hard not to look like an ex-con : ))

And as I think about Alexis and the rose dedicated in her honor which will be placed on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float I can’t help but think how multi-faceted her gift is :  Her story is also a gift that is bringing hope and life to those who are dying. I had a twenty year old send me a private message recently letting me know that because of Alexis and what he witnessed after her death his faith has been renewed and he is going to now follow God. She is now one of God’s shining stars : )))    That is balm to my hurting heart and soul.