God sets our appointments...

Today was my first day back at work.  As I have said for many years, "God sets our appointments."  And today, He set an appointment with a phone calll early in my day.  

I remember writing years ago about the homeless man I saw laying in a parking lot with just a small bag and not even a blanket to keep him warm.  People were driving by at the busy intersection and seemed to not even notice the homeless man.  He captured my attention, but I didn't help him. 

We were there for my best friend's memorial service and we were running late.  As we drove by, I thought of the lonliness that this man must feel.  I wondered about him, about his life, his family.  How did he get to be homeless and laying in a parking lot near a busy intersection?  My heart wanted to do something, but I didn't know what to do.  Surely someone else would help him. Right?

Well, fast forward.  It has been almost 10 years since I saw that homeless man in that parking lot.  Over the years, I have thought about him and hoped and prayed that someone did help him.  And i asked forgiveness for my own coldness that day... that I was too busy and in a rush and passed by, just like so many other people were doing.  

It changed my heart in a good way.  

And today, my God set for me an appointment with a man who is homeless and living in his car.  We spoke for a few minutes and although I was unable to help with the service we provided, I was able to offer prayer.  I listened with my God heart and all day long, I listened to GOd speak to me about this man.  And as I listened, God gave me the words to pray. 

God gave me words of truth, faith, hope and encouragement.  God gave me words of provision, divine intervention and victory for this man. God showed me His love for this man.  

When this man felt that life was getting to be too much to bear, God let me speak to him.  God set an appointment for me to listen. God let me love with His unconditional love, a person thousands of miles away who needed lifted up, encouraged and given hope for a better tomorrow!  

And before I went to bed, I sent thisman a message, a word from God to expect Glory manifest in his life.  On earth as it is in heaven, God is indeed working things out for the good for this man who loves Him.  

And as I am humbled, I am also lifted up in praise and worship at the goodness of our Lord who indeed loves each of us the Most and calls us into His glory realm to help and to intercess and to love, just as He loves.  

I am thankful for God allowing me to have my job once again, where He sets my appointments.  A job where I am not working for my own success and monetary gain, but a job where I have the opportunity to come into contact every day with a divine appointment set forth by God, for HIs purpose and glory, to touch a life that might otherwise be left untouched, passed by in the business that the day brings.

All I need to do is be obedient, offer a listening ear and a God heart in every phone call, trusting in Him and not myself.  Never my words, but His through me.  In that is my success. For this, I am grateful and I am blessed.  

My prayer for today is that we fall into love and compassion, seeking to be like Jesus with a smile and an uplifting word. May we be life changers for the glory of God and the salvation of man.

Praise God from Whom ALL blessings come.  In Jesus name. Amen.