This month of ATL (Don’t know what ATL is? It stands for Ask The Lord. Check out my blog “Say What? Alright. I See You, God” so learn more) has been so cool but many of us have been trying to figure out what it looks like to live life like we are right now on the field, back home in America. We want to take everything we’ve learned and apply it to our lives even after this trip.
I found a beautiful example of what it looks like to ATL in America from my aunt Laura. This is what she said:
“This afternoon I had to run a few errands. As I got in my car I used the advise I had given to a friend this morning which was “invite the Lord everywhere with you”. So as I backed out of the driveway I said “ Lord where are we going first?”.
I was really wanting to head to Hobby Lobby to find some gold frames to finish out my office but that still voice in my heart said go to Ann Taylor first and return those clothes you have. So that’s where I headed.
As I went through the sell rack just making sure some super bargain had not popped up since last week I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I looked down at the white sweater I was wearing and thought of how personal God is… you see last week my mom came to visit and said Joy sent this sweater for you hoping it would fit… I absolutely loved the sweater, one because Joy gave it to me but two because well I just feel good in it. It’s just the right knit to keep me warm but not too hot. No longer focused on the sale rack the tears began to fall as God reminded me of the time in college where I was so incredibly depressed and my precious friend Shea (Joy Rich’s daughter who is in Heaven) showed up with clothes and spent the whole day just being with me and helping me pull together a college wardrobe (but most of all helping me pull together some pieces of my very broken heart). I felt God say “sweetheart I have always been there for you clothing you. Shea and I sent you that sweater from Joy because we wanted you to feel our love”.
After my moment of feeling the sweet love of God I made my way up to the counter to return my clothes. I overheard this lady next to me as she was about to walk away saying the dress she had been saving for was no longer on sale. That’s when I realized God had sent me there to bless her. I had a 50% coupon and we stood there in anticipation hoping it would work. When that dress rang up 50% off you would have thought she won the lottery!!! We both just hugged in the Ann Taylor store and she said “Thank you.” and I replied “That was not me. That was the favor of God.” At that time about 4 people in the store said Amen!!!
Such a sweet moment to bless someone through a simple coupon, to her it meant the world. You see she had already bought shoes to go with that dress and was wanting to wear it to her daughters graduation in a few days! The thought of her dressing in it and just feeling the love of God makes my heart so happy!!
Just thought I would share and encourage everyone to always be open to the Lord wanting to bless you but even more so to the ways God wants to use us to bless others. He is a good good Father and is big enough to uniquely love us all in all different kind of ways!!
Blessing to everyone and thanks for letting me share!! Also.. I still had time to make it to Hobby Lobby and of course everything I needed was50% off:-)!!!”
This is what it looks like to ATL in America. This is what it looks like to be in constant conversation with Him. ASK THE LORD what he wants you to do today. Maybe it looks like asking in what order he wants you to do things today or maybe it’s time to take something that you just assume is going to be how it always is and ask the Lord if he wants to do something different with it. (For example, asking if He wants you to drive a new way to work, or what he wants you to do for lunch.) Don’t get stuck in your ways because that’s how it always goes. Be willing to let the Lord direct you in even the little things.
This is what we are doing everyday here in Thailand. And this is what it could look like for you in America. This is what I hope it looks like for me when I get back to America! Thanks, Laura, for living out your life devoted to Christ and wanting to invite Him into every moment!
I thought of ATL when I read Laura’s post as well!!! Ya’ll are both beautiful women living your lives for Christ and I couldn’t be more proud! We may never know here on earth all the ways God uses us to impacted other people, especially in the things that seem so small to us but may be huge for them!! I love reading these “God is in the little things” stories. Love you bunches my sweet Katie- Mom
Praise the LORD! God’s blessings poured out!! Love you!!