Monday, April 5, 2010

A beautiful moment to a 2 year old moment.....

Well, I have another church story to tell. Last week I was brave enough to tell you about my fake chewing. Feel free to scroll down and catch that masterpiece if you missed it. This week, I've got a sweet story to share and, unfortunately, a not-so-sweet story to share. I tell ya, Jesus loves me this I know, but man He has to be a little disappointed in my 2 steps forward, 3 steps back action I had going on. ;)

Let me explain.....

Somewhere last week I had read Ben's encouraging words to the church to use Easter week to scatter the seed of the gospel somewhere. Or at least that's my translation of what I heard him say. I read this on his blog or his facebook page and it stuck. You know why it stuck? Because I honestly have never invited a non-believer or non church going person to church on Easter. OUCH. And, let me clarify, inviting someone to church is not all that Ben was suggesting. I think he was simply reminding us to use Easter week to share the gospel with someone.

So, on Friday night, my 13 year old and I were on our way back home from picking up the dog at the groomer and we drove by this place where a lot of homeless men will sit and ask for money.
We were waiting on a red light and our car was placed in just the right spot to read his sign but not be right beside him. Since I can't see all that great far away, *ahem,* the boy read me his sign....

"Any thing will help.
God bless"

Ok, hmmmm.....I've seen signs and homeless people before, but God did something in my heart over this guy. HE WOULDN'T LET HIM GO.

We drove on past and I think I told the boy something like, "I wish I had some money to give him, but I don't even have a dollar in my wallet right now."

I got about a mile up the road and the Lord WOULD NOT LET THIS MAN GO FROM MY MIND. I mean it's Good Friday and all and Ben's words of scattering seed would not leave my heart. The boy kept saying stuff about the homeless guy that I wasn't really paying attention to because I was trying to figure out what to do with this. And, finally I just said it....

"We need to go home, find some cash, and a bible or devotional and take it back to him."

Well, this is clearly God, huh?

And, so we did.....we zipped home and did just that. We got our goods and were heading back to the spot where we found him sitting. I was getting so excited about sharing the gospel with this man. We had to position our car in just the right spot so the boy could roll his window down and share the money and the devotional with the man. But wait....we got to the spot....and....

HE IS GONE!!!!!

WHAT???

NO, LORD!!!!

My brain was moving a million miles an hour and I knew exactly where to go. I drove right around the corner to a place where you might see other homeless men. And, low and behold.....

THERE HE WAS!!!!!!

It was a much less busy spot and we were able to stop. The boy rolled his window down and gently placed the money inside the devotional that was marked for those struggling. The boy quickly grabbed a pen and wrote at the top of the page...."He died for YOU today." I about lost it at this point.

The boy handed him the stuff and said something like "Happy Easter...may God bless you." And, I'm about to LOSE IT!!! I honestly wanted to talk to him more, but he was saying things like "oh thank you, oh thank you....God bless you....oh thank you, oh thank you."

My heart melted.

We drove away. I wasn't ready to leave.

I said to the boy that I'm glad we did that for that man and it felt good to scatter the seed....I said something like..."because it's Good Friday and all."

The boy quickly said..."mom, it's always the right thing to do...no matter what the day is."

My heart exploded with love and joy over that boy and my Jesus on that Good Friday.

Oh, yes....scattering the seed is gooooood.

Ok, real quick...I want to tell you about my most pouty moment on Saturday night at the Saturday night church service we attended for Easter. Shame on me, shame on me, I tell ya. I went from scattering the seed to acting like a bratty 2 year old.

The service was packed that night and we were clearly not early enough to get a seat in the sanctuary. And, honestly.....I had truly been looking forward to a really good word from Ben and having Travis lead you in worship isn't half bad either.

I WAS READY FOR SOME EASTER WORSHIP!!!

And, it's crowded and there is nowhere to sit. Boooooooo!!!

So, there are some usher people and some other pastors asking members to give up their seats and head over to the overflow room and they are telling my sweet family of five that we can go to the overflow room and I basically stomped my foot in front of another pastor/leader person and said......

"But, I don't wanna go to the overflow room!!!!!!!"

Yes.

Good one Fran.

And, then I went on to say something about us being visitors......

WHAT???

Rude.

Tacky.

Immature.

Most definitely pouty.

Ridiculous.

Then, God showed me His humor and said, "well, here ya go Miss Pouty Pants."

The front row opened up and the same pastor/leader guy walked us down to the front row.

And, there I sat with an embarrassed heart before the Lord. I sat there for the first 10 minutes praying I would see that kind man after the service and apologize for being such a jerk.

And then the music started and my heart was overflowing. The message was beautiful. And, I never saw that pastor/leader guy again to say "I'm sorry."

I'm sending him an email today...found it on the church's website. God isn't letting this one go either.

Funny how we can go from a scattering of the seed moment to a pouty 2 year old moment when things aren't going our way, huh?

Happy Post-Easter!

I just love y'all.

15 comments:

Susan said...

I love you, dear one. He LOVES to take us bratty ones and turn us around. I can totally see Him shaking His head at my antics these past few months. Thankfully, His mercies are new every single morning and I claimed that every morning the last few days. I'm claiming it for you, too, Fran.

Sooz

beckyjomama said...

Frannie - you have the most open heart ... even if it DOES pout at times. And maybe God just needed you in that front row!

I love your sweet heart!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXXO

And, oh my word, your boy! YOUR BOY! Love him!

3girlsmom said...

Clay rocks.
You are a GREAT momma - he developed that sensitive, loving heart somewhere...wonder who was the person in charge of the children at his church for the past 5 years? Oh, that would be you. Wonder who has taught him daily to love people by the example they show? Oh, that would also be you.
And I, particularly, would like to give you MAJOR props to the front row sittage. I am proud. I have taught you well. :)

Lindsee said...

There is nothing like God getting and holding our attention! That's for sure. Glad the service was awesome! And girl, go read my post about our Easter service yesterday. Definitely one I won't soon forget. God definitely got our attention!

Leah Adams said...

Fran,

Thank you for your transparency. Knolw that you are in good company. I have to apologize for my behaviour soooo often. So glad you got to worship so wonderfully.

Leah

Holly said...

Real life--you live it well, friend. You do! Love you!!

darla said...

Fran, this post helped to shine a light on something that i am confronted with from time to time, and one time in particular that i am going to blog about tonight.

in a nutshell this is what God spoke to my heart....often when i step out in faith with outreach, shortly after HIS presence just fills me to overflowing, my flesh/or the enemy smacks me in the head. a couple of things that touched my heart is...i would start to think that it was me doing good, instead of HIM doing good through me. and a reminder that my flesh needs to die more each day, and no doubt the enemy is angry with actions we move on out of love for Christ...and the flesh is an easy attack.

love you girl!

your sista who also takes many steps forwards and then takes steps backwards...

Bethany said...

I just love your honesty. =) I've been noticing this kind of behavior in myself lately. I have these shining moments and then I turn around almost immediately and act the fool. ::sigh::

Good thing God is patient and can outlast all our growing pains, huh?
~Bethany

Warren Baldwin said...

My son just read a suggestion from John Ortberg that if ever you are feeling down or your spirit is bad, find a homeless person and give him some money. Wes was having a bad day. Driving home he saw a homeless man, stopped, and gave him $10. Said he felt better immediately.

Great story here. What an Easter moment.

Unknown said...

Thank you, Fran, for your transparency. I can see myself in that situation. In other words...BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!

Sheryl

connorcolesmom said...

I love that you followed God's leading and were able to minister so greatly to that man
And how funny about the front row - God does have such a funny sense of humor!!
Much love

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

I think He gave you a front row seat because He was delighted you would fake chew for Him. Classic my friend..:)

Lauren said...

Love this post!!!

3girlsmom said...

I just read Lisa's comment and I laughed out loud. She nailed it. That's EXACTLY why you landed front row seats. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Toknowhim said...

Good post Fran...


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