God is in the Delivery Business…(Part 1 of 4: Do You Know Where God Is?)
Crunch time…
After months, and months, and months of planning, Monday, July 8th finally arrived. Hundreds of people would soon be setting up exhibit booths, stages, wiring mics, speakers, more setting up of chairs, tables, workshops rooms, and meeting speakers at the airport, etc. Most downtown hotels would be scrambling, checking in several thousand attendees.
My responsibility for this first day was meeting a furniture delivery guy for our twenty-by-twenty foot exhibit booth. As Murphy’s Law would have it, I was running late. Rushing downtown. (Major oxymoron.)
Driving in downtown Louisville is not in my comfort zone. Murphy’s Law resumed and I missed the street I needed, taking me way out of my way. My cell phone chirped as I hit yet another red light. Sigh…
Thankfully it was the furniture company and they were just loading up the truck. That bought me time to get in the parking garage.
Quickly I snagged a parking place and dashed thru’ the pedway. It was a mere four hundred degrees, akin to a tubular glass oven, thanks to our heat and humidity. Finally I found our exhibit booth in the abyss of the convention center.
Hurrying-while-frazzled in horrific heat-n-humidity makes for ugly results. Trust me on that one. Oh, but I was on a mission to find out if anyone would be on hand to help unload the furniture.
Only girls were manning our booth, so I prayed we’d find some helpful, strong soul along the way. Lo and behold, in bright, neon green shirts, there was an army of God’s angels. Well, they were guys with the words, “NACC Volunteers" on the back of their neon green shirts, but one in the same for this frantic female!
I reported the good news to Allison, my "furniture friend". Thankfully, the day continued to improve. Her furniture delivery guy found the loading dock and “God’s angels” proceeded to help unload the furniture. We had it in our booth in no time.
God has a sense of humor, too.
Follow me with these connections:
I was blessed to talk with Bruce, who happened to be our furniture delivery guy that day. I introduced him to my friend, our Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Judy Russell. Bruce had heard her husband, Bob, speak before. (www.bobrussell.org) He excitedly shared with her how Bob had truly blessed his life.
Next Bruce and I talked about the owners of Summer Classics, my friend Allison and her family. Summer Classics is where Bruce works. This amazing furniture store generously allowed us to borrow some of their beautiful things for our booth. (www.summerclassics.com ) Bruce said, “You have no idea what a difference it makes to work for Christians.”
Allison and her family attend Northeast Christian Church. Their senior minister is Bob Cherry. His wife, Vicki Cherry, was also on our Committee. (www.necchurch.org )
After about our third trip of unloading, Bruce asked, “What is all this for, anyway?”
I said, “Oh, we’re setting up for the North American Christian Convention.” I told him about the speakers, the expected crowd, the theme “Victorious”, etc. (www.gotonacc.org )
He said, “Oh my gosh! I had no idea! I am coming to this very convention!”
Can you hear heavenly laughter? Is God in the details, or what? Friends, God is in the delivery business!!!
He delivered Christian delivery men with our furniture. And, a message many of us need to hear: God seemed to be sayin’, “Elizabeth, I’ve got this one…”
The exact same phrase was uttered by my dear friend and mentor, Liz Curtis Higgs two days later. I’d emailed her on Wednesday morning asking her to pray Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts, in to Louisville. Ann’s flight was due to arrive at the same time severe storms were predicted.
Additionally, another one of our speakers, Nancy Sleeth, would be driving in from Lexington at that same stormy hour. Liz said, “I’m praying and will be praying, but rest assured, God’s got this.” Okay, Lord, I’m listening…
Never mind that this very same week, Liz Curtis Higgs’ most excellent blog was on Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petitionwith thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Her message sums it all up: Fret not…Hello? (www.lizcurtishiggs.com )
Pictured from left to right: Nancy Sleeth, Judy Russell and Ann Voskamp
God continued to cover us the entire week. Our women’s luncheon sold out in advance for the first time. We served eight hundred and fifty women on Thursday. We were beyond blessed by Ann Voskamp’s message.
A couple of favorite quotes include:
“When you let something steal your joy, you let that something steal your strength.”
“Joy is a function of gratitude and gratitude is a function of perspective.”
“The answer to anxiety is the adoration of Christ.” Yes, I’m listening!!! Are you?
Ann’s blog is another resource you do not want to miss: www.aholyexperience.com
The next morning, at our minister’s wives’ breakfast (which also sold out), we were blessed to hear Nancy and Matthew Sleeth’s message. They coached us on how to simplify our lives and savor the Sabbath. (www.blessedearth.org ) Their message paralleled Ann’s. One quote in particular stopped my heart:
“The more we simplify, the greater our joy will be. And the more we give up, the greater our blessings will be.”
Count your blessings. Wield your pen (your “sword” as Ann said). See if your attitude doesn’t change for the better.
God kept on blessing: workshops filled, evening sessions were packed out. Countless individuals were filled to overflowing. IF you missed the NACC, you can go to their website to order copies of various sessions.
So the next time you’re on the frazzled side, STOP. “Fret not!” Remember, “God’s got this.”
God is Sovereign and we must remember to scoot over to the passenger seat and let Him drive.
Yes, God is in the delivery business!
‘Til next time!
(This week’s post is dedicated to our “furniture friends”, Allison, Bruce, and Fred at Summer Classics. Your alls’ generosity made us “look good” for the whole week! You went above and beyond given this week is Homearama too! For you readers out there near Louisville, run, don’t walk to Westport Village and visit Summer Classics. My husband, John, will tell you it’s been a “bad” discovery for our wallets! Wink.)