Chance meetings some may call them. I like to call them God moments. God knows what you need, when you need it, and has pre-orchestrated the perfect meeting of people to impact your life.
Allowing moments in time to forever change your life takes practice. I do not take meeting people lightly. I’m often left in wonder and awe at the people that I’m allowed to meet and interact with. I often wonder why I end up where I do. I wonder why I’m up at 2:00am writing this blog post. All I can say is that I’m up writing so the person who needs to hear what I have to say will be able to read it when the time comes. Maybe I’m solely writing for myself? Maybe I’m writing for you? Maybe I’m just bored? Or fighting sleep? Either way…here I sit with a man I call Wonder.
I WONDER why I was in a random barber shop back in 2021, and now I look up to and admire someone I never would have met otherwise?
I WONDER why I met a man from Florida, in Arkansas, who has since changed my life forever; joining me on an adventure out of poverty and into freedom?
I WONDER why I ran into the store that night for a gallon of milk? I reconnected with an old acquaintance, going through tough times, and have since become best friends with someone who is 10 years younger than me.
I WONDER how it was possible that my electricity had been cut off that morning, and by the afternoon I was able to be on my knees, sobbing in the garage, on a pile of wood, praising the Lord for HIS GOODNESS & FAITHFULNESS.
I WONDER why after cleaning up after a long day of work at the house, I decided to check my messages? An hour later, I find myself watching fireworks with a new friend; learning more about myself than I ever anticipated.
I WONDER why I chose to watch Griffin and Phoenix this evening. Maybe it was to remind myself that life is short. If you aren’t living, you're dying. Make the most of every opportunity the Lord gives you.
Here’s to Griffin & Phoenix - Dupree version! (p.s. You should watch this movie)
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I had been praying for answers for far too long. Waiting and wondering. However, this time was different. I wasn’t praying alone. I had others praying alongside me - my kids.
As most of you know, my life took an unexpected turn just 6 months ago when I lost over ½ my income. After 4 long years of financial uncertainty, I had finally gotten out of the red, into the black, and had a nice budget going. Things were looking up and looking pretty good. Even my credit score was starting to look good again!
Hard times like these make me WONDER. Why me, Lord? Again, Lord? I can’t get ahead. I do not make enough $ to pay even a portion of my bills. What should I do? I already work 40 hours. I can’t fathom working a second job. I’m already exhausted. I can’t do this alone. My kids need me more than I need the $. I trust you Lord.
But do I really trust HIM?
I was once again reminded of a conversation I had with the Lord back in October of 2018. God reassured me that Medical Bag Tags would one day provide for my kids and I (not my husband, kids, and me) just the kids and I. I found this odd as I was still married at the time, and although times were tough, divorce had never been in my vocabulary, I was going to fight for my marriage. I fought long and hard, and lost…or did I win?!
Being a single mom has certainly been rather challenging. I’ve had highs, lows, wins, losses, and everything in between. I will say the last 4 years I have been on a Faith & Trust roller-coaster with the Lord.
“Yes, Lord, I trust you. BUT…this…that…and…”
“Ok, Yes, Lord, I trust you…BUT…did you forget that…”
“Yes, Lord, I trust you…I have FAITH that it will all work out.”
About that day in the garage. When I need some serious God time, I cue up the best of the 90’s Christian artists. 4-Him, FFH, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jaci Velasquez, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, etc. Of course the first song that plays is, “I get on my knees” by Jaci V. I immediately drop to my knees.
🎵 “'Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain, how to survive.
I get on my knees, I get on my knees. There I am before the love that changes me.
See I don't know how, but there's power when I'm on my knees” 🎵
As many times as I’ve listened to that song, never once have I heard a little girl at the end say Ecclesiastes (whatever verse chapter and verse she said - don’t remember). You know as soon as I got up from my knees I headed straight to the book of Ecclesiastes.
You see, I have been holding on to and working Medical Bag Tags for 7 years now. I’ve worked it through the thick and thin, during the highs, and lows, early morning, and late into the evenings. This along with many different jobs, running a household of large scale, averaging little to no sleep, running on empty has been the way of my life…I’m tired of chasing the $. Some might find it "coincidental” that the Lord brought me to Ecclesiastes. But that afternoon, I knew differently…my prayers had been answered. I now had a very clear directive from the Lord. Right way in verses 2&3, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. What do people gain for all their labors at which they toil under the sun?”
Absolutely nothing. It’s all meaningless. I’m wasting my time and energy chasing the wrong things. I need to be chasing my calling. Doing what I am called to do and leaving the rest to the Lord.
Sometime years ago a couple in my SS class told a story of how the Lord carried them through a two-year jobless season, and not once did they miss a payment. That’s the trust I want to have in the Lord. I will TRUST HIM. I am human, I am scared, BUT GOD IS BIGGER. I pray that the kids will see how the Lord provides supernaturally and their faith and trust in HIM will continue to grow.
It’s go time…July 31st will be my last day working outside my home. August 1st, I’m all in Medical Bag Tags.
Remember that man from Florida? The one "joining me on an adventure out of poverty and into freedom?" Guess what? God has been using him in my life in mighty ways since Feb - in preparation for this very time.
Feb is when I lost my income…Feb is when I met this man…this man is not only an angel, but he is a Business Consultant. Since Feb, I’ve spent hours and hours writing business plans, marketing plans, working numbers, reworked numbers, continuing to pitch media, reading books, writing a pitch deck summary, investment strategies, and talking to people like manufacturers, accounting software folks, business mentors, and more. I’ve emailed one-on-one with best-selling authors, their right hand gurus, and their go to helpers too! Looking back it's hard to believe what all I've been able to accomplish with some expert guidance.
If you skip down to Ecclesiastes 3:11 you read,
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet, no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
And this is why I WONDER. No one can FATHOM what God has done…or is doing.
I must TRUST. I must OBEY.
God is on the MOVE! Stay tuned for more blog posts to come!
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