God showing his interest in the every day life:

All,

At the men’s retreat boot-camp I realized that I haven’t been listening to God or his Word very well. I may have read it or “heard” it, but never took the time to realize it was God speaking to me. That all changed. I have heard our Lord speak in several different ways. The two most prominent is through the Bible (his Word) and through a vision/picture/whisper in my mind. Here are two stories out of many in recent weeks.

The Monday after boot-camp I needed to get a tire fixed on my wife’s car. As I looked up Sears Automotive on the Internet, the Lord reminded me of a little place on Buffalo Gap called Abilene Tire and Service. I thought it was just me remembering since I had gone there a couple years ago. So I went there and got the tire fixed. As I was in the lobby waiting the Lord popped in my mind very strongly. I heard, “tell that man checking you out on the computer that I sent you here instead of any other shop in Abilene”. Well I just couldn’t do that could I?

So I didn’t. I chickened out. The best I could come up with was a “Thanks, God bless you” as I walked out the door. Well I’ll be darned if the Lord didn’t harass me on that ride home. I felt so convicted that by the time I came in the house I picked up the phone and called the tire shop. I asked to speak to the man who checked me out. He happened to be the owner of the shop. I told him what God told me to tell him and that I was supposed to tell him in person, but was nervous. Guess what? I was an answer to his prayers. The day before, him and a group of guys were praying for his store and for new customers. When I obeyed the Lord, the store owner knew the Lord heard his prayer and was answering it. The Lord also showed me that it wasn’t all in my head and to continue listening and obeying him.

The other prominent way I have been hearing the Lord is through the Bible. Just this morning I was reading the devotional, Our Daily Bread. Before I opened that up and read the Bible passage I had been praying to God to help me fight the battle. You know, the unseen war. My boot-camp high has deflated and I’m on the battle ground daily. I was asking forgiveness for speaking without thinking yesterday and possibly hurting folks with my rude or snide remarks. The thing is, I don’t even feel like how I spoke. I’m convinced I let my guard down and Satan took a jab. Anyway, after praying that I opened the passage. I was to read Psalm 119:161-168. The whole passage spoke to me, but namely the first verse, 161. “Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word.” I know that was the power of God telling me to continue turning to Him and His Word when I get frustrated at work.

I hope God is able to use my testimony to help lift you up. I share not to lift me up, but because the Lord told me to.
- Steven Cooper

From one of our businessmen:

This morning I had the responsibility of having to discipline an employee. As I prayed about it over the weekend I saw the heart of God and his will for this young man’s life. Had I not sought the Lord first, I would not have been prepared for what is going on in this man’s life. He is in a very dark place right now. I now know that Jesus wants to use me to minister to him. I would have missed yet another opportunity in my garden of responsibility. It is such a joy to be a part of the body that is preparing the saints to minister to the lost and beaten down in everyday life.