Have you ever gone on a God Hunt? A God Hunt begins when you teach yourself to look for God’s hand at work in the everyday occurrences of your life. Here’s one of my personal God Hunt Sightings:
Jeremy and Angela cashed in a retirement fund. Concerned about hospital bills and extra expenses and not being able to work, they thought they should have some cash on hand for an emergency and home-improvement fund. The downstairs study has been turned into a room where Jeremy can recover after returning from the hospital, and since he needs to have a bathroom that he can exclusively use as his own (since his immune system will be compromised), the first-floor washroom is being divided into two units.
So, Jeremy paid us back some small loans. This was nice since we are also cash-short.
During the third week of July, while Jeremy was still in the hospital and Angela was tied up managing all she has been managing (also while my son-in-law had scheduled an outing to a week long dad-and-son camp), Joel Mains was in the midst of a house move. We had had fair warning, but since I am 70 and David is almost 77 (and feeling really lousy with a head cold), we thought we had better put contingency plans in place.
Melissa paid for a moving crew who had helped her to lug all the larger furniture pieces—the bed, the couches, the cabinets and the refrigerator into PODS Joel had rented to store his things until two weeks had passed and he could close on the new home.
David thought that we needed some more assistance. Jeremy was in the hospital; Doug and Ayden were at camp. Our other grandchild, Josie, was getting cram-tutoring so she could make the deadlines for her online courses. So, David arranged for the Ayers boys (actually one Ayers teen and an older high-school friend) to spend several hours over two days passing boxes in a fire-bucket line to the PODS, hauling miscellaneous stuff to the storage locker, and just lending a hand (four hands actually) in the general commotion that comes from breaking down the belongings in any American home.
“What did Dad pay those guys with?” Joel asked after he had relocated himself into our house. I didn’t know how much he had paid, but I know he used Jeremy’s loan repayment (the brother who was fighting cancer and not available to pitch in on this move). “Dad shouldn’t pay for that. When I close on the house, I’ll have some money and I can pay him back.”
This, I am s’re, David will not want to accept. Joel can pay for extra help when we move him into the new home. Right now, it’s simply money that is all in the family.
It’s amazing, isn’t it, how God times His provision to perfectly fit our need. One gives; another receives. One is in need; someone else is in want. I have reserves; you may have dearth. My excess serves your lack. Your experience informs my naïveté. It’s all in the family.
I spy God!
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Award-winning author Karen Mains has long had an interest in spiritual formation and the obedient Christian walk. She has written about the God Hunt in her book by the same name, The God Hunt: The Delightful Chase and the Wonder of Being Found. A hardback copy can be ordered from Mainstay Ministries for $10.00 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. Contact Karen at info@mainstayministries.org and she will be happy to autograph a copy for you.
Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags, Africa bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. They are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.