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 every day occurrences of your life. Here’s one of my personal God Hunt Sightings:
Our nuclear family has not been all together since our eldest son, his wife, and children moved to Phoenix, Arizona seven years ago. Oh, we’ve seen one another as individuals, and as small groups. We talk on the phone and the younger generation keeps in touch via Facebook. David and I have traveled with one couple here or one or two grandchildren there to special spots in the world. But, pulling the whole group together has been nigh unto impossible.
Every couple in the Mains’ is struggling financially these days, and the downturn in our economy prohibits expensive travel. In addition, a majority of the Mains clan is involved in working for not-for profit organizations.
So, when our 50th Wedding Anniversary was put on the calendar by friends who were determined to make a celebration out of the event, David insisted that for this one-time-only moment every Mains offspring would be expected to attend. We found the money to underwrite the airfare for five travelers from Phoenix.
Now that they were all planning to be present, what would we do? None of our homes were big enough to house 18 people.
Our son-in-law, Doug, called a brother who owns a summer home on a lake in Michigan. Could we use his place to gather for three days after our Sunday 50th Worship Celebration? We were generously welcomed and filled the three-floor getaway (five bedrooms, three sleeping porches, and a long room with bunk beds enough for six of the eight grand kids).
It is wonderful when people with means are generous and even take joy in sharing what they have with others. Our adult children and their kids spent two days on the lake jet-skiing, riding on the pontoon boat, and tubing behind the speedboat. Other hours were spent using the Wii, playing table games, driving the golf cart around the one-mile island, chatting in the hot tub, or eating (and eating and eating—we have a growing brood). Some of us of a certain age even got in afternoon naps.
All of these gifts were given to us to use without any expectation of return (although we did pay for gas for the water vehicles, and my daughter and I spent a good ten hours together getting everything shipshape after the gang had departed for homes or airports).
Nor could David and I have afforded to provide these kinds of activities had we been renting a vacation home or gathering together at a retreat center.
I consider this a huge gift given to us by my son-in-law’s brother, but also by God who certainly understands the environment families need for bonding again when they have been separated by miles and years. So, I thank Jeff for his incredible generosity, but also our loving heavenly Father who is undeniably the originator of the idea of loving, happy, playful families.
“This was fun!” said our eldest grandchild, the teen who is heading off to college this August. “Let’s do this again next year!” Best payoff possible for grandparents’ ears to hear.
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.
