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:
The call-waiting notification rang three times while I was talking with someone else on the phone. I rarely interrupt conversations when this happens—but someone was trying to get hold of me.
It was Angela—my daughter-in-law. “Karen, I have boxes of food from the food pantry. Can you come over and pick stuff up, some of it is frozen. I have the three kids and think if you can make it here, it will be easier for you than for me.”
I finished the phone call, then hopped in the car. This kind of notification comes from my daughter-in-law a couple times a year. The Neighborhood Food Pantry, which provides for those who are economically stressed, sometimes has to clear out their shelves and commercial freezers because another delivery has been scheduled and they must clear space.
One of Angela’s neighbors, a woman with eight children, works at the pantry. Her van is loaded with the discarded food (discarded but perfectly safe and edible), and then everyone on Angela’s block get the word. This time, there was so much food, we all went home with a couple boxes and several sacks—ready-made sandwiches from Panera Bread, pork chops, ground beef and steaks for the freezer, cereal and granola and boxes of crackers for the shelves, packages of pasta. It was so much food that I was having difficulty finding room for it all.
Just when I had stored everything away (sometimes shoving boxes into corners and shutting the cupboard doors fast), I heard a noise in our garage. It was a friend who does odd jobs for me when he has time and I have money. He had come to put a second coat on the windows for the cold frames he had made for me during the winter. But that task was already done; the second coat—Cinnamon Tea, the color chart informed me—had been applied.
“Oh, could you use some food?” I explained about the food pantry and the fact that I had more than I could use and he would be helping me by taking some home with him. I know this friend has been out of work for a while, and I understand from personal experience what a break it is not to have to put out money for grocery store bills.
We laughingly filled three sacks, and I sent him out the door with that warm satisfactory inner feeling. Not only had Provider God filled our food needs (not to mention the block on Claremont Street that is fortunate to have a neighbor who works at the food pantry), but I was able to pass it along to someone I knew it would help.
Which Scripture is it that tells us, “…He fills my with good things”? If you find the reference before I do, let me know. (Hint: It’s somewhere in the Psalms.)
With or without the Scripture reference, however, the truth is this: He bounteously supplies us with all good gifts. Even when we are not looking to His hand, He stretches it toward us. He gives us enough to share with our mother-in-law, and enough for her to share with a friend.
In such realities do praises begin.
I spy God!
————————————————————————————–
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.
