Running 11 Total and Answered Prayers

Yesterday, the weather had broke from intense heat to a very nice day in the mid 80's and a breeze to go with it. I was game for doing 4 miles and was very excited to exceed 10 miles for the week's total by just 1 more, making 11. Since I hadn't done that for awhile, I was pretty pleased with myself.

I found myself not needing to pour water over my head as I ran. That was also nice. It was a good run and because it wasn't so hot, I concentrated on praying for our Saturday evening Church service a lot. I just wanted the Spirit of the Living God to be evident. I prayed that God would pour out His Spirit upon us as we gathered together. And I truly believe He did!

It was an awesome service. We had two of our missionaries share about their work. It was very moving to me in many ways. I felt inspired to be more about my Father's business in the area of evangelism and more eager to be vigilant to pray for the work I heard about. God does love the world. I read it this morning - John 3:16 could not be more clear. He loves the world and desires to save souls. Those here where I live and those far away. He is not partial.

I was really moved after the service. And I stood there for a moment just taking in the Lord's answer to my prayers earlier when I had run. As I stood there, a woman came up to me and just gave me the biggest hug. I did not know her. In fact, I only met her last week. It was the first time they had come and were back a second time. She pulled away from me and with tears in her eyes she said to me, "This place is just beautiful. The people here are just beautiful." Wow. She then gave me another big hug. At that point, I was crying. She could not have known what her words meant to me. And the timing of them. Then I told her that I appreciated her words and could not help but agree with her. I told her as much as I feel biased at times because I am married to one of the pastors, I believed this was a good Church, and it was good because God was here. I told her that by no means was it a perfect Church and she said she knew that because she said there aren't any perfect Churches. Then she said that even if there were, she would ruin it the moment she entered. I told her she couldn't ruin this Church's perfection because I already had. We laughed. We cried. God's Spirit had touched this woman deeply and she knew it. She saw beauty. She saw goodness. She saw Jesus at my Church. Wow. Just wow.