God Is In the Little Things In Life

It’s been kind of a crazy week because I’ve worked quite a few more hours than normal, and with youth group stuff often on the weekends, it doesn’t offer much time to get “other” stuff done. I know many say I have it “easy” and “don’t work” because I don’t work a normal 40 hour week, but last week, we had something youth group related every single night of the week (including the weekend) and when ya work almost all day everyday of the week, there isn’t any break. Youth ministry can sure be a happenin’ thing! I would beg to differ when people say we don’t have “real jobs” because I think they are vital jobs and just because they are different, doesn’t mean they are wrong or “easy.” I know people say that about youth ministry and it’s kind of a daggar in the heart because we see youth ministry as so important! Of course we are a little biased though because we are obviously rather dedicated :). That’s why we are looking so forward to going to the national youth ministry conference in Chicago in March! We meet a lot of “burning out” youth workers, and also some who are just on fire. It makes us realize that we are not alone and that what we do is important and worth it!

Today I had a beautiful thing happen at the store. I know I talk about the bookstore enough, but here’s just another cool thing. I received a phone call from someone who was wondering the differences between certain translations. (In fact I had a couple of those questions). Legit question because there are a LOT of different Bible translations out there. I tried to explain the best I could between the one’s she was questioning. All she wanted was just to gain a better understanding of what the Bible was about and what it said. It made me think – Do I YEARN for that knowledge? There are people who come in to get a new Bible b/c their old one is falling apart. I try, everytime, when they say that, to say wow, that is awesome. I LOVE hearing when Bibles are falling apart at the seam – b/c it means they are getting used!! Growing in Bible knowledge doesn’t just “happen.” It’s one of those things where in order to grow in that area, you really have to open the Bible up. It made me question where my “yearning” process is. Do I get “excited” everytime I open up the Bible? Do I THIRST like some of the customers do? When customers pick up that bag and say they can’t wait to open up that Bible, it reminds me of having a child-like faith. I would get so excited when I got something I had been wanting. Why should that stop as an adult :)? Especially with the Bible? It’s amazing what customers can teach you!

One other short story…(I forget which day this happened this week) but there was a woman who was going through a really hard time in her life. I am ringing out her purchases and she starts telling me her life story and what brought her to St. Joseph. She ended up just completely losing it. She was a broken woman in her 50s. Her tears were beautiful. Beautiful because they were tears of wanting God in her life and tears and STRIVING to do His will, despite the hardship going on. As she left she realized what had happened, that she completely broke down in front of a “stranger” (me). But that is what I hope for. That people feel comfortable enough to open up. A Christian bookstore is a “safe” place to most. And I realized at that moment, she had nobody else. God used me that day in a way I never imagined!

Dan and I have wierd jobs so to speak :). But we are truly blessed in them by ways we NEVER imagined. Each day I am challenged by all the jobs. I realize how blessed I am to be where I am today. God uses us in ways we never expect.

Who has God brought into YOUR life to make a difference – a difference that you NEVER expected? Look back on today…what random event happened where it causes you to say “that could’ve only been orchestrated by God?” Isn’t God amazing? Ah…now I’m all stoked for some reason 🙂