Tag-Archive for » daily Christian devotional «

I walked along the rugged shoreline of Shell Beach today, remembering a time long ago when I was young and often came to these cliffs to play my flute. I recorded one such memory in my book, Intercessors, God’s End-time Vanguard. I reprint it here as a reminder that finding the Holy in the daily often comes when we least expect it.

“Years ago, when I was in college, my roommate, Pam, and I went to the beach for some quiet time. It was late at night and Pam decided to go for a walk. I sat down by the cliff and listened to the waves breaking over the rocks below. Pulling out my flute, I began to play songs of worship and songs from my spirit. This had become a way of expressing my heart in prayer to the Lord and I often felt His presence closest during these times of musical intercession. Suddenly there appeared a woman in front of me walking out of the fog by the edge of the cliff. I probably jumped three feet but calmed down when I realized she was crying.

Sobbing she explained that her life had no meaning and no hope. She had come to the edge of the cliff intending to jump onto the rocks below. As she contemplated her final decision she heard music floating up through the fog. Feeling compelled to follow the sound she ended up weeping in front of me. Not knowing what else to do, I led her to the Lord! Pam arrived in time to answer more of her questions about Jesus and together we took her home.”

Most of my encounters with the Lord are not so dramatic, but an occasional in-you-face experience does reinforce his authority and activity in my life. Do you have a story of an unexpected encounter with the Holy in the course of your day? I’d love to hear about it. My comment section is a blue link at the bottom of this post.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

Adelaide bounced into my study and announced in her high-spirited 5 year old voice, “Grandma, is that your sparkly hat on the bed—the blue one with all the little shiny things on it? Because if it is, I want you to wear it to all my birthday parties.”

Of course I promised I would, but I wonder if she will find the same pleasure in Grandma’s hat when Grandma wears it to her 16th birthday party?

Now if my 18 year old son had bounced into my study and said the same thing I would have called the doctor. What is it about little kids that melts our hearts? My grandkids can ask my husband for watermelon and he’ll go to the store to buy them watermelon without a second thought.

Maybe that’s the key—not thinking. When I chat with a small child, my thinking goes into fun mode and the heaviness of life slips away. Thinking is cushioned by joy. Possibilities open up and I’m pulled into realms of thinking that are closed to adult minds. Life takes on new sparkle.

Maybe that is what Jesus meant when he said, “Unless you become like a little child, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.” The ability to see and enter the Kingdom requires childlike thinking at times—wearing sparkly hats to birthday parties and going to the store for watermelon instead of the more adult things you should be doing.

The Backward Kingdom awaits—what hat will you be wearing to the birthday party?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

Related Posts with Thumbnails