Makeup Aisle Ministry

This morning I ran out of my house and realized that I didn't set my makeup with finishing spray.  Normally, it's not a big deal but today I have a super long day and thought let me go get it so I could be cute all day.  Since I pass a Walgreens on my way to work I figured I would pop on in.  It wasn't a quick trip.  I searched the aisles for finishing spray.  First, I looked for the elf finishing spray.  I walked from the front of the store to where the nail items started then back again.  I walked past CoverGirl, Maybelline, Revlon, Iman, and many others but did not see the finishing spray.  I looked high and low.  Then I thought, let me look for any brand of finishing spray.  Again I walked the entire aisle and I looked in the places where I thought it would be, but could not find it.  So I went about my business and grabbed a few other items I needed.  When I was ready to check out, I noticed that the line in cosmetics was shorter than the normal check out counter so I skipped on over to expedite my exit.  As I walked to the cosmetics counter I looked in a different direction from when I first entered the store.  There I found the elf primer.  I thought "hmm, if they have the primer maybe they will have the finishing spray."  When I got to the counter, I asked the clerk if they have the spray.  She said "yes" and proceeded to walk me back to the aisle where I was originally looking but 2 steps farther from where I ended my search.  It was after the nail items. 

By now I am sure you are thinking "why is she going on and on about her trip to Walgreens?"  Well, as soon as I found my makeup I felt God say to me "Sometimes you have to look beyond where you think something should be.  You may have to stretch yourself or walk a few more miles to get there but you have to trust that if I said it will be there, then it will come to pass."  Well, ain't that something!  A word in the makeup aisle!  Now don't get me wrong, God didn't promise me finishing spray.  But He has many promises and I know that they will come to pass.  It may not happen when I think it should or where I think it should be but if God says "yes" then we have to believe Him.

People say God doesn't speak anymore because they don't see bushes burning on the sidewalk, but God speaks all the time.  We have to be receptive and listen for Him and maybe take a few more steps.

Watch and Pray - Matthew 26

Have you read Matthew 26:36-46?  After reading it my first thought was "who would keep watch for me?"  But my second thought was "Can I be trusted to keep watch for my friends/spouse/family?"  Honestly, I think I could be trusted with the task of keeping watch for my folks.  But can I go a bit deeper?  (Of course I can, it's my blog!)

Revelation #1:  If the disciples had stayed awake would that change the outcome?  Honestly, I don't know.  I think that Jesus would have still been arrested, wrongly convicted, and crucified.  But sometimes you need your crew to stand with you.  Yes, you still have your own journey.  Yes, you have to do some things alone.  But often you can draw strength from the cheers, prayers, and encouragement of your friends.  Do you have people in your circle that will encourage you?  Do you encourage others?

Revelation #2: Can I be trusted to "keep watch" for Jesus?  Ummm, my track record is shakey.  I do some things but not everything that He asks of me.  I do the things that are easy and that don't stretch me.  I do the things that require little faith.  I have to do better.  While "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" is an honest statement, it is also an excuse.  After Jesus was arrested I wonder how many disciples wished that they had stayed awake to get those last few minutes in His presence.  I don't want the "hour to come" and realize that I squandered the time that I could have spent with Him.