I took my little folding bike and headed to the bike path on the Catawba River about a half hour from our home. It is only a 3 mile long path, but I missed the river and had worked hard all morning. I wanted to take some time to enjoy the incredible beauty of God's creation. I had spent the morning counseling a woman who chose life over abortion and was going through a rough patch. She needed the hope and truth of God's word. I talked her "off the cliff" and in the end, she was crying, and agreeing she MUST follow God, no matter what.
Then, while on my morning walk, I helped rescue a lost dog, which is such a good story that I have a separate blog devoted to that. However, no sooner had the dog been taken care of than one of our Cities4Life volunteers called me with issues she wanted to bounce off a sounding board. I was happy to help. I was again reminded of how deeply committed our Cities4Life volunteers are in helping the women who choose life. That conversation took another hour.
Then ANOTHER woman I work with who LEFT managing an abortion center because God convicted her heart to do so called me as well. She had mostly good news, and wants to meet me in person. She was calling to ask for prayer which of course I gladly offered!
Suffice it to say, that my entire morning and beyond was spent in unexpected ministry. That is why the river trail beckoned.
I biked the full trail, and realized that the river rapids did NOT look insurmountable. And GUESS WHAT? My kayak was in my car, parked at a little park downstream of the trail. While biking, I scoped out the river and decided I COULD likely kayak against the current and over the rapids, and then turn around and run the rapids. How fun would that be??!!!
The video above is of me working against the current. It was not easy, but I was determined. I had paddled about half an hour when I glanced at a large bird on the opposite shore. I gasped and said out loud, "Oh my Lord!! That is a bald eagle!" The eagle watched me. I wedged my kayak on a rock mid-river so I could sit and watch the eagle. I had NO IDEA there were bald eagles here!!! I had never seen one in all 25 years I have lived in North Carolina. I could have cried with joy.
The video does not begin to capture the magnificence of the bald eagle soaring above me. I watched at least a half hour, only videotaping towards the end of his spirals above me. It was one of the most awesome things I have ever seen. It is as though he were putting on a show just for me. He flew right overhead for many minutes.
Then I kayaked to the one section of class 2 rapids which I didn't think I could kayak against. I turned around and the half hour trip upstream took me five minutes downstream to my dock!
I did the run twice because I was so delirious with joy. I don't know why God had given me such an incomparable blessing, but He did. And I praised Him out loud with awestruck wonder.
I have been sharing the Gospel with a young lady who ALMOST believes, but just can't quite believe God would want a personal relationship with humans. She believes He is real, but doesn't believe the miracles of the Bible.
Really? The God who created the universe couldn't come to save us as a baby conceived in a virgin's womb? Or the God who created the magnificent beauty of the Catawba River and the Eagle in the sky could not desire to bless us with that gorgeous expression of His love? I don't know WHY God desires to make Himself known to us, but I have no doubt He DOES.
***************
Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
The Proverbs 31 Woman is in Awe of You...
ReplyDelete