Peace and Joy

 

I drove to Sandpoint in the rain today and thanked God for the unlikely, good weather for Dec the 8th. I'll take the rain and warmer temperatures any day over the beauty snow gives us in most Decembers. 

I love a longer drive on a Monday. It gives me a chance to talk out loud to God about a few pressing matters, without the eyes of anyone thinking I am drunk... like Hannah in the Bible was thought of when she cried out all her anguishes to the Lord and was caught at it.

Anyway...today I was asking Jesus for peace and joy to go along with my walk of obedience in the kingdom of heaven. Peace for conformation that I am hearing correctly from the Lord and not making any of this 'walk' up, and joy for more strength. Because honestly, a girl gets tired when day after day feels like pushing through without the best sight. I have the faith and trust in God, but a little kick of energy that comes when God also provides peace and joy, well, that is just what I felt I needed. So, I boldly asked God for those two specifically.

Then promptly forgot about it as I wended my way through rainy streets, found a place to park, and walked with my umbrella over to the Cedar Street Bridge to meet my sister. She knew a place to get coffee upstairs and so we went. 

My math wasn't mathing at the register when I ordered my standard Americano with steamed cream. I embarrassed myself, thinking I had handed the lady a quarter with my dollars and instead I handed her a nickel...so there was that kerfuffle... blame it on the brain fog that comes with my age...I was thankful for a sister who made me feel more normal and socially acceptable.

As I finished up the transaction and gave out my name for my order, a friendly voice said, " Hi Shilah!" I turned to see the person speaking and struggled to recognize her as she reached for a hug like we were long lost friends. Once again, I turned to my sister, April, for assistance in case she could clue me in...maybe she knew who I was hugging? I mean, brain fog is a real factor these days. It could be I'm missing something again?

She shook her head,"No, but she reminds us of Denise, right?"

"Denise Midstokke?" again the voice entered our conversation. 

I was surprised by this too because I recently had been thinking of Denise, the midwife who delivered two of my babies, and had gone through some very rough patches in her career after helping to birth so many beautiful babies...Where was she? What was she doing? Would the Lord bless her and be real to her now today? Bring healing for the hurt...those are the kinds of prayers I had been lifting on her behalf.

To which the friend I had just met replied, " I am Stacey, I worked with Denise at her clinic when she was in Sandpoint." She went on to update us on the whereabouts of  our mutual friend. 

From there the conversation quickly went to the kingdom of heaven and serving our God and laying aside all the politics of life and seeing Jesus. I was blessed. Do you know what I discovered as I walked away to go find the restroom? God answered my prayer about peace and joy. That little reunion of hearts is about as sweet as heaven will be when we are all united at the throne with Jesus. I truly don't know of any better kind of peace and joy on this earth than to praise God together as we walk our walks of obedience to His kingdom.