Obvious Gift

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

So with all the love language talk, I like to tell people that the way I receive love the most is "random acts of kindness." It is a cross between gifts and acts of service. It is a gift in that the friend thought of me, and acted on it. It, however, does not have to be tangible. It is all the same to me.

Dictionary.com puts it this way:

"Something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present."

Last Sunday God gave an obvious gift that spoke directly to me. I serve a very personal God!

Last semester, I attended potluck lunches in Bryan. The idea of the lunches is to make sure those who usually eat at Twin City Missions during the week have food on the weekends. One of the Sundays, Sarah and I showed up early to attend their open-air church. During that time, we sung hymns, one of them being "Amazing Grace." We all stood in a circle and sang. God really spoke to me then during the first stanza on how the world looks at the people around me as wretches, people who should of tried harder in life. As they were making beatiful gestures of praise to our shared God, He spoke to me the extent of our heart's condition. The appearance of my heart is wretched, like most of the world views my friends.

But thanks be to God for grace. My heart has been redeemed.

So now for this past Sunday:

I was on my way to the potluck lunch, and I was thinking, "Man, I would really like to sing 'Amazing Grace' in a group." When I got there, I set down my food, and Dan gathered everyone together for the prayer of thanks before the meal.

Then came the shocker.

He tells the group of people standing in the circle holding hands that he would like to try something different. It was then that I started to guess what was about to happen, and share with God my excitement, although not completely sure it was going to take place. Dan then says he would like to sing a song together, and asked for songs we all knew. A man suggested 'Amazing Grace.' And Dan ran with the suggestion and we all sang our praises. Mine were filled with awe. My God loves me and showed me favor that day, and continues to pursue me like he first did.

Ahhh!