My husband cannot pass up a garage sale. I think his car is programmed to stop at each and every one. As a matter of fact, on our way to the church whereI was scheduled to preach one Sunday in South Carolina, he pulls up to one and buys a weedeater and a lawn mower and puts them on top of our luggage. As we drive up to the church, the pastor, who knows we have no grass asks why are we traveling around with a lawn mower and a weedeater?
Iīm worried heīll think we have to do landscaping as we go, to pay our way. So I explain how Darko cannot pass up a bargain. Even though we have no grass, the price was right . He gets euphoric because he finds a bargain, not because he finds something he needs. I donīt even like to shop. As a matter of fact, I hate shopping. To me, going shopping and going to the dentist are synonymous and a necessary but unavoidable evil. I wish that clothes would just appear in my closet. This is why this particular Saturday afternoon was definitely ordained by God.
Darko came home talking about a thirty-five dollar hope chest that he thinks he should not have passed up. He said that if I wanted it, heīd go back and get it. If I wanted it??? First of all, what do I want with a hope chest at my age? Second, I already have a hope chest. And thirdly, since it was the end of the month, I needed thirty-five dollars more than I needed grass for my lawn mower. Why are we having this discussion I wanted to know?
Later that afternoon, on our way to the restaurant, Darko decided to go back to that same garage sale to see if something else he passed up was still there. I never get out of the car at garage sales. NEVER. I have everything I could possibly need. I do not need one more thing in my life. Nevertheless, that day, I got out of the car. The lady holding the sale recognized Darko and presumed he brought me back to buy the hope chest, so she says, "I canīt do any better than thirty-five dollars."
"Oh no, no no," I blurted, I donīt need a hope chest". At that very moment I sensed God say, "Give her thirty-five dollars for the hope chest." I walked over to my husband and asked him not to haggle. Itīs not a bargain to him unless he can get it cheaper. To him itīs a sport. I figure, if itīs worth $100, and theyīre asking two dollars, you should give them five. At least!
When she admitted that it was her motherīs but that she was forced to sell it because she needed the money, I knew we should exchange phone numbers in case she was ever in a position to buy it back. I then invited her to see a play in town. She agreed to attend.
True to her word she did come to the presentation but I noticed that she left before it ended so I called her to find out why. The conversation lasted two and a half hours. The whole time we talked about God and how He provided a way for us to have eternal life. She then prayed with me and committed her life to Him.
What she said next was incredible. It left a tremendous impact on me. I was in blue jeans. I was not wearing a robe and sandals. I was not quoting King James nor did I have a copy under my arm. Yet, she said, " I didnīt think you were a real person. I thought maybe you were an angel. Your eyes looked right through me. My boyfriend asked me where I was going after you left, and I said I was going to take a shower because I felt dirty".
Folks, the people that are living without God in their lives recognize the GLORY of God that we carry within us. They donīt know what it is, but they see it in our eyes. Why donīt we see it in each other? Why donīt we acknowledge it in each other? If we did, it would have a radical effect on how we act toward each other. How we relate to each other. How we treat each other. What we say about each other. We need to recognize it in the other members of the body and treat them with NO less respect than you would give Jesus Himself.
The question needs to be asked, are you yourself walking in the anointing and are you so full of the spirit of God that you sense His presence in the other members of the body of Christ? Are you filled with God to overflowing or are you merely satisfied to be a Christian period, just living a good moral life. You donīt drink, you donīt smoke, you donīt cuss. Well the Pharisees and the Sadducees didnīt drink, or smoke or cuss. That is not the state in which God wants you to live. He wants you to hunger and thirst after Him and seek His face and seek more of His presence in your life. He wants to permeate your whole being so that His glory will radiate from you.
God has an agenda and that is for us to take His glory to some soul that is living in darkness. Jesus, who is the Light of this world, said that we, His followers, are to be lights in this world and that we are to let our light so shine before men that it will cause them to glorify the Father which is in heaven. Realize that Jesus is not only living in you, but wants to shine through you.
Copyright Donna Martonfi www.psalm40ministries.com
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