Encounters with the Divine

We all want to feel special. 

I say "feel"  because I think deep on our inside we believe, or want to believe, we are special.... we have something to offer... a voice to be heard...a gift to give.

If we are being honest, most days we don't feel special at all. Most days are monotonous and our service goes unnoticed. 

Maybe your daily check list goes something like this... 1. Look fabulous 2. Be Mary Poppins 3. Make Friends 4. Keep the kiddos alive 5. Teach my kids something like Spanish (They should probably learn Spanish) or how to sew or something useful 6. Learn Spanish or how to sew 7. Plan a play date  8. Volunteer 9. Feed the poor 10. Tell someone Jesus loves them....and if you work outside the home, probably add # 11. Don't get fired....

 In all that we forget to be on watch for an encounter with the Divine. If you have no clue what the dickens a "Divine Encounter"  is (no it has nothing to do with aliens)  I would describe it as a moment when the heavenly enters into my ordinary

I'll be honest, divine encounters are not on the top of my list most days, but shouldn't they be? I can't say I walk around my house in search of one..especially in the midst of dinner time and temper tantrums. But that is exactly when it happened...of course I didn't realize that is what it was when it was...if that makes sense. 

After a long day of mommy hood, laundry, cleaning and homeschooling I was wiped. Ben arrived home to announce he was making hamburgers to which Zachary burst into tears.  Throwing his little body to the floor with sobs, only the great dramatics could mimic, he managed to choke out, "I....don't....LIKE...THAT!!!!!"  Awesome.  You can imagine how dinner went - but before we ate we prayed for our meal ...and since no one volunteered, I gave a brief...and I'll admit, maybe a even a little edgy "thanks for these AWESOME hamburgers...."  Zac's sweet voice chimed in..." And thanks for my special Mommy."  I tried to keep praying, but suddenly I was laughing and crying and all at the same time it was super ugly like this sob - giggle- chortle thing. Something in my stomach did a flip.  It was so unexpected and I was actually a little embarrassed that I became so emotional at his words. Get it together, Foulke. It was just a sweet thing. Don't make a scene here. (oh who are we kidding, i love a good scene make!)  

Dinner went on something like getting a root canal at the dentist and the moment quickly passed away. Later that evening I was in scripture reading about Stephen and the early church. Did you know Stephen's face shown like an angel while he was making his final statements to the Sadducees. Now THAT is divine.  (Acts 7/8)

I found myself thinking about my odd reaction to Zac's sweet words "What was THAT i thought?" and I felt the spirit say to me," I see you and I want you to know you are special.   Your soul leapt for joy at being recognized and the very word you needed to hear at that moment was 'Special' ". It was that word that pierced straight to my current need. Often in the daily ordinary we loose touch with how truly loved and celebrated we are by our savior, sometimes we need Him to remind us "Child, you are special and precious to me." It was through the spontaneous kindness of my kiddo that I had a divine encounter and it took my Monday out of the ordinary and into the heavenly. 

I believe Jesus wants to enter into our ordinary as often as we have eyes eager to see Him. Allow some of His heavenly to awaken your plain old tired ordinary. He will offer you exactly what you need.  

my love,

k