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Hi <<First Name>>,

One afternoon many years ago, my then 3-year-old niece (who I affectionately call Pun’kin) was visiting with me in my home. I was in the midst of a difficult time in my life, living alone after a failed marriage, and desperate to find healing and direction. This was not the life I’d envisioned for myself, however there were things to be thankful for in the midst of it. Because I was able to rent the “mother-in-law” house in my sister’s backyard, my little niece was able to visit often. It was, in fact, the only place she could go all by herself, so she regularly asked to visit “Aunt ‘lissa.” My sister would call to let me know she was on the way and stand in her back doorway to watch as Pun’kin walked across the yard where I waited in my front doorway.
 
I treasured those times of distraction from my heartache and feelings of failure and emotional unrest.
 
Despite my struggles and questions about how to move forward in my life, I knew that the Lord loved me and would never leave me. I’d been attending church all my life (literally - I was born on a Friday afternoon and that Sunday morning I was lying on the church pew!).  I had learned about Jesus and gave my life to him at a very young ago, so I knew that He had the answers and the comfort I was seeking. Each day, I was spending time in prayer and had committed to reading three chapters in my Bible.
 
That afternoon, I explained to my sweet little niece that I needed to do my daily Bible reading, so she grabbed her little picture Bible and climbed up beside me in the recliner.  As we sat together, I began reading the first of the three chapters I would read that day. After a  couple of minutes, Pun’kin looked up at me and said, “If you read out loud I can hear it, too.”
Wow, I had been asking God what I was supposed to do, how I could serve Him in my everyday life, whether or not I had a purpose, and here was an opportunity to share God’s Word and teach a little child about Jesus . . . but I almost missed it because I was more concerned with checking an item off my to-do list. I immediately closed my Bible and began reading to her from the little picture Bible, knowing that in that instant God had taught me a lesson I’ll never forget.
 
Don’t miss the opportunity to share about Jesus!

Don't be so busy working through my to-do list and going about my everyday life that I miss the God moments He has prepared for me!
Anna was someone who could have easily missed out on such an opportunity. We meet Anna in Luke, chapter 2, and learn that she was a prophetess and a widow. She was 84-years-old and spent all her time serving God with fastings and prayers in the temple. In fact, she had been doing these same things since she was widowed as a young woman many years before. This was probably not the life Anna had envisioned for herself; however she chose to spend her life in the temple in continual worship and service to the Lord

The Bible doesn’t tell us much more about Anna, but I’m guessing that after decades spent at the temple, she’d probably developed some routines and habits for her days and weeks. Over those years, she’d seen many people come and go, including young couples bringing their firstborn sons and sacrifices to present to the Lord.
 
But then one ordinary day, as she was going about her daily activities, she came up at the very moment that Simeon took the baby Jesus and declared Him to be the Messiah. She immediately began to give thanks to the Lord and to tell others about Him!
And coming in that instant
(Anna) gave thanks to the Lord,
and spoke of Him to all those
who looked for redemption
in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:38
Anna was simply going about her everyday life. Her faithfulness and willingness to serve the Lord day in and day out positioned her for that moment in history, and she became a witness to others. She “continued to speak of Him to all those who looked for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Does this make her the first missionary to share that redemption had arrived?)  In the midst of her daily routine, she didn’t miss the opportunity to offer thanks and share with others about Jesus!
I’m so grateful to the Lord for reminding me (through the question of a 3-year-old) that in my everyday life, there will be opportunities (God Moments!) to share His love and the story of redemption . . . if I pay attention and don’t miss them!

I'd love to hear about one of your God Moments - please hit reply and share it with me!

Blessings,
Melissa
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Melissa Gross · 803 Patricia Drive · Allen, TX 75002 · USA

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