"You prepare a table before me...
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD forever."
Psalm 23:5-6
I am sharing this amazing "only God" story with you (at the risk of sounding like a Pampered Devotion Diva...smiles) for His glory. I stood...and I sat...in complete awe. I share this with the heart of these two verses: "Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf." Psalm 66:5 "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31
Last summer and this summer, we rented from some fabulous friends their shore house on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City, NJ. We love the location, and the house is just right for our little family.
As I was packing for our beach vacation a couple of weeks ago, I silently shared a thought with the Lord. "Lord, I'd really like to have a special place to have my morning quiet time with You at the shore house this year. You know how I like to spread out a little for my quiet time and study time. Last summer at the shore, I used the kitchen table every day, which was dandy. Yet it would be wonderful to have a special little spot where I can spread out a bit and not have to put everything away when I am done every morning. That would be great. Just a little wish, Lord. Thanks."
On Saturday, July 4th, when we arrived for our shore vacation, Jim took the first of many heavy loads up to the house while I was organizing the cherubs and gathering as many things in my arms as I could carry. When he came back down, he enthusiastically said, "Honey, there is a new little table (like a desk) in the living area that is perfect for morning quiet time with the Lord. And I can put my lap top there for when I need to log into work." He was very excited, and so was I. Wow, Lord, thank you!
When I went into the house the first time, wobbling along and looking like an octopus carrying a dozen miscellaneous packed bags for our week's vacation, I took a look at the unexpected addition of furniture to the shore house. It was perfect! I was so thankful to the Lord for remembering my little prayer.
On Tuesday, July 7th, while we were at a waterpark on the boardwalk, I called my sweet girlfriend who owns the shore house to see how she was feeling. (She had become very ill the weekend we left for vacation.) Thankfully, she was starting to feel better after receiving treatment and medication. She was on the road to recovery, and we were so thankful.
Toward the end of our phone conversation, I said to my friend, "By the way, we love the table you put in the living area of the house. It's perfect for morning quiet time!" My dear friend said, "What table?". "You know, the little table between the fire place and the front door." "We didn't put a table there." "Yes, you did." "No, we didn't. Hold on..." She called to her daughter to check with her, and she said "no". Oh come on! My heart started fluttering and tingles ran through my body. Could it be? Did He?
As soon as we got home from the waterpark that afternoon, I took a picture of the table with my phone and texted it to my friend who owns the shore house. Her reply: She had never seen the table before. She double checked with her husband and the cleaning lady (the small handful of people who have key access to their shore home). Nothing. Nobody knew about the table or how it got there. But I believe God did. He provided that table.
Truth is, I almost forgot I had even shared my thought with the Lord about a "special spot" for morning quiet time at the shore house. But He remembered. He prepared a table for me. He met me there. He encouraged and blessed my heart in a remarkable way. He spoke His love and acceptance to my heart in a way I will always remember. He made my cup overflow. His goodness and love are following me, and I am SO THANKFUL and so humbled.
On Saturday, July 4th, when we arrived for our shore vacation, Jim took the first of many heavy loads up to the house while I was organizing the cherubs and gathering as many things in my arms as I could carry. When he came back down, he enthusiastically said, "Honey, there is a new little table (like a desk) in the living area that is perfect for morning quiet time with the Lord. And I can put my lap top there for when I need to log into work." He was very excited, and so was I. Wow, Lord, thank you!
When I went into the house the first time, wobbling along and looking like an octopus carrying a dozen miscellaneous packed bags for our week's vacation, I took a look at the unexpected addition of furniture to the shore house. It was perfect! I was so thankful to the Lord for remembering my little prayer.
On Tuesday, July 7th, while we were at a waterpark on the boardwalk, I called my sweet girlfriend who owns the shore house to see how she was feeling. (She had become very ill the weekend we left for vacation.) Thankfully, she was starting to feel better after receiving treatment and medication. She was on the road to recovery, and we were so thankful.
Toward the end of our phone conversation, I said to my friend, "By the way, we love the table you put in the living area of the house. It's perfect for morning quiet time!" My dear friend said, "What table?". "You know, the little table between the fire place and the front door." "We didn't put a table there." "Yes, you did." "No, we didn't. Hold on..." She called to her daughter to check with her, and she said "no". Oh come on! My heart started fluttering and tingles ran through my body. Could it be? Did He?
As soon as we got home from the waterpark that afternoon, I took a picture of the table with my phone and texted it to my friend who owns the shore house. Her reply: She had never seen the table before. She double checked with her husband and the cleaning lady (the small handful of people who have key access to their shore home). Nothing. Nobody knew about the table or how it got there. But I believe God did. He provided that table.
Truth is, I almost forgot I had even shared my thought with the Lord about a "special spot" for morning quiet time at the shore house. But He remembered. He prepared a table for me. He met me there. He encouraged and blessed my heart in a remarkable way. He spoke His love and acceptance to my heart in a way I will always remember. He made my cup overflow. His goodness and love are following me, and I am SO THANKFUL and so humbled.
Before we left the shore house at the end of our week's vacation, I stood at the table with my hands on it. I prayed for all the people who had sat there and who will sit there in the future. I prayed they would meet with God there, that it would be a special place for them as well. A table prepared by Him.
Ask Him to meet you. He will. The table is set. Join Him."Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious! Say to God, 'How awesome are Your deeds!' Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf!" Psalm 66:1-3,5
