Stripped: A Personal Story

We're in week three of our midweek series, STRIPPED, where we're exploring and practicing spiritual disciplines of abstinence (watch the services here). These aren't easy topics to practice: solitude, fasting, meditation, and simplicity. They require us to unplug, create intentional space, and focus.

We have a dedicated blog for this series at NCStripped.com (also accessible through GCCwired.com). After last evening's focus on meditation, John and Peggy left this comment. It's another great story of the wonder of almighty God who still works mysteriously in our lives. Thought I'd share it here.

Just a note to tell you that June 26th was my wife's and my first mid week service at GCC. We were blown away! The teaching was incredibly relevant to our busy lives. We enjoyed the "meditation" session and worship.

That being said I need to share what happened when we left the church. As we got into our Jeep to go home our oldest daughter sent my wife a Flix Message via Verizon. It was a picture of Jesus and a text talking about how we as humans have busy lives and how ironic it was that we can sit through a 2 hour movie and yet we fall alsleep halfway through a 45 minute sermon. (Surely never at GCC though) :-)

Now this might not seem incredible to most but let me put this into perspective with the timing.

1. My wife just last week purchased a new cell after her old unit was retired. This new unit being a phone capable of Pix and Flix. She only did so at my pleading because she was comfortable with her no frills phone. It was "out of her comfort zone" to get this Pix/Flix capable unit.

2. We NEVER have ever been to a Mid week service. It was our 1st ever.

3. She was reluctanct to go to the "Cult" church in the 1st place!

4. She is finding out, after a 52 yr "religious" upbringing, what it means to have a relationship with God.

5. Our daughter is not the communicative type to send anything to us......let alone something about Jesus.

6. My wife cried tears of amazement and felt as if God spoke to her heart through the events of Thursday night.

All of these events were no accident or coincidental timings. As we sat (patiently) in line to exit the parking lot we recieved this special little message. It is God reaching out to us. We are humbled! and this we know for certain........we cried out to him and he has heard our cry! God is GOOD!!

If we'll learn to be aware - by practicing disciplines that help us experience God in private - we'll see the faithful work of God all around us, in us and through us!

Do you have a story to share about God's work in your life through the practice of spiritual disciplines? Share it in a comment on this site and/or over at NCStripped.com.