Coincidence or PROVIDENTIAL Circumstance

Providential: involving divine intervention; occurring at a favorable time; opportune, heaven-sent, fortunate, timely.

Before Mom's Estate Sale, I sent pictures to my children of “Granny’s Home” unlike any way they could conceive – in complete disarray compared to the pristine way it always looked "on her watch". When Mom and Dad’s home was destroyed by a tornado in 1991, my son, a real estate agent here in Tulsa at the time, found them this wonderful home. How PROVIDENTIAL it was to find the perfect home so quickly that is just five minutes from Karen. The close proximity has been such a blessing to Dad's care when he was so ill, and then Mom’s care after that. When I texted Ryan the photos of our sale set-up, he replied “I’ll never forget walking them through that house for the first time.” Precious PROVIDENTIAL moments.

Day 1 of Mom’s Estate Sale overflowed with activity – folks coming in to our “side show”. Karen and I are better known as Lucy and Ethel because we’re giddy and outgoing to all who stop by. We love letting our little lights shine which creates an atmosphere of joy -- along with our praise and worship music playing in the background. Our customers surprised us as they carried out far more than usual on our first day. It was going to be a 3-day sale -- but today it's 50% off. We'll be over and out!

I'm sure you've heard “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!” Here's a great example. Dad always kept pieces of wood around – just in case he might need a piece for his latest project. To Karen and I, that wood was useless so we placed a $2.00 price tag on the box. A lady, smiling big, brought that box of wood to check out. The junk value to us was $2.00, but to her – priceless. You see – her son is a wood carver – photo here is an example of what he makes out of junk. PROVIDENTIAL!

One of Mom's friends came by before the sale. Her home was burned down in a fire and we were able to bless her with items she could use. Yesterday, Mom said, “Your Daddy (in heaven) is the auctioneer for this sale, so you girls be listening for Him to give you God’s wisdom.” We prayed a lot, and we did sense God's PROVIDENCE that our signs caught people's attention and our newspaper ads, social media and emails were on God's time table. By the end of that first day, we had reached our usual two-day total. Thanks be to God....and Dad!

Mom and Dad gave their lives to serving God and leading many people to Him. Yesterday their lives via inspirational books, keepsakes, Christian art and other cherished items were imparted to others. It was PROVIDENTIAL that God gave Mom such peace and joy to pay all this forward. Last night, we brought her over to the nearly empty home she had lived and loved in for so many years. She was amazed and delighted.

Oftentimes, our best intentions end up with a greater purpose. That's what we've witnessed many times over the years. The greatest part....we can never out-give God. Somehow He always "one ups" us. We needed help to get a heavy table into a lady’s truck. At the same time, a beautiful couple had just checked out, but the wife indicated interest in an artificial tree. I asked if her husband could help this lady load her table and he did. We gave her the tree plus $20 for her husband’s kind heart to help. Her eyes filled with tears. She had heard our "God bless yous" and overall joy. She encountered God at an Estate Sale.

Best. Gift. EVER. We just think we're giving out of the love we have for others. Then, along comes God and shakes us up with a warm embrace that says...."I am loving through you. You are being my hands extended. You are my ambassadors......even at an Estate Sale that you thought was YOUR idea to help Mom sell her stuff. No. It was MY idea to bless people through you." How's that for "giving and it shall be given"? How's that for helping to make God even more famous through our little efforts? How’s that for God showing up again and again in His PROVIDENTIAL ways?

Sleepiness + Delays + Oven Repair + Car Trouble = God's Providential Circumstances

We just don't like or want delays, inconveniences, and unplanned circumstances. But, more often than not, God is working "all things" for our good so He asks us to simply trust Him.

Weariness obviously set in for me because of my busy, putting-the-pedal-to-the-metal schedule the last couple of weeks. I was driving home from Dallas, Monday morning, when I could hardly keep my eyes open to drive. Intelligent woman that I am, I knew I needed to pull off the highway for a few minutes to take a little nap. I pulled into the Choctaw Visitor Center, found a parking space, and fell asleep for about 10 minutes....and I was good to go. Then, about an hour later, that sleepiness hit me again, so I exited the turnpike and pulled off into a motel parking lot and again, fell asleep for about 10 minutes. That worked again.

Once home, I realized I needed to run to the post office, so before unpacking, I headed out. I made it out of the post office and got into my car, when one of my neighbors saw me and knocked on my window. We visited for about 10 minutes or so, then another friend saw me, and we talked another hour or so. In both of those encounters, I was there, what seemed to be on purpose to give words of encouragement. I left them both feeling God was tracking with me and because of the timing of my "sleepiness" on the road home, perhaps I seemed to be in the right place AT THE RIGHT TIME, for both of them. Sleepiness = Time Delays = Perfect Time to be His Ambassador

Then yesterday, I was expecting a technician to repair my oven and a plumber to repair my kitchen sink pipe. Because I have a home warranty, each repair job would be $75 -- that's all -- no extra costs for labor and parts. The plumber was to be here between 8 & 12 pm. He had car trouble so he was delayed. At 3 pm, the oven repairman came in and got his job done. Because my Life Group is on Tuesday nights, I had hoped that the plumbing repair would have already been done. We obviously needed water for my kitchen sink. I, kiddingly, asked the oven repairman "Do you know anything about plumbing?" He asked to see the issue, and with a quick turn of the fitting that holds the pipes together, it was done! That plumber's car trouble and my "extra" ask, saved me $75. Car Troubles = Time Delays = Perfect Time to be blessed with $$ savings.

So....the moral of both of these stories is "God's providential circumstances". Circumstances that easily could be seen as inconveniences, but in the grand scheme of His all-knowing and all-seeing plan for all lives, He worked things out for my good...and even others' good.

To believe that our Heavenly Father is constantly spreading around providential circumstances that work for our good, relieves so much pressure on us having to figure it all out. Most of us go through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that we will miss the way. What a waste of time and peace. The better way is to relinquish control and get the infinite wisdom of God. God stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him.

Here is His promise: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6