12.11.12 - VERY cool experience

I had a really cool experience this morning as I was heading off to work.  I was missing my eye glasses case - ok, just typing that statement and then reading it aloud makes me sound and feel old. Anyways, I was missing my, uh..... headphones for my iPod..... and eventually found them in a backpack I haven't used in weeks.  As I pulled the case, errr...... headphones...... out of my bag, a folded and crumpled piece of paper was attached.  I didn't think much about it and shoved it all into my coat pocket and headed out to the car.  As I got settled in for my commute, I grabbed the piece of paper to see what it was.  As I unfolded it, I realized I didn't recognize the hand writing but began reading.  Very quickly I knew what I was reading....

Isaac's thoughts on Nehemiah 2:19-20

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of serving on a mission trip to Ghana, West Africa.  While there, I spent some time with a group of great guys who were studying to become pastors.  I helped lead some bible studies and mostly just learned a lot from them.  On the last day, before we left for the airport, several of the guys came to say good-bye and one student, Isaac, gave me this note.  Isaac, myself, and others had spent a few days looking at the story and book of Nehemiah in the bible as a lesson on leadership.  Isaac was inspired to continue the study and wanted to share with me some of his thoughts and ideas a little further into one of the chapters.  When he gave me the note he said to me (half joking), when you come back to Ghana we can continue this study!  I read through it quickly in the moment and put it in my backpack to review later.

As I sat in my car this morning reading Isaac's ideas about what he felt the scripture was saying to him, I realized that there was a specific message in this for me today.  I won't go into all the details of the situation, but it was so cool that on a day when I needed some clear direction and guidance - things I have been praying for - God answered with a note written 9 months ago, on a completely different continent, by a young man I may never see again.

Yes, VERY cool.

Christmas Song of the Day

 When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.

It's nearly 20 years old, but this is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.  It's classic old soul Harry, but to me it just sounds like Christmas.