An Unusual Means of Grace

Louise and I went into our respective days yesterday feeling extremely under appreciated in an area of our work.  It was an unusual feeling and the circumstances for us being in that place were quite different but the way we felt was strikingy similar.  Although we both ended up joking about "what a pair we are" and the fact that  "no one understands do they" we felt pretty flat. 

So, later in the day when I was visiting a young professional couple in their 30's (relevant details I think for the story....generally these kinds of people don't do what they did, sorry if that's typecasting) Mrs "X" says "I've baked you and Louise a cake just to say we really appreciate all you do........"

That never happens.   Not like that.

If ever there was one, this was a means of grace to us.

He sees....He notices....He responds.....

It was only a cake (albeit an incredible one that my kids didn't let touch the sides) but the Lord used it to minister to us deeply.

Our Conversation with other Christians

What do we talk about when we meet other Christ followers....anything other than our walk with God it would seem.   Rarely do we discuss our scripture reading, times of prayer and other aspects of our life with God.   But it hasnt always been this way.   J I Packer writes of the Puritans and of how they spoke about their walk with God. I think it's challenging:

Communion with God was a great thing; to evangelicals today it is a comparatively small thing. The Puritans were concerned about communion with God in a way that we are not. The measure of our unconcern is the little that we say about it. When Christians meet, they talk to each other about their Christian work and Christian interests, their Christian acquaintances, the state of the churches, and the problems of theology—but rarely of their daily experience of God.

I Get This!!!