Chili, Interrupted

Yesterday was Chili Cookoff Sunday at my church, and I was going to write about and explain that today.  I wasn't really sure how I was going to tie that into an intro for my gratitude list for this week, although I was sneaking up on a couple of ideas.  Instead, I need to set that aside for another day, throw my hands up in the air, and give public praise to God for the way He met me this morning.

I had one of those mornings I really wasn't looking forward to--a meeting with someone to try to unsnarl a seemingly impossible snarl.  I was unhappy with this person--okay, I was pretty ticked off--and I was afraid of both my reaction and his.  I was afraid of the outcome.

I called, emailed, texted, Facebooked, and cornered every person I could think of to ask for prayer.  For the second time within a very short period I prayed for eyes to see God's presence while walking through a difficult circumstance.  The last time I had prayed in that way, the person with whom my son and I were meeting just-so-happened to mention that he was a deacon in his church and believed God was ultimately in control of the outcome of the situation we were trying to resolve.

Within minutes of walking into my appointment this morning, I heard the receptionist mention that her son had gone on a mission trip with her husband who was the youth group leader in their church.

My loving heavenly Father always, always has His people just where they are needed most.  Why am I so slow to learn this?  A couple of weeks ago, I gave thanks for answered prayer that is so immediate and obvious that it can't be missed.    The delightful KeLi responded:

...oh, yes. i, too, get those "so obvious" prayer answers... i tend to think i am God's equivalent of the problem child in the classroom. He knows those are the only ones i'll comprehend... :)

That pretty much sums up my reaction to this morning's events.  And so, this problem child continues to count, to give thanks.  (And I promise to write about Chili Cook Off later this week--it was a blast!)




485. The Lord is good.

486. His mercies are forever sure.

487. God’s people showing up when most needed. Again and again and again.

488. Answered prayer. Again and again and again.

489. My heavenly Father, willing to repeat Himself over and over again when I am so slow to learn.

490. Knowing that we have done everything we can, humanly speaking, and that the rest is in God’s hands.

491. They are good hands.

492. Husband’s safe return.

493. Conflict resolved.

494. Fishing trip for son and grandfather.

495. A church that values ministry to college students.

496. Our campus minister and his family.

497. Chili.

498. Cornbread.

499. Everyone who cooked, shopped, set up tables, tossed salads, played music, scooped ice cream, talked with students, cleaned up, or just came to be a part of church community.

500. All things being made new.