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Saturday, August 25, 2007

He is Near!

I don’t have anything witty or cleaver to share with you today. You will find nothing profound or insightful in the story I am about to tell. Well, perhaps or perhaps not. Let God lead your heart.

This is a cornball story describing an ordinary day, a gal and her dog, and her amazing God. You may roll your eyes when you find out what I am talking about. Hang with me. The ending is good.

_____

Every morning I go for a walk-and-talk with Jesus. I usually take along my dog, Peanut. He is a mutt, Chihuahua-Daschund mix. We head out the door, peanut wearing his red leash, I am in shorts, and carrying a plastic bag. Dog walkers know what we use this for. *grin*

We walk a route in the common areas of our neighborhood. It is a wide loop with beautiful pathways with terrific landscaping. I find myself praising God most mornings as I take in the beauty of nature.

Thursday morning, as we started walking our loop, little Peanut decides it is time. He, ahem, hunches and does his thing. I reach into my pocket; the plastic grocery bag is gone. Rest assured I am a responsible pet owner. I don’t want to leave the evidence lying about.

Along our path there are several doggie boxes containing plastic bags for this kind of an accident. I can pick one up and scoop the doo-doo on the way home.

The entire time I am walking, I am praying about writing a post for today. I have made five attempts to write something and I have deleted them all. I am more than a little anxious. I pray, asking the Lord for the words. I talk to Him about my writers block for 30 minutes. Walking and talking. I completely forget to check the doggie boxes for bags.

I turn the final corner of the walk and remember the dog mess is ahead. I realize I do not have a bag in my hand and there is not a dog box in sight. So, I utter these words, “Lord, could You provide a plastic bag within the next 50 feet.”

I keep walking.

I see something ahead in the grass.

Could it be?

I walk about 20 feet and there on the grass next to the sidewalk is an Albertson’s shopping bag. I hesitate. I reach down and pick it up carefully. It is wet and covered with freshly mowed grass but I shake it out and find it is clean, whole and exactly what I need.

I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or shout, “Hallelujah! It’s a miracle.” I start thanking God. I could almost feel Him standing next to me. He whispered in my ear, “I am closer than you think.”

Peanut and I begin walking again. I am still in shock or awe or something. I use the Albertson’s bag and exercise my pet-owner responsibility. I scoop the poop. We walk it to the can in the park and start home.

I continued praying about what just took place as we walked down our street toward home. I felt God prompting me. I said something like this, “Lord, I can’t write about dog poop.”

“Lynn, you asked me for the words.”

“Yes Lord, and what a story it is.”

“Don’t forget what you learned today.”

“I won’t Lord”

I am closer than you think.
I am near.
I listen, I hear.
No need to fear.
I am near.
–Sincerely, The Lord



By the way, I found my dropped bag a few doors away from my house as I was walking home. God set up this amazing encounter the minute I began to pray.

Please visit me at: Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

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11 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

God is there to help us in every situation, and I do mean every situation my friend, lol I love you.

August 25, 2007 at 12:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God does take care of the details, doesn't He? Great story. FYI - I'm one of those peope who just can't seem to overcome the "ewwww" factor of picking up warm poop and carrying it around. (sorry, readers for the added visual). I prefer the shovel in the back yard. :)

Therefore, I do not walk my little dog. He can get his exercise in the back yard just fine. :)

August 25, 2007 at 7:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can honestly say I agree 100% that this was a 'God' thing, not just a GOOD thing! As I walk on my break at work, I smoke...I know, I know..anyway, I am always feeling bad about throwing my butts on the ground, I mean GUILTY bad and I keep talking about it in prayer of how I hate to do this...well, guess what...there is now a garbage can always on this walk for me to throw them away where there wasn't one before! it's always there and I keep forgetting about it, but am getting better at remembering to use it. So, you talk about dog poop and i talk about cigarette butts..the concept is the same, God convicted us AND He keeps His word - He provides :-)

August 25, 2007 at 8:03 AM  
Blogger Gretchen said...

1. Peanut is a cutie! What a great prayer partner. :)
2. This is not just a cornball story, it's a story of a divine appt. Our God can use the mighty, or the...mundane, shall I say? :)...and use it to His glory.
3. I have had that happen to me, as well. I think the slickness of the plastic doesn't go well with the fabric of my shorts/pants.
4. If He can get you out of this mess (pun intended), think of how many times we can trust Him with not only dog doo, but big stuff. I know you know this, and that's why this is such a glorious post. Sorry for posting a post in your comments. :) xxxooogretchen

August 25, 2007 at 12:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank you for sharing..that was awesome

August 25, 2007 at 3:22 PM  
Blogger Chris @ Come to the Table said...

I love it when the Lord works and speaks in the most unusual and unexpecting ways. This was great!

August 25, 2007 at 7:49 PM  
Blogger 2nd Cup of Coffee said...

I just love you so much! Your humility and child-likeness comes shining through and reminds us to trust him, that he IS there in the moment. You can be so many readers will remember this story long after you've forgotten it. Praise God for using you, Peanut, and Peanut's "clusters." :)

August 25, 2007 at 8:22 PM  
Blogger Christine said...

I love this pooper scooper story!! That's profundity in an everyday happening! You're the best and you gave me a laugh today. :)

August 25, 2007 at 9:00 PM  
Blogger Darlene Schacht said...

You delete 5 times too? I think too many of us feel that those with profound words just seem to have the gift that flows freely and never needs a rewrite. I once read a woman's blog who wrote that she was quitting because she couldn't write as easily as some others--my name among them. Me? I choked. I struggle all the time too. But you know what? God uses the imperfections in life for perfection. Thanks for listening to His voice.

August 26, 2007 at 10:50 PM  
Blogger Lori said...

Lynn I love this!!! God is evident even in the littest things. Oh I LOVE THIS!

August 28, 2007 at 8:45 AM  
Blogger Bernadine said...

What a cute story. Isn't it funny how God uses things like dog poop to teach object lessons?
Thanks for sharing.

August 28, 2007 at 9:09 PM  

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