“Like the unexpected call of a friend just when you need it most, grace arrives unannounced. A door opens. A path becomes clear. An answer presents itself. The right person walks into your life. These thousand silent streams, the movement of grace, weave through our lives, protecting, nurturing, supporting, transforming us from helpless to hopeful, giving us the tools to craft change, revealing a different future. Grace is the Spirit's art: each one designed uniquely, shaped to fit perfectly, given in beauty, received in wonder. Grace is what it feels like to be touched by God.” Bishop Steven Charleston Facebook Page.
Watching the Arkansas River Rise
Stories: Where God Shows up in your life
At St. Mark’s we are starting a weekly story in the Remarks and Bulletin sharing with each other when and how God shows up in our lives. Pentecost with the observance of the gift of the Holy Spirit is a great time to start this series. This is my recent story to begin our story time together.
Because of the massive and persistent rains in Oklahoma, our rivers, particularly the Arkansas River are surpassing previous flood stage levels. We all have friends who have left their homes because of the rising waters. Our family does live very close to the Arkansas River, but we live high above the river on an elevated ridge, so we should be safe.
In the last two days, I have received calls and emails from two friends I went to high school with on the east coast almost a thousand miles away. One lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and one lives in Richmond, Virginia. They both were concerned that we were displaced by the flood. One even suggested they would come and get us. These are friends from almost sixty years ago with whom we stay connected through occasional class reunions. Both my husband and I were moved to tears and were speechless by the love and concern of old friends from so many miles away. This is our most recent occurrence when God suddenly shows up in our lives.
It is important for us to share our God appearances with each other. When we feel lost, we must remember these stories about times God vividly takes on flesh and lives among us. We also need to encourage each other by sharing these stories of hope and love with our neighbors.
St. Mark's wants to hear from you about times God shows up in your life. Also, let us know if we may share your story with others.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com.
Send stories to. joannaseibert@me.com