You always did things different

Tonight I was at a fun "trunk or treat" evening at the church where my wife is the worship director. Trunk or treat is an alternative to halloween where kids go to the trunks of vehicles parked in the church parking lot to get their treats instead of going door to door. The kids also have fun indoor activities and a children's story prior to heading to the parking lot.


While I was outside waiting for the kids to come by my vehicle I had a conversation with a guy I have known for years, though I have not had our paths cross for close to three years. He inquired as to what I was doing now and I was able to share with him all that I am involved in. 


I shared with him many things and at the end I talked about the Boaz ministry and our vision. He was intrigued and also told me he works for a company that sponsors organizations that are involved in making our communities a better place. He talked to me about how we were funded and I told him that we are a faith based ministry, and that we were not seeking the government's assistance in order to do things. He chuckled and said in a complimentary way, "you always did things differently".


I took that as a word of encouragement. I am not into doing things the same way they have always been done just for the sake of doing it. I want to follow God and His leading. Let me give you an example of this. 


Earlier this week I was walking downtown when the Lord laid on my heart to give away $100. I was to give it to someone specific and later that afternoon I did give it away. I let the person know I was doing so because God had told me to do so. I didn't really have an extra $100 to give away but I felt it was God's leading.


The next day I was looking at my phone,cable and internet bill and thought that I was paying too much per month. I called the company planning to cancel my sports package. I talked to one representative of the company and they passed me along to another person. I told that person I was paying too much and wanted to cancel my sports package and she said "I can do better than that. I am going to reduce your bill by 30% a month for the next two years and you can keep your sports package." This is a savings of almost $700/year for the next two years.


Then this morning I was driving to church and I had picked up a teen on the way. We decided to stop at Tim Hortons to get a hot chocolate and some donuts. When I got to the window to pay for our order the cashier said "you don't have to pay, the vehicle in front of you just paid for your order." Neither Samm or I knew the person in the other vehicle.


Later in the morning I was given an unexpected gift from friends for $100. You may look at all this and say it is a coincidence, I do not! I believe that God used me to bless someone and then God richly blessed me. I didn't give the gift in order to get the extra blessing, I gave the gift because I wanted to be obedient.


The same principle is true for this ministry. We are to bless others. We are to trust God. He is creative and He will provide all we need as we honor Him in all we do!