God outside the Bible Box!

~Joyce's Secret~
​a love story

      I've been thinking about it for a good long while, and today just seems like the appropriate time to take the plunge. I have decided to launch a new series of posts on my website called "God outside the Bible Box!" God wants to work in our lives today, now, presently, but sometimes we tend to lock him in a box called the Bible. We believe he split the Red Sea, and rained food from heaven. We believe he replenished the widow's oil and flour, so that no matter how much she used, it never ran out. We believe he spoke through a donkey, made the sun stand still, made an axe head float, gave sight to the blind, healed the lepers, raised the dead, BUT, do we believe God can do miracles outside of the Bible, in the 21st. century, today, for us? Many of you reading this know he can! You have experienced his work in your lives. I have too. I want to share my experiences, and those of family members and close friends, not only to convince unbelievers that God intervenes in the everyday lives of ordinary people, but to strengthen the faith of fellow believers and encourage us all! 
    God has many names that depict different aspects of his character. When he showed up just in time for Hagar, a woman in the Bible, and met her needs, she called him El Roi, the God who sees! Today I want to write about an experience my mom, Joyce, had when I was a child. It was the first time I saw God as the God who sees! I got Mom's permission to share this. You will understand the title, Joyce's Secret as you read it. I will tell you that this story is more beautiful than anything Victoria has in store for Valentine's Day!

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     Joyce sat on the sofa quickly scanning the grocery ads from Wednesday's paper. She was happy to see that one of the grocery stores she frequented was having a big anniversary celebration. Many of the items she was out of were on sale. Maybe she wouldn't have to stretch her grocery dollars so thin today. Just as she finished writing her list, the phone rang. "Hello, yes Grandma, I will pick you up. I was going to call you before I left to see if you needed to go  get groceries. I will be there in a couple of hours. You are ready to go now? Well, I'll try to make it in an hour and a half. There are some things I have to do first, and I'm not even dressed yet. Yes, Grandma, I'll hurry. See you then. Bye." Joyce hung up the phone, got up and went to her bedroom. She knelt beside the bed and began to pray. She was so glad to be in her Father's presence. She began thanking Him for her blessings. She thanked Him for saving her. She praised Him for His love for her, and for His awareness of her. She asked Him to watch over her husband at work, and her children at school. When she got up, she realized more time had passed than she realized. She hurried over to her dresser drawer and opened it. As she looked through its contents, she frowned and dug a little deeper, as though she were hoping something better might appear. She finally made a selection, and as she picked it up, she said, "Lord, I really need some bras." She quickly got dressed. She was finally on her way. Fifteen minutes later, she was pulling into her grandma's driveway. She saw her anxiously looking out the window. She smiled and thought to herself, "Grandma doesn't realize all I have to do. She has so few responsibilities." She stepped up on the porch and knocked on the door. She heard Grandpa's kindly voice..."Come in!" The minute she opened the door she knew she was at her Grandparent's house. A wave of heat hit her in the face. Grandma said, "Shut the door! You're letting the cold air in!" Joyce said, "Are you ready?" Grandma said, "Yeah, but let me feed Frisky first." Frisky was her chihuahua. Joyce wondered why Grandma hadn't already fed Frisky, if she was in such a hurry, but she didn't ask, of course. She was used to this routine.
​     Grandma fed Frisky, and got him water. Then she decided her jacket might not be heavy enough, so she changed to another one. They finally started toward the door. Joyce noticed a brown paper bag setting with Grandma's purse in the chair next to the door. Grandma picked it up and handed it to her as they started out. "Here, Joyce, I bought these, but they didn't fit? Can you use them?" Joyce opened the bag. Inside were two new bras...just her size.
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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
TO MY 
WONDERFUL 
HUSBAND!!!
YOU ARE A GREAT BLESSING!!!

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