Hearing and Obeying God's Will

God brought me to the Christian t-shirt evangelism team nearly three years ago. As a financial consultant and business advisor, my husband spends a lot of time evaluating companies for purchase by his clients.  A colleague contacted him regarding a Christian t-shirt/apparel business he had for sale. He wanted to know if he might have an investor interested in purchasing it. Being Christian who believes there are no accidents, we followed God's direction.  And so the journey began. 

In the past two and a half years, I have been able to spend time learning more about God's word through the Christian t-shirts I sell. All of our designs are associated with scripture. Each sale/purchase is an opportunity to share Jesus' message of love, hope and salvation with those who may not know Him. It may also give someone who is a believer, the courage to become a Christian t-shirt evangelist. One Christian t-shirt can be seen (read) as many as 3000 times before it wears out. That's 3000 opportunities to reach someone for Christ! 

Through the blessing of Online Christian Shopper, I have met, prayed with and on behalf of many of my customers. Each of them with a different need or crisis. All of them a learning experience for me. God has an amazing way of putting us in the place we need to be, when we need to be there… closer to Him! Everyday brings a new challenge and with each challenge comes a new blessing. I am forever grateful for God's faithfulness. It is by His grace we are saved.

Letting My Daughter Take the Lead

Nearly twelve years ago, I stood in the middle of my kitchen holding a pregnancy test with a plus sign in the window. I was 38 years old and had given up hope that God would bless my husband and I with a second child. In fact, we had just moved to a new house and after years of trying, gave away all of our baby things to friends and the goodwill. It just goes to show that God has His own timing, His own will and a sense of humor!

Our now eleven year old has been a joy and a challenge. She definitely has her own mind! This is a good thing as an adult but certainly a source of frustration for me as the parent of a youngster. That determination has allowed her to pursue the gifts that God has given her. One such gift is singing and we have tried to nurture that through church choir and musicals, but the other is something more powerful. God has given her a heart for those with special needs and challenges and she has not only listened to the call; she has embraced it!

This year she is a 6th grader. It is her first year in middle school which we all know can be a challenge in itself; but in the first week, she noticed several children with physical and mental challenges at neighboring cafeteria tables. She got up from where she was sitting and went over to introduce herself to as many of them as she could. Can you imagine? What courage it took to do something so wonderful. Many of these students are seen as outcasts by their peers, but my daughter sees their souls instead of bodies and that is a gift that not many people have. She even approached the special needs coordinator at her school to volunteer as a student helper. Normally they do not allow 6th graders to help, but made an exception for her. At the end of each school day, she helps her buddy, Michael, get his coat on and strap his backpack to his wheelchair before making the trek to his bus.

As the parent of such a special person, I felt that it was my responsibility to help nurture this gift. While I have always had compassion for those with special challenges, I have never been all that comfortable interacting with them. This week, on Good Friday, my daughter and I will be volunteering with a ministry called SOAR at a local church. SOAR stands for Special Opportunities Abilities and Relationships. We can't wait to meet our new friend. I am excited to serve and to let my daughter take the lead in teaching me to step outside my comfort zone. I am excited for the opportunity God has given us to build new relationships with His most special souls and in turn, building a greater bond with the child he entrusted me with all those years ago!