My New Friend, Nati

There are some times during this trip that I have plans and know where I'm going.  A LOT of the trip, I don't know where I'm going or where I'm staying.  I'm leaving that up to God.  That's very hard for me because I am quite the planner, but I know God knows better than me, so I'm letting Him direct my path. 

In the beginning of the year, when this JOURNEY was just an IDEA in my head, I was praying about it and opened up my Jesus Calling book to January 9th. (If you haven't heard of the book, Jesus Calling, you have to buy it ASAP!  Everyone I talk to who has it says it speaks to them.  It speaks to me all the time.) 

This is what it said:

"I am with you and for you.  When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you.  You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged - NEVER GIVE UP!  With My help, you can overcome any obstacle.  Do not expect an easy path as you JOURNEY hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent.

Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come.  One of the main ways I assert My sovereignty is in the timing of events.  If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the PATH forward moment by moment.  Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let me set the pace.  Slow down, and enjoy the JOURNEY in My presence."

Well, that really spoke to me, so I'm trying to let Him show  me the path.

On Saturday night, I had no where to stay.  I had the town of Lordsburg on the calendar of a possible place to stay the night.  I prayed and asked God where He wanted me to stay.  I felt like I should stay at a KOA there AND it had pull-through parking...NO backing up :)  I made reservations.  When I got there, I met Nati, the lady who runs the place.

The next day I called and asked if I could stay later because I had to do the dreaded work thing again.  I went to the office to pay the extra money for my late check out and said goodbye to Nati.  I wondered  why God didn't have me talk to her about Him or pray for her or anything. 

When I was trying to empty my tanks, I wasn't sure which hole to dump them in.  Nati came out to help me.  She noticed the cross on my camper and asked if I had put that on there myself.  I told her yes and said she should follow me on my JOURNEY.  She asked me to come to the office so she could write it down. 

In the meantime, my friend, Victor, texted me and asked me what I was doing.  I told him I was going in to talk to Nati and asked him to pray for her and whatever God was going to do.

I went to her office and started to share all the miracles God has done already on this JOURNEY.  She said when I came in the night before, she had been reading a book on miracles, and she said when she saw me, she thought I was some kind of miracle or angel because my face was shining. 

What????

I told her to read the blog, so she could see more miracles God was doing. 

I asked her if she had ever had a personal relationship with Jesus.  She said she had obeyed the ten commandments and had remained faithful to her husband.  I then asked her if she wanted to pray to ask Jesus to be in her life, so she could be sure  to get to heaven AND have a relationship with Him now.  She said yes.  She held out her arms and said, "Dear God, please forgive me of my sins and please be my Lord & Savior."  She did that all by herself!   I didn't have to do anything. 

She told me she had gotten her bible (one of those big table bibles) out a couple of days ago.  I told her some verses to read and to read the book of John first and ask God to teach her as she reads. 

You see....God had already started working in Nati's heart.  I just had to show up, and God let ME be part of her story.  God also let Victor be part of the story.  God had him text me right at that time, so he could pray for her and be part of Nati's story too.

 Here's a video she made :)