Drama shoes brought :

So the past month or so I have been on an exhaustive and disheartening hunt.  My hopes would rise at a new prospect only to be dashed down again.  Failure after failure.  Even online shopping was proving futile!  I found a pair I thought I wanted but had never tried that brand before.  So I was hesitant.  I’m talking about my great shoe hunt.   I have a reoccurring struggle.  Since I wear my work shoes everyday they have a track record of wearing out in 4-6 months, if I’m lucky. 

My first mistake is buying the same brand over and over, only to have to buy another pair.  I now loath this brand that shall remain nameless.  So I scoured the valley and anchorage stores only to get even more disappointed. 

I decided to ask God to be on the lookout and to help me find a good deal, we’ve been trying to save as much as we can for Ireland.  So in the meantime my shoes I wear currently have begun to omit a slight order after a game of hacky sack or on my way home… yuck :P and have been stretched out so much they are too big, oh and the color is coming off.  Grrrrr

So today, the day we leave for Ireland, I decided to check the valley stores one more time in hopes of finding shoes for work and to wear in Ireland. Again I met with failure.  Then I decided, “okay God, I’m gonna go to Freddie’s and check.  And if there’s nothing there, I trust you to help me find shoes in Ireland.”  So I went in, not expecting much but with a little bit of hope.  I ended my search in the clearance department and was just about to give up when I caught a glimpse of these shoes.  Now I’m not one to find glory in a pair of shoes.  But these were just right.  They are a little euro looking but fit well and were on sale plus an extra 40% off! Whoot!!  I tried them on, walked around and began to thank God.  They are nothing fancy, and I will have to invest in some nice black work shoes pretty quick as well.  But these are an answer to prayer. 

See, it’s not about the shoes really.  It’s about being cared for and how God cares about these little details.  He knew I was frustrated and that I needed His help.  I choose to give God the credit for saving this pair of shoes; none like it were left, just for me.  I choose to praise God for caring about what I wear just as he cares about the sparrows.  Our God is so big and so great we often think that He doesn’t orchestrate such little seemingly silly things in our lives.  But He loves me and He wanted to bless my heart today.  I love my God. J 

So even if these shoes don’t work out, even if I end up having to return them(which I doubt), I will not forget how much God loves and provides for me.

He’s done it before.  I was a BROKE college student in Canada, homesick, sad, and needing a little pick me up.  “I want chocolate.”  I sighed.  Not 5 minutes later I found a chocolate bar in my coat pocket.  I sat down with a shocked yet choked deep breath.  It wasn’t the chocolate that comforted me, it was my God’s attention and love that caused me to leave that chocolate bar and forget about it only to find it just then.  My examples of God showing me He’s listening may seem small, but they mean that much more because they are so small.

This a great thing for me to think about as I get ready to set out to Ireland on this missions trip, a reminder that God has a great desire to take care of all the little details.  He LOVES to surprise us and show us He cares.  I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us.