“We are going to take that No Trespassing sign and keep it as a reminder that God can trespass anywhere He wants.”
I had the privilege of greeting at church this Sunday. As I stood at the front doors of our WestSide campus I could feel the hot summer sun beating through the glass. It felt great! But my mind was more captivated with what is directly across the street from our church. It is an old hotel that now rents rooms by the hour. Crazy, I know! But it is the perfect set up for all the pimping, prostituting, and drug dealing that go on in that area.
The only thing that separates our campus from the hotel is a chain link fence. So, as I greet it is easy to see the people come and go, but in my vision and prayers, I continually pray that God will overtake that hotel and give it to us to use for His kingdom and glory. I pray it daily. I see it. And I know one day, in God’s timing, it will come to pass.
Side note: You’ve got to check out this song, Our God Reigns Here by John Waller. I sing this song, this anthem, and praise our God that He reigns HERE and He will reign over that hotel. Hallelujah, God reigns here, there, and everywhere.
While I stood there at the door greeting and praying for the people at that hotel, I heard our Pastor say to someone, “See that No Trespassing sign. There will be a day when we take it down and keep it as a reminder that God can trespass anywhere He wants.” And of course, I wanted to shout “Amen! Hallelujah!”
Those words “God can trespass anywhere He wants” kept ringing in my ears, heart, mind, and soul all morning. As I was walking to my car after church a woman who has been attending our church and lives in that hotel called out from the hotel parking lot. She wasn’t able to come to church that morning, so I went over to the fence to visit with her. We visited face to face through the chains, and as I turned to leave my eyes were drawn to the sign above us “No Trespassing”.
Driving home my mind kept thinking, “Lord, this is crazy! The only thing that separates Your House from a hotel of ill repute is a chain link fence with the sign No Trespassing on it.”
No Trespassing. No Trespassing. No Trespassing.
My mind was attached to those words all day long.
Late in the evening God spoke a soft word, “Alene, you think that chain link fence is crazy. Well, what about those chain link fences in your own life?”
Hmmmmm. What? Don’t think I have any.
That’s when my vision of that chain link fence separating God’s house from a hotel turned into the chain link fence in my life where I had separated my will from God’s will.
He reminded me that He has given me gifts and abilities to use to honor Him, but I had put a chain link fence around some of those areas. I had said by my actions, “God I’ll give you these gifts (the ones I’m comfortable with, that come naturally) – use them, bless others, grow Your kingdom through them – but these abilities (ones that stretch me and require me to step out of my comfort zone) You are not to trespass over. Lord, I’d prefer if you wouldn’t even look through the chain link fence at them, yet alone call me out beyond it. I’m comfortable on my own property, doing things my way – No Trespassing Allowed. Please do not move beyond this fence and invade my space, my will, and my familiar life!”
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
There certainly are a lot of I’s and my’s in the paragraph above. I’m so thankful God gently snatches my heart and amazes me moment by moment.
The rest of the story coming tomorrow. Come back because I think you just might realize you have a chain link fence too.
Umm, OUCH.
Faye,
Yep, I feel your ouch and raise you two! Thanks friend.
Blessings to you.
Oh my, uncomfortable is my middle name these days. God is taking me way out of my comfort zone and this post is simply further confirmation. Thank you for sharing this. Have a lovely evening.