Open your eyes...

This past May I had the privilege of going on a Disaster Relief mission trip to Arab, Alabama. Last night, our group reunited (minus a few members) and told our testimony to Oak Grove Baptist Church. It was here, where the trip transpired from a simple statement into an action. Jessica Prescott was our amazing leader from day 1 up until the day we returned. Her vision and leadership always kept us on track and staying focused on the goal.

Some shared about why they decided to go, what God had shown them, how their heart was changed and many other examples of what the trip meant to them. As for me, my story was one of having the opportunity to see glimpses of God. I watched as Satan stayed nearby the entire trip and God defeated Him because we were obedient. We stayed in the word even though we were tired, we prayed before each work site and afterwards that His will be done and that people would see Christ through us.

While there was never a time that I recall where we presented the gospel and lead someone to Christ, I am certain that those around saw the love of Christ. I know for us as a group, we were encouraged by each other to keep working and to give it our all. We knew that God was working in and through us.

I'd like to share a few examples of how God showed me his hand in what we were doing. Our trip transpired on a Wednesday afternoon, 8 days later God had provided $6,000, a trailer full of supplies (including a generator), 3 men, 8 women and 3 homes to crash at.

We made our plans, had it down pat, knew what we where we were going and what we were doing and 2 days before we left, God changed it all. He gave us a glimpse of what it's like to fully trust Him and have faith in the calling he had placed on our lives. And by the time we arrived, we fell right into his plan and everything worked out.

By Saturday, we were physically exhausted and tired and constantly brainstorming of where and how to spend the $ we had been entrusted with. Satan tried in many different ways to discourage us, defeat us and plant little seeds of doubt in our minds. But the victory was already won and God showed us where and how to spend the money, whom to help and how and he gave us a peace about bringing some of the money back with us to help others in the future.

Sunday morning we went to church and in our minds, lost a good 4 or 5 hours of working time but just knew it was necessary to attend church and worship our Lord and Savior. The pastor announced our group, mentioned where we would be working and our team grew from 11 people to over 20 people. He  had doubled our team and we were getting more work done than we had ever imagined.

I shared on Wednesday night that in Matthew 25:40, it says, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'."

So often we search for BIG things, BIG miracles, BIG signs of Jesus being present. We must remember that he is always with us and it's up to us to choose to see His face. He comes in ways that we least expect it ... in a manager, as a carpenters son, through the homeless and weak, through people that are hurting, through the orphans and widows. As Believers, we must take time to stop and minister to those in need. Because when we do so, He will reveal himself! It's a matter of us opening our eyes!