There are moments in life when we feel an urge to move
in a certain direction not really knowing why.
I truly believe God uses us at times to
help and encourage that one who we had no idea needed
to be encouraged and lifted up.
God knows the heart of His people and knows when they need an
extra touch from Him telling them that God is still with
that person even though they may be going through
a tough time in their life.
I pray that every believer stays sensitive to the still small voice
of the Holy Spirit so that when He leads them in a new direction,
they will be quick to follow and obey His voice.
(Proverbs 3:5-6) (1 Kings 19:11-12)
This is a good story that shows what great results come forth
when we follow the Lord's leading.
I hope this message ministers to your heart to
always be quick to follow God's leading and know that in doing
so you will be helping to make a difference that can never be erased.
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
As a teacher of origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding)
at the LaFarge Lifelong Learning Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
Art Beaudry was asked to represent the school at an exhibit
at a large mall in Milwaukee.
He decided to take along a couple hundred folded paper cranes
to pass out to people who stopped at his booth.
Before that day, however, something strange happened -
a voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and
make a gold origami crane.
The strange voice was so insistent that
Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection
of origami papers at home until he found
one flat, shiny piece of gold foil.
“Why am I doing this?” he asked himself.
Art had never worked with the shiny gold paper.
It didn't fold as easily or neatly as the crisp multicolored papers.
But that little voice kept nudging. Art harrumphed
and tired to ignore the voice. “Why gold foil anyway?
Paper is much easier to work with.” He grumbled.
The voice continued, “Do it! And you must give it away tomorrow
to a special person.” By now Art was getting a little cranky...
“What special person?” he asked the voice.
“You'll know which one,” the voice said.
That evening Art very carefully folded and shaped
the unforgiving gold foil until it became
as graceful and delicate as a real crane about to take flight.
He packed the exquisite bird in the box along with about
200 colorful paper cranes he'd made over the previous few weeks.
The next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people stopped by
Art's booth to ask questions about origami.
He demonstrated the art.
He folded, unfolded and refolded.
He explained the intricate details, the need for sharp creases.
Then there was a woman standing in front of Art.
The special person.
Art had never seen her before, and she hadn't said a word
as she watched him carefully fold a bright pink piece of paper
into a crane with pointed, graceful wings.
Art glanced up at her face, and before he knew what he was doing,
his hands were down in the big box that contained the supply
of paper cranes. There it was, the delicate gold-foil bird
he'd labored over the night before.
He retrieved it and carefully placed it in the woman's hand.
“I don't know why, but there's a very loud voice inside me telling me
I'm supposed to give you this golden crane.
The crane is the ancient symbol of peace.” Art said simply.
The woman didn't say a word as she slowly cupped her small hand
around the fragile bird as if it were alive.
When Art looked up at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes,
ready to spill out.
Finally the woman took a deep breath and said,
“My husband died three weeks ago.
This is the first time I've been out, today...”
She wiped her eyes with her free hand,
still gently cradling the golden crane with the other.
She spoke very quietly, “Today is our golden wedding anniversary.”
Then this stranger said in a clear voice.
“Thank you for this beautiful gift.
Now I know that my husband is at peace.
Don't you see? That voice you heard. It's the voice of God
and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him.
It's the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary present
I could have received. Thank you for listening to your heart.”
Author Unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We may not always know why God leads us in certain directions,
but we can rest assured that He has a purpose and plan in mind.
I pray that every believer will be quick to follow and
obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.
God knows and sees the end result and if only we can see the same thing
through our eyes of faith, we will always be quick and ready to move in
the direction of God’s leading.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 34:17-19
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth
them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a
broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the
afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them
all.”
Matthew 10:18-20
Jesus declares “And ye shall be brought before governors
and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up,
take no thought how or what ye shall speak:
for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father
which speaketh in you.”
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I
deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This and other inspirational stories
may be found at www.godswork.org
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