God Sighting | September 22, 2007

From September 19th up until a few hours ago I was at a very dull low. Everything in life just bored me; it was all so dull. The only thing that seemed to bring life were people I knew who were out to change the world in Jesus name. Some of the people I thought of were D.T. and K.W. My prayer that afternoon was that the Lord would “connect me with a group of people who can, will, and do change the world in His name.” I even remember thinking “how in the world do you meet people like that? Is there a website where people like this go to?” Well, after Max’s wedding today, I went to the Border’s coffee shop in Fremont to work on some math homework. It seemed like the only open table was next to a guy who had a sign up that said “R U an ARTIST?” I asked him about it, and through that we started chatting a little bit, and I drew some things for him. He definitely had an eccentric personality, and he was the first to admit it. As our banter progressed, I saw an open table a few minutes later and thought "I could switch over there and not have to be in an awkward situation if this conversation goes south." At the same time I had another thought, "Maybe God wants to do something through this conversation. Stay." I stayed, and the table was taken, so I was locked in my spot with the eccentric guy. Eventually I asked him why he was going to college, and he answered, “because I want to change the world.” What did he say?? He wants to change the world. I’d never heard this kind of a response to that question from anybody, ever. My ears were perked! It was what I was just praying for a few days ago! Needless to say, really good conversation proceeded from that. It touched on what made him tick, and even Christianity a tad, and I found out that he’d gotten burned by being in a bible study with cult-like "Christians" in the past. Hopefully, I can be one way he can really see the truth and freedom of Christ. I learned that his name is Ferron. He said he's at border's every weekend, and I hope to be able to meet up with him regularly there in the future.

And aside from all that, God also answered prayer in another incredible way. Just an hour after returning home from meeting Ferron at Borders, I received an email from a friend, D.C.T. In it, she wrote,

"Nathan Na-Goo-Yen, Hey, let me know if you've received the package:) I hope I sent it to the right address!! You know what's so cool? I decided to make a ministry out of this!!!! Not exactly a care package (maybe....it takes a lot of time though), but Carey and I want to send encouraging letters to people like once a week!!! Isn't that such a neat idea? God, totally spoke to me through some people to do this!"

So I checked my mailbox, realizing that it hadn't been checked for two days. I found it stuffed with mail, along with the package mentioned in the email. The reason why this package was so significant was because in the past two or three days I had been praying that God would send help to me, because after moving back to Fremont from Davis, I just felt more and more dead as the weeks wore on. I was talking to God saying, "Father, I really think that the best thing I can do for others and myself is to be on fire for you, but I just can't. I need help. I need encouragement!" That was on Wednesday night, September 19th. Confident that He would answer, all Thursday (my long school day) I was looking to see just how (or through whom) He would provide. By the end of my class at 10:20 pm, I was walking to my car with a classmate and was thinking "God, did I miss it? Did you provide somehow and I just didn't recognize it?" By last night I was at a low, low point, and was praying "Father, I simply can't see your goodness in 'the now.' I see how you love me, but I can't see how you 'like' me. If you just haven't shown because I haven't asked, then show me that you really LIKE me. If it's already there and I just haven't seen it, open my eyes to see it!"

So tonight, on September 22nd, I received the package mentioned in the email. Opening it, I found it full of items like skittles, gum, batteries, and pens, each with a sticker attached with a verse written relating to God's promise, power, etc. Another item was a collection of note cards held together by a keyring, each card having a verse written on it for each day, 21 days total. Enclosed was a note that read something to the point of, "This package is to encourage you!" Funny, because I didn't tell anybody about what I had prayed on September 19th. I checked the postmark to see when it was sent: it was postmarked September 19th! WOW GOD SENT HELP THE DAY I ASKED!!! THE SAME DAY I prayed for God to send help--in the form of encouragement! I didn't miss it; He literally "sent" it through the mail--it was on it's way all along! God is WOW! (Worthy Of Worship! =)

An act of obedience prompted by D.C.T.'s faith definitely blessed me, and I know it will be a continual blessing to remember even when the encouraging cards run out of days!

A child in his Father's care. Definitely blessed.

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."
Isaiah 65:24

This was something I HAD to tell her about right away, and so I emailed her what had just happened. Her reply read:

"God is definitely WORTHY OF WORSHIP. He is always listening and answering all our prayers. Honestly, I could not think of what to put in the package for the life of me. I have never done a care package, but it's almost like God's invisible hand was pushing me to do it. Just a couple days before I sent out your package, I suddenly had all these ideas of what to put in there. Aside from that, I wanted to send it out a couple weeks ago, but I was just SO swamped with work among other things. Raquel and I prayed that you would get it when you needed it the most, and that you would be reminded of how much God loves you. Now, even when I was done with the package, I was lagging about sending it out. I told Jon multiple times that I would send it out, but I never did because I was so busy. Then on Wed, Sept. 19, I had this strong urge to send it out. It's was like this great force--God. I dropped everything that I was doing just so I could go to the post office. So I was thinking that the timing was perfect, because you would have received it on Thursday, your longest school day! But, YOU DID NOT CHECK THE MAIL! Yes, God sent you encouragements right when you needed it, total answer to my prayer:)"

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12