Last week, during our Midwest travels, my husband and I took a day to enjoy a bike ride along a quiet rail trail in western Michigan. Scenic and flat, it was my kind of trail, and despite the cold weather made for a pleasant outing.

We arrived in a small town called New Era, population 800. After lunch at the village diner where we were obviously “out-of-towners”, we wandered next door to check out a health food/coffee shop.

While waiting for the owner to make hubby’s afternoon espresso, we noticed a sign on her wall:

C.O.F.F.E.E.

Christ Offers Forgiveness For Everyone Everywhere

Within minutes we were chatting away with her about Christ, our shared faith, and the things of God—as if we’ve known each other for years!

Tracey shared with us how after seeking God’s guidance and prayer, He led her to find a new larger building she’ll be moving the business into this summer. How it all came together was clearly a “God thing.”

She desires to have her shop bring glory to God, and provide an oasis of calm to all who enter. She expressed her longing to embrace more of God’s peace in every aspect of her life.

While enjoying coffee, conversation, and finally prayer together standing at the register, “coincidentally” no other customer entered until we were saying “Amen.”

Tracey was one of many “divine appointments” we experienced during our 2 ½ week trip. What joy it is to discover on such a trip again and again life’s greater purpose than sightseeing, seeking relaxation, and enjoying restaurants. 

That we can bless and be blessed by the people we meet!

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Every day God is showing us where He’s working, and inviting us to get involved. Are we willing to forfeit—even for a few minutes—our own agenda when He calls?

Maybe He’s putting someone in our path we need to speak to or can help. Perhaps He’s bringing a person to mind we can pray for.

When He does, don’t wait! He’s inviting us to act—now!

When we do, we’ll see Him working in ways we could never orchestrate on our own!

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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As Christ-followers in the family of God, there’s an amazing bond that quickly surfaces among brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I’ve often marveled at the people God has brought into my life over the years—those I often have had little in common with outside of our faith, yet who I sometimes have formed the closest friendships with because of that faith.

This anomaly can only be explained by the love of God.

This poem is dedicated to those notable friendships centered on the love of God—that special love of the brethren.

Why do I love you . . .
This I asked myself today.
Does the answer come that easily?
For the things you do and say
From a heart so tender and kind,
I searched deep in my memory,
Not many such hearts to I find.

I’d seen you here and there,
And known you quite awhile,
Another place, another face,
Perhaps an occasional smile.

Never did I stop and think
Or take the time to see,
The heart and beauty of your life,
All that God’s made you to be.

Then one day I turned and you were there,
Your eyes held a peace I had failed to see;
I looked therein and saw myself,
I saw the real you, I saw the real me.

We stopped and smiled at one another,
I realized then you were my brother.

The kindness and love you’ve shown,
The time you took to care.
These have drawn me close to you
And enabled us to share
From the depths of our hearts a love so real
That it far surpasses all we think or feel.

It warms my heart to be near you,
To see the love in your eyes,
To know that no matter what I do
You’ll never condemn or sympathize.

I can lay forth my life before you
And be who I really am,
As together we reach to the heart of God,
Together we stand, His chosen gems.

While we gently unfold our hearts,
We laugh, we live, we share,
I grow to love you more and more
And offer to you a perfect prayer.

For how can I show you how thankful I am,
Like you there is no other.
So I’ll be to you as you are to me,
A precious friend, a brother.

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Elton

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