One “No” and Three “Yeses” ~ by Julie Earl

#1 “No”: Sometimes fear and doubt get the best of me when I feel a prompting. Today I told the Lord “no” when the Holy Spirit highlighted a young fireman while we were getting a tour of the fire station on my mini vacation to south Texas. I didn’t know what the Lord wanted me to say, but the guy stood out to me. Oftentimes I don’t know what the Lord wants to say until I start speaking, but I got distracted by the people and grandkids around me, and I said “no” and missed a chance to express the Father’s heart of love. I left feeling bad, and hoping I could send a letter to him.

#1 “Yes”: After the tour, we headed back home. On the five hour drive, I did remember to listen for God’s voice in one of the gas stations. There was a long line to pay, but I expressed the Father’s love in a few sentences to the cashier, and she was surprised and grateful. “The Lord loves you very much,” I said, “Be encouraged that He is with you.”

#2 “Yes”: After we arrived home that evening, I needed to get some groceries for our early Easter meal the next day, so I headed to the grocery store. When I was in the ice cream section trying to talk myself out of getting some (I did, but I got cookies instead), I passed a lady and she stood out to me, and I felt the Father’s love for her. “This may sound strange,” I said, “But as I passed you, the Lord highlighted you, and I felt He wanted me to remind you how much He loves you!”

“Oh, my goodness! You are the second testimony of His love for me today. That is weird and incredible. I’m getting goose bumps!” She told me a little more about her first encounter, and I expressed a few more words of God’s love and care for her.

“I see the Lord providing for you financially. Are you looking for work?”

“No, I’m happy in my job, but there are things I’m trying to figure out monetarily.” It seems I missed it on that impression since she didn’t need a job, but I didn’t let that stop me. I kept opening my mouth and allowing the Lord to fill it as best I could.

“I see the floodgates of heaven opened, and provision flowing to you and through you, and I see you blessing more and more people as your heart enlarges and expands.” She told me how she does like to help people.

“Thank you so much for this huge encouragement,” she said. “I have been away from church and not as close to the Lord, and I recently started going back to church and getting more involved.” We chatted about her church and she asked about mine, and then we hugged and said goodbye.

After I finished shopping and was walking out to the car, she had finished and was also walking out. She told me, “I am still floating because of what you said to me. I actually was worried about some things today, and I feel so much better. I am getting on the phone as soon as I get home and I am telling my mother about this! She sees things like you.”

“All Christians can see things,” I said with a chuckle, and she agreed. “Tell your mother hello, and that she is awesome too!”

“I will!” she said with a laugh and then got in her car.

#3 “Yes”: Backing up before I spoke a second time with that lady, I was in line checking out and I asked the Middle Eastern cashier if he was having a good Good Friday. He said not really because it had been really busy. The thought popped into my head that he was a rock, but I didn’t know what it meant. Then the question just popped out of my mouth, “Are you a Christian?” (I’m not usually quite so blunt.)

“No. I’m a Muslim.”

“Well, God loves you very much! I asked Jesus to forgive me and live inside me when I was little, and He has made such a difference in my life helping me with my marriage, parenting and all the struggles I’ve faced. The best part is that when you ask God to live inside you, He fills you with His love and you get to have a relationship with Him. You don’t have to follow a list of dos and don’ts because having God inside you makes you want to please Him in all you do! It’s such a blast walking with Him!”

He listened and smiled, but as I was finishing, another cashier came up to replace him once he finished with me. (Later I realized how timely that God had me check out before he took his break.)

When I said goodbye and God bless you to him, he said, “Happy Easter” with a smile. I pray he comes to know what Easter is truly all about! I never did figure out what the rock impression meant for sure, but I am praying that this man will become a solid rock for Jesus, and that he and his family will come to know The Rock!

Julie Earl
President/CEO Crazy About You Ministries

3-25-16