Let me just preface this story with the fact that this is a very rare item on my usual diet. Like I probably had it once in the last 5 years...or maybe longer. I just don't find it to be all that healthy and it's just not something I would go for even if it was offered on the menu and I was in
splurge mode. I'm starting to realize how this story is very quickly becoming somewhat embarrassing.
So, for whatever reason...I had chicken salad on crossaint on my heart this morning a couple hours after breakfast. I am pregnant, so cravings are to be expected. What did I do? I started looking at menus online. Panera, Atlanta Bread Company...then it was like...Lord, can you help me to find this sandwich? I know you know where it is. Then I remembered Rising Roll right by my house and was already wanting to go to Sufarloaf Mills to buy something I needed. So, I went to the mall, but just felt a total lack of interest in the thing I needed and felt like I was just meant to get this sandwich and that was it...so I did. I'm in a season of restoration and rest...and pregnancy of course...so I don't want to do anything that's not in His plan. In general, I try to be sensitive each day as to what I'm supposed to be doing and I really believe the Holy Spirit directs me if I am paying attention to Him. We only have so much energy and hours in one day, and really only He can make anything that means anything happen...and of course it's in His timing (John 15:5). This truth sank in so much in India, because things actually NEVER happen in the timing you expect and definitely are not dependent on your strength or efforts towards any given task or project. Sometimes we force something because of "our plans" or understanding of its importance or perception of the timing that is necessary for that particular thing...but, anyway, that's a whole other topic.
So, needless to say the sandwich was quite satisfying and it was so good I was planning to inform my mom, dad and co-foodie brother that they had to go get this sandwich soon!! Lol. Then I recalled my grandparents, and just prayed God was taking care of them and felt that nudge to go see them soon...maybe bring them a chicken salad sandwich! Then I thought about my kids in India and how I hoped God was taking care of them too and sending them something yummy. They are usually in a pretty basic boring diet when I'm not there, but occasionally people do bring treats for them. We want good things for the people we love most, too ;) And when we get good gifts or provided for abundantly, we want to share them with those we love and those that are in need. (Hebrews 13:16).
I got up from a late afternoon nap and saw that my mom had come home from the store. I had put on my grocery list, but never made it...fruit...strawberries have been a daily snack for me and I've been out for days. There were some strawberries there(thank you Jesus!) and then I notice a package of crossaints...hmm that's very odd. Once again, a vey rare food item in our family to purchase. I have seen them in our house maybe once in the last three years.
When she came home again, I was telling her about the sandwich...and she said really?? Well, you're not going to believe this but I found some chicken salad on sale today and the cashier informed me that I could get a free package of crossaints with this chicken salad, so of course I got them and thought of making sandwiches for dinner tonight! What?! I honestly don't remember at time that we had this at home for a meal...ever. Of course, some people call these things coincidences but I know it's a God thing. I thought back to the thought coming into my mind about getting a chicken salad sandwich and then the prayer. And I'm thinking, did God know I was going to have this craving, so he has made plans to provide the sandwich without me having to do anything?! I know he has answered many prayers like this, especially in India when I really could not do something or get something for myself. Sometimes it was certain food I wanted that I didn't want to ask anyone for. One time it was a printer...and just many other answers to prayer. Then I thought how sweet it was of Him to provide something for me that I desired. But what happened?...I wanted it...so I got it(in my timing), and now I don't even really want the sandwich a second time. I would have been so touched by the gift in His timing and probably enjoyed it more for many reasons if I hadn't rushed to get it for lunch. Am I like the Israelites who didn't trust God to provide the right food in the right timing, so He rained down chicken salad sandwich til I'm sick like he rained down quail on the Israelites because they were tired of eating manna and prayed for meat? All this to show me that He knows what I desire and what is best for me in His perfect timing. Maybe I'm not supposed to pray about food?...I think we can say yes because the Bible says, ““Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV
And although I really thought I should save half of my sandwich for my parents to try...His grace covered over my selfishness, and he provided them their own gift of a chicken salad crossaint, which I had also wanted for them. I wonder if my brother and his family are at home eating one too? I wish I could go into the even deeper meaning in this story of how He's speaking to me to trust Him to provide for my kids in India when He has asked me to stay here for a while. Ohhh my goodness how hard it is! And it's walking in the truth and believing that it's Him providing for them always and never me. He just uses me at times.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NKJV
“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16 NKJV
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