What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Unusual Discoveries...


Have you ever come across something that you saved and you have no idea when or why you ever saved it in the first place...and how is it that you have just now discovered it?

That just happened to me.  I was looking for something else, and I found this cancelled 25 cent postage stamp with a picture of a Barred Owl on it.  I checked the dates for the years that this particular stamp might have been in circulation, and it had to have been somewhere between 1988-1991. I have no idea why I saved this stamp. I do not collect stamps. And back during those particular years I had absolutely no knowledge of or interest in Barred Owls. Nada...None...Never...Not one bit.





However, if you jump forward about 19 or 20 years, as evidenced by the following links, you will see that I became quite interested in Barred Owls... (You can go back and read these posts later at your leisure...)


1. Waiting on the Lord

2. The Last Farewell

3. He Watches Me-We

I found this quite unusual and strange that I saved this stamp so many years ago...but who knows why it caught my interest? I am sure I don't know...and I am not suggesting anything supernatural here. Just thought it was odd.



In my life I have discovered that God often works in mysterious ways. This really has nothing to do with the owl stamp...at least I don't think it does.  Maybe the owl stamp got me thinking about the mysterious ways God works.

 See, I discovered the owl stamp while I was rummaging through our antique secretary desk looking for an unused guest book that could be used to...well...record guests...what else? And why was I doing that, you may ask? Well, I have always made it a practice to have a guest book in my home.  This practice began when we started our life in the ministry, and we wanted to keep track of the many wonderful people who blessed our home with their presence over the years.

These guest books became a type of journal, with memories of joyous times of fellowship with family and friends, and sometimes even signatures of total strangers who became ambassadors of God's love and ministry to us.
There are also many signatures of loved ones and friends who are no longer with us here on this earth, but whom we look forward to reuniting with someday in the great banquet hall of heaven, where our names are written in the Book of all books...the Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15)

 So, how is all this connected to my search today?  I already have a guest book in use, and it isn't full yet. I really shouldn't need to start a new one.

But God may have a reason. He may want to record a new group of names...the beginning of a new type of ministry...here, in our home. This was suggested to us today by one who hopes to participate in that new ministry with us.

That suggestion reminded me of a Bible verse I was reading just this morning and reflecting on what it might mean...



"And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
But now you also must complete the doing of it..."
II Corinthians 8:10-11

and also the following verse:

"Let brotherly love continue.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels..."
Hebrews 13:1-2


These verses and thoughts go along with a previous post that I reposted a few days ago: "Blessed to Be A Blessing".  It seems as though God is confirming those thoughts today...and by faith we are acting upon this apparent direction.

Tonight I am not certain exactly where this is going to lead, but I am trusting God to guide us one step at a time. If this is indeed ordained by Him, He will show the way...and will provide everything that we need. He may have already provided interesting clues along the way that we did not fully comprehend at the time...kind of like that Barred Owl Stamp that had no significance whatsoever when I first saved it...

Yes, God does work in mysterious ways...

"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'"  John 13:7

Stay tuned for further developments...and pray for us if you are so inclined. Thank you.


9 comments:

  1. I am imagining my name in that guest book one day. Who knows?

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    1. Not sure what happened to my response to you Susie! I know I responded before, but now it is gone and Dawn's message is here that I had not seen before. do do do do do do do do...you are now entering "The Twilight Zone". Anyway...YES>>>>to BOTH of you! I truly hope and pray that your names will be in my guest book someday!!!! God knows...and He will bring all good things to pass in His time. Keep praying!

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  2. I love the idea that you've shared here about having a guest book in your home, Pam! Oh my...I think of all the folks whom we entertained or had over for fellowship in order that we could be a blessing to them and we ended up being the blessed ones! I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord leads you in all of this. Hugs.

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    1. Thank you Dianna. It reads like a roll call of many saints over the years...so precious to us. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. God is at work in our midst.

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  3. I believe our life as a believer is known by God from beginning to the end and He will show you, keep praying and trusting Him. I am praying for you.. I like the guest book idea.

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    1. Thank you Sylvia. God is in control...and we will continue to look to Him...the Author and Finisher of our faith...He knows the beginning and end...and we can trust Him. Maybe one day you will be in our guest book too! I'd love that!

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  4. Love this. And I always save randoms like stamps and all sorts of scraps! I am working on a real life "random journal" from them!

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    1. Can't wait to see your "random journal"...how fitting since you are the "Queen" of our "Random Journal Day", which, btw, is coming up this week...I hope?

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.