Divine Appointments

It was the Saturday of my garage sale. I had taken the sale signs down, boxed up the left-over items, swept out the garage, and with a last minute thought I packed Ally into the car and told her we could go get a pedicure together. Dan and Hudson were both napping, it was ideal.

Ally sat patiently and the most still I had ever seen in my life. Carefully inspecting the nail technicians work on her little toes, she stared in awe. I, relaxed my feet for the entire wonderfully amazing twenty minutes my pedicure lasted. Thinking we were already out and about; I thought I should go get Ally's bangs trimmed. There was a hair salon next door to the nail shop but they had just closed. So we headed over to the Safeway shopping plaza and tried Supercuts.

There I was, sitting in the waiting area, tired, sunburned and ready for the day to be over. Ally was restless but enjoying a sprinkle donut she picked out at Safeway while we waited for our turn. The door bell jingled and in walked a girl and her mother. She looked about my age, although I am horrible at guessing ages. She walked up to the counter and proceeded to ask the girl at the desk how much it would cost to get her hair and make-up done for her wedding. She explained she was on a tight budget and was checking prices. The girl at the desk informed her that the cost of an updo was $50, and that she should come in for a trial run before her wedding to make sure she liked her hair. She wasn't entirely helpful and seemed rude when asking the bride-to-be what she needed help with as far as make-up was concerned. She said to her "do you just want your make-up done for your wedding or do you want to learn how to do your make-up?" Basically implying that she didn't know how to do her own make-up. As I sat there listening, something inside of me welled up with compassion for this girl. Here she was, telling the receptionist what a tight budget she was on and all the receptionist could do was tell her she needed to spend $100 for a wedding updo and insult her make-up skills. I didn't know what to say or how to say it but I knew I could help. Between my sister and I, we could easily do her hair and make-up just as good as the Supercuts girls...and for free.

Her mom was standing near the door where Ally and I were sitting. I looked up and told her mother I had a few friends who did hair and I could get their information for the girl and email it to her. The bride overheard what I was saying, seemed thankful, and quickly scribbled down her email address. They said they were in the area looking at the wedding venue and thought they'd stop in and get an updo pricing. And off they went.

Ally had her bangs trimmed, we headed home, and I continued to think of the girl who I had met at Supercuts. I didn't tell Dan because he'd probably think I was nutso but I kept thinking about how I could help her.

On the way to church the next morning I told Emily about my trip to the hair salon. I began the story with "this is probably going to sound really wierd, but"... and told her about the girl and her mom. I didn't know her name, she had written it down but I hadn't really even looked at the paper she gave me. Emily listened and after I was finished she said sweetly "Do you think it was a Divine appointment?" It was so precious hearing that come out of her mouth, the most perfect way to describe my story. I replied "yes, I mean, I think!" She said she'd totally help me with her hair and make-up. And for the rest of the ride to church I tried to describe the girl to Emily so she could get an idea of what hairstyle would work for her.

We arrived at church and listened eagerly as Pastor ET preached the first sermon of a new series. It was titled Servolution. It was the most amazing sermon I have heard in a long time. Basically, as a church, starting a movement to rumble through the body of Christ. To actively pursue the lost, the forgotten, and the poor to show them a God who is passionately in love with them. Standing ready with one heart, saying, "I will serve others and show them the hope they can have in Jesus."

Why serve?

1) Jesus did. Our goal as Christians is to become more like Christ every day. As we study God's Word, we learn about Jesus and the way He lived. Because Jesus loved people, He served them to show them that love (John 13). Our goal is the same, to serve people so they would also come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.

2) The church and its purpose is best expressed outside its walls. We can't sit inside and wait for the world to come to us. We've got to get out in our communities and show people that we care and that there's a God who wants to heal them.

3) It's a tangible expression of the love of God for lost humanity. Words can't always fix our pain. People may know that God loves them, but maybe they haven't ever experienced God's love for them in a practical way. We can be a testimony to others of what God can do in their life!

4) It makes us irresistible to the world. When people see our genuine love for each other and others, they can't help but be drawn to it. Many times, serving can be a way to start conversation with people and give us an opportunity to tell them about the cross.

5) It tears down barriers and opens hearts. A kind word goes a long way. You never know what someone may be going through. Handing them that bottle of water or a hot meal may be just what they need for God to soften their hearts and open their minds to hear about the truth.

In a nutshell, sharing God's love and changing lives through simple acts of kindness. So here I am sitting in church, listening wholeheartedly to this amazing sermon when Emily hands me a note that says,
I think this is definitely some confirmation about your divine appointment at Supercuts!
I couldn't help but smile and laugh, and know she absolutely right.

After church I shared my story with Dan, the girl I met at Supercuts, the conversation I had with Emily on the way to church, and the fitting sermon that clarified it all. I told him I really felt like God had blessed me with many gifts, some seemingly small to others, but things I could do to help. I may not be a world renowed wedding planner, but I can put on a wedding. I may not be a notorious photographer, but I can take a decent picture. I'm not a famous baker, but I can bake a cake. The wheels in my head were turning and I felt like I could do more than just this girls hair and makeup, maybe she needed help with her wedding?

First thing was first. I emailed her and said Emily and I would love to do her hair and make-up. I also asked if she had hired a wedding photographer. And then I awaited her response. Insecurities began to set in, thinking maybe this girl would think I was crazy, telling her I'd do her hair when she didn't even know me, or the mere fact that I wasn't even a hair stylist?

To my suprise, she replied back excitedly, thanking me for the email and graciously accepting our offer of hair and make-up services. She, Lauressa, said she and her fiance were on an extremely tight budget and hadn't had enough money to hire a photographer. She also said that the only reason they were up in Marysville was because her wedding venue had been double booked the day of her wedding and she was looking at a church up in Arlington. Her wedding was in two weeks and they didn't have a place to be married.

Wow. It was like God just dropped her right into my lap. I called my Pastor's wife LaFaye and asked if we could offer our church to Lauressa and Dan on their wedding day. She and Pastor ET said they would be honored and the wedding was soon underway. I shared my story at our Women's Bible Study the next night. The women were excited, clapping and cheering, offering their time and talents to this stranger whom none of them had ever met. After a five minute story I was offered floral help, hair styling, catering, and set up/clean up help. It was incredible. And I couldn't wait to tell Lauressa.

She was floored to say the least. Hesitant at first, probably thinking, "what kind of wierd church is this, and what do they want from me?" but overwhelmingly grateful to the point of tears. She shared what a burden the wedding had become, how she hadn't had much help, and what a stress it had turned out to be. She kept saying she couldn't believe how nice everyone was, and how much it meant to her. I assured her we didn't want anything from her, that we just wanted to bless her and give her a beautiful wedding day.

My garage sale was about two weeks ago, which makes tomorrow the big wedding day. It's 2:55 am and here I am, just like the night before my own wedding, awake. Thoughts running through my head, going down the checklist, leaving no small detail unnoticed. The food has been prepared, the tablecloths ironed, the centerpieces finished, the church is set up, the car is packed, and my camera batteries are fully charged. I am confident. Not because the things on my to-do list have been crossed off, but because I know that even if I did forget something, it will all be ok because Jesus will be right there with us.