YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO USE MY APPLE PIE … WOULD YOU LORD?

Posted byDianne HornePosted inUncategorized

Don’t you just love it when the Lord seems to ask something of you that’s “right up your alley, “and to your taste buds?” I mean don’t you just love the assignments that are easy and complimentary to your emotional digestive track.

Your responses to God’s requests are:

–        Yes, absolutely.  I’ll get right on that

–        I enjoy that person, and yes, I’d be happy to surrender my time on her behalf

–        No problem.  I have time and energy to mow their yard

–        I’d love to have that person over for tea, she’s easy to talk with and a real pleasure to have around

This story is not going to be a long one, but I can still feel the sting of obedience when the Lord asked me to share something with someone that wasn’t particularly fun to be around.

From the time this couple (our new neighbor) moved into the neighborhood, they just seemed so critical and hard to get along with.  I don’t think they realized it, but that’s how they came across.

We went out of our way to be friendly!  They had asked me to do something for them in their home.  I thought I could be of help, so I agreed.  You know God is working on you to build a servants’ heart when people treat you like a servant!   That’s just a bonus statement, but it’s true.

I had completed what task they had asked me to help with, and I headed out their door for home.   The man (as I discovered later) had a dry sense of humor.   Later I came to appreciate and love them both later on in our relationship.   But the current demeanor of our relationship at that time was not warm and cozy….at least from my viewpoint.

I was bounding out of their home, and then I paused before taking my final step of exit and asked them…..”Would there be anything else you’d like?”    It was meant to be a joke…and we all chuckled. 

He responded with the comment:   “Well an apple pie would be nice.”    I laughed all the way off their porch and out to the sidewalk.

We lived next door, so I didn’t have far to travel on this excursion.  I wasn’t away 20 seconds in my travel when the Lord brought to my attention that I had a small apple pie in my freezer.  

Sometimes we wish that God would drop large road signs from heaven with clear directions on our path.

But, in a clear, gentle way God spoke to my heart.   “I’d like you to take that apple pie that I know is in your freezer and bring it to the couple next door.”    My heart was pulsating so much that you’d have almost seen my blouse moving to the beat of my capillaries.

I wish I could say that I was delighted to do that, but honesty prevailing in this story, I wasn’t at all “on board” with His current request and assignment!

However, God doesn’t ask us if we’re in agreement with His wishes, but He does want to enlist us to love others; even the ones who are difficult to love.

When I approached the front door of our home, I thought to myself.   I’ve got a “sweet decision” to make.  I know God blesses obedience, and He lovingly, but firmly, got my feet headed in the direction of the freezer.  I knew if I didn’t do it right away, I might not do the right thing, if you know what I mean.   I got the pie out and headed for the long journey next door.  A two minute travel can seem like miles when you’re not in the right frame of mind.

I wasn’t exactly what you’d call an enthusiastic traveler, but I did arrive at the assigned destination with some reluctance.   I slowly came in contact with their door bell and pressed the announcement button.   Surprisingly, they both came to the door, and the only thing that came out of my mouth was:   “Here’s the apple pie you requested!”

Both of their eyes bulged to their full capacity, and they began to laugh uncontrollably.    “What’s this he said?”   “Apple pie that you requested.”   And then I headed home, laughing all the way.

Upon my arrival, the Lord responded quietly.   “Thank you for doing that.”

From that moment on, our relationship changed.  They became our friends!!

Yes, God uses the “ordinary things of life; and creates the extraordinary from our tiny obedience.   Isn’t God wonderfully creative, even if we’re not in the right frame of mind!

This couple is dear to us……even to this day!

Published by Dianne Horne

I can’t think of anything I enjoy more than to see lives changed! There’s nothing more that puts “oxygen and joy” into my life than to bring the application of Scripture into the “shoe leather” of our lives and to share it with others. I feel awkward speaking about myself, but I understand it can be helpful to enable others to relate to and enjoy the work of our Lord does in other people. Another down-to-earth way of sharing who I am, is that I love to eat, laugh and to talk about the Lord. I’m not a very exciting individual, but my Savior sure is! I’ve been happily married for many years, and I now reside in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. God has transplanted my husband and I 28 times in our years together; and it is only when in His presence that you can ask the “why questions” as to the adjustments He’s brought us “to” and “through” in the numerous locations and countries we have lived. God’s care, love, forgiveness, faithfulness and moment-by-moment presence has not only carried me (when I had every reason to fall apart), but lifted me to a joy I’ve never known. There’s one thing to have joy when things are going great, and quite another dimension of joy and peace when everything in your world is crumbling and unknown. Most of our lives will appear like “ordinary oatmeal living”, but when we allow Him to “establish our steps”, He alone takes our mundane acts of kindness or aid and makes them “extraordinary” for His purpose in the lives of others. The seasons of caring for my parents and the associated grieving process has forever changed me. It was my honor, joy and privilege to participate with my Lord in what He was accomplishing in their lives, as they both gave their lives to Jesus Christ just days before they were escorted into His presence in heaven. The medical challenges and decisions that needed to be made for a number of those years thrust me into a trust and dependence upon the Lord that I had never known up to that point in my life. In my journey, I’ve come to realize that our “weakness” is our greatest “strength”, because real power, provision, and His purpose being carried out in and through our lives, depends on Him orchestrating such through His sovereignty. My “heartbeat of fulfillment” lies in sharing with women, in various settings, helping them to enjoy, study and apply the principles of God’s Word in a down-to-earth fashion. I thrive interacting with women and encouraging them to put their trust in the One Who knows them best and loves them extravagantly; and to prioritize “spending time alone with God each day” developing their relationship with Him. Our lives aren’t designed to just get answers to prayer….but to know and love a very personal Savior, and to surrender daily to “His plans, His agenda and purpose” for our lives. Several years ago I was challenged to respond to a critical question I had never considered: Why do you exist? What’s your purpose in life? I live to bring an expression of God in the ordinary events of life, seizing every opportunity of serving and delighting in others. I want my life to be an infectious expression of His love for others, and for them to know how special “they are” to Him; and thus be contagious with His grace. My life compass is: After people spend time with me, what do they think of Jesus Christ? The stories that will appear in my blog, are true events that have taken place in my journey. They’re all “very ordinary” circumstances that have occurred through sharing them with Jesus and watching Him orchestrate and demonstrate what He can do when we yield “our ordinary” to the Extraordinary One.

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