Holy McDonald's

The other day I went out to eat lunch with a few girlfriends.  The atmosphere was quiet and I could tell we all had a lot on our minds. It was after church and none of us had a lot of cash on hand.  So as we talked about where to eat someone suggested McDonald's.  And since none of us eat there very often we decided that it would be fine to indulge in burgers and fries.

We spent over two hours talking and sharing about our struggles and joys.  Food for the soul.  During our visiting many people came and went at the tables and booths all around us.  When we finally realized that we were heading into our third hour it was decided that we had to head out.  But before we did one of my friends pulled out a little journal from her purse and asked if we had any prayer requests.  So around we went sharing what we would like prayer for and also a praise.

We all closed our eyes and one of us prayed that God would help us to pray about everything that was written down for the coming week.  And when we finished and started gathering our things an older man, probably in his late 60s, came up to us and said, " May God bless each of you young ladies."

And then he went and sat back down again.  None of us had realized he was listening to everything we had been sharing!  It made us wonder how many other people that day overheard our conversations.  And it made me so grateful that I was spending time in the company of people who honor the Lord even in their every day girl talks.

We were all very encouraged... and maybe a little bit embarrassed.  :)  We certainly were not trying to get attention from everyone around us but perhaps our meeting there at McDonanld's was just so we could be an encouragement to that one man.  Who knows?  Maybe even something we said in those two hours encouraged someone else to learn more about God or go back to church.

My point being that when God is center in your life and included in your every day activities it makes you stand out whether or realize it or not.  And God does mighty things when we live in a way that honors Him.  I have no doubt that when I get to heaven He will reveal things to me about how my life impacted people I may have never even known!  I'm sure the same can be said about you too.

We just don't realize how precious each of us truly are and how deeply our lives impact everyone around us.  Somewhere, someone is watching you and me.  They are looking for someone whose life real.  May that be true of each of us as we move into a new year!

" For where two or more gather together as my followers, I am there among them."

~ Matthew 18:20