Thin Places...

Not long ago our preacher gave a talk on "Waking Up To God". This lesson was such a blessing. He spoke of a book called, "Thin Places". There are thin places in the world and in our lives. When people talk of encountering God, they often reference some "miracle" event.

But what if the better proof of real encounter with God was in something totally ordinary, more often missed than noticed?

I believe the extraordinary is embedded in the ordinary. We find thin places in events that occur naturally, and will bless us and give us a view of God more clearly if we keep our eyes open to them. Oh to see the beauty and feel the closeness of God even in the midst of the everyday.

He asked the question..."Have you ever had a "thin places" experience?" I could only think of one when he asked but since then have thought of more.

One was, when my grandmother was only a few days away from meeting Jesus and as she lay on her bed she talked to her uncle and other family members in heaven. As she looked at the ceiling she saw them and was so joyful and happy. That was an awesome glimpse for me into the sacred and heavenly.

Another I have thought of since then is how my Mother is blessed by God to hear songs in her dreams. I know it sounds strange, but He gives her songs as she sleeps. She has learned to get up and write them down so that she can remember them. Our family has been blessed to sing quite a few of them over the years. I think she is in a thin place in those dreams drawing close to Him as He blesses her to bring these heavenly songs onto the earth.

Even more than those times that seem extraordinary like the ones above, I believe everyday we can experience the thin places if we only dwell on His word, slow down and listen and open our eyes to "see" Him all around us.

See God in everything...Marvel at everything from a spiritual viewpoint. When I take time to see them or hear them, everyday thin places for me can be...
Hearing my children laugh and the joy I feel when one of the talks about God and about His word and their love and awe of our awesome God.
The flash of color on a beautiful bird or butterfly.
The unbelieveable glory of each and every sunrise and sunset. They are all different and all cry out of God's love for us and that He loves us enough to make gorgeous signs in the sky for our enjoyment.
So many more that touch my soul...sitting by a mountain stream. Seeing shooting stars... holding the hand of an elderly person and seeing the love in their eyes, on and on and on...

Ephesians 5:13-14 says:
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
14 This is why it is said:
"Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

Father, please help us to live each day expecting to have encounters with You.
Help us to look for You and how you work in our lives.
Help us please to live in the light and not in the darkness and to study on what pleases You. In Jesus' precious name, amen.

Amy Walker


Nacodoches, Texas