Mountain View United Methodist Church

God Sightings

Last Saturday morning, my God-sighting occurred in Kroger’s parking lot.  One of our church members was on my mind and I decided to phone her later that afternoon.  As I was out running morning errands I found myself wondering how she was doing and deliberating when would be the best time to make the call when I got back home.  I parked the car, and walking towards the store I realized I saw this person I’d been thinking about entering the store!  I got her attention by calling out “Well, THIS is a God-sighting!” We caught up on her family’s situation and were able to encourage each other in person that morning.  The word “coincidence” is no longer in my vocabulary.  I know a God moment when I’m in one!  So I thanked God for the sighting and for reminding me that He’s part of my life in all things – even grocery shopping.

Christ rides a bike!  If you were here the night the Holy Rollers came for supper and an overnight on their way to Conference, then you saw Him too.  Men and women who shared two passions -cycling and love for their Lord - blessed Mountain View with their presence last month.  God-sightings popped up everywhere from Joy and Gayle fixing supper in the kitchen, church members serving and cleaning up, bikers offering grace by singing the Lord's prayer, to folks enjoying Pete's scrambled eggs at sunrise. Bicyclists in gear interacted with arriving children and their parents on Knight's Club's last day, and Holy Rollers received communion in our sanctuary with our pastor before starting their ride out.  Christ was among them throughout their stay here and on the road to Conference, and Mountain View received His blessings for sharing His love with our guests. This was the second time they've stayed at Mountain View on their way to Conference.  Let's trust they'll come and see us next year !

As I was admiring our prayer wreath in the narthex on Sunday morning, I noticed an intense area of color at the bottom of the wreath.  As soon as I silently questioned why so many ribbons were in that one section, the answer became perfectly clear.  A little girl approached the wreath and placed two ribbons on the spot.  This is the part of the wreath that is accessible to small children.  Witnessing the faith of this child, and seeing our prayer wreath in action in this way was a God-sighting to me.

As I was admiring our prayer wreath in the narthex on Sunday morning, I noticed an intense area of color at the bottom of the wreath.  As soon as I silently questioned why so many ribbons were in that one section, the answer became perfectly clear.  A little girl approached the wreath and placed two ribbons on the spot.  This is the part of the wreath that is accessible to small children.  Witnessing the faith of this child, and seeing our prayer wreath in action in this way was a God-sighting to me.

With friends, we recently went on a road trip to California and back to Virginia.  On our travel East to West we stopped overnight at the KOA Campground in Van Horn, Texas. Unlike most campgrounds, this one had a small café. Rather than unhook our van to drive into town for groceries or a restaurant, we decided to eat at the café.

There we met a couple who were traveling from South to North, to their home in Montana.  They too had just stopped overnight.

As we talked we were amazed to learn that my friend's niece, a pediatrician who lived in Bozeman, Montana, had 3 children as patients, who’s mother was the couple’s daughter.  The couple also lived in Bozeman.  He’s a neurologist and knows my friend’s niece because they both make rounds at the same hospital. 

Then it became more than a coincidence and had to be a God Sighting.  We learned the doctor had worked in California at a leading hospital in spinal cord injury research and treatment.  He had overseen the internship of a doctor who became the head of the neurology department at the University of Virginia Hospital where in 2002 he did the surgery on my spine after my injury.

In this big beautiful world God has made, we, in a chance encounter, were made aware of how we are all tied together.  As God’s children, we are all brothers and sisters.

Driving out of my neighborhood, I saw a neighbor's old dog in the main highway.  I stopped and tried to coax him out of the road, but he was confused and wouldn't cooperate with me.  Cars continued to drive around him, some didn't even slow down. As I returned to my car I felt awful that I couldn't help him, and so I said a little prayer for God to keep him safe. The very next vehicle that drove by was a Bedford County Sheriff's cruiser.  The deputy immediately stopped, rescued the dog, and returned him safely to his owner's house. Both the dog and I had a God-sighting that day!

I have a friend I exercise with regularly. Sometimes I'm eager to work out, and sometimes I wish we'd get a pass.  But I always look forward to checking in with her and just saying hi, and before I know it I'm doing my exercise routine.  She keeps me accountable, and because of her help I'm getting more fit and feeling better.  God blesses me through the power of encouragement that she shares.

I have shared many of our Godsightings with my neighbor over the last year or so.  She attends another church but always enjoys the "goings on" at ours.  One day last week, I received a phone call from her on my way home from work.  Usually, we wait until we are on our home phones to call so I assumed she was running late from work and needed me to catch her kids off the bus.  She was VERY excited so I then started to think something was wrong until I finally understood the words, "I had my own Godsighting!!".  During the last year or so, she has struggled, like many of us, with the balance of work, home, kids, etc.  Her part-time job which allowed her to be home with her kids after school had become more involved and began to intrude on her family time.  After much prayer and discussion she turned in her notice and felt better but still unsure if that was the right path.  A couple of days later, her supervisor sat her down and asked if there was anything that she could do to changer her mind.  After being assured that she could not, she informed my neighbor that her job was being absorbed and redistributed in the company and she probably would have had to have been let go or committed to full time before summer.  Thanks to the Holy 2x4, she is now confident in her decision!

My youngest son was recently faced with the hardest decision of his 7-year life: go with his best friend to FunQuest or go to his school fair. After much deliberation, he chose the fair because "mom, it only comes once a year and I love it!". Well, wouldn't you know that the day before the fair he came home with a headache, stomachache, and sore throat - classic symptoms for strep. We prayed a prayer for healing before bed and the next morning, he said "Mom, I feel better! God heard our prayer!". Just to be sure, we kept the doctor's appointment we had made (he could have been feeling better because he wanted to go to the fair so badly!!). They took his temperature (no fever!) and did a rapid strep test (no strep!) and we got the go-ahead to go the fair. There were praises to God all the way home in our car!

Pack 180 held their annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday in the Fellowship Hall @ MVUMC.  As you can imagine, all of these little boys running around and their Dad's more anxious than the Scouts themselves - worrying where their car would place - things could have the potential for getting a little crazy.  However, at one point during the race the women helping out in the kitchen remarked as to the calmness of the day - the boys and parents were actually sitting in their seats watching the race!  No one was running around - no one was yelling or screaming, you could actually hear what was going on!  Young boys were coming up to the kitchen window and were politely asking for a slice of pizza or a hot dog and said, "Please" and "Thank You"!!  Wow!   Now, in years' past such calmness was not always the case which is why this year seemed different - especially for those Moms in the kitchen.

This week was the writing SOL in 8th grade.  I thought I was prepared to take the test until I read the prompt "If you could choose one person to come speak to your class, who would it be and why?".  I panicked.  I stopped and thought about the teacher's suggestion to use a fictional character.  Finally, God gave me the idea to take that fictional character, make him an inventor and create three inventions to discuss in my paper.  Very soon, I was into writing my paper and created a story I was proud of. 

I got the call on Friday afternoon from Jefferson Forest that a family was in need of food.  The father is suffering from a rare form of kidney cancer and is being operated on at Duke University.  The family of 4 was in need of food.  The outpouring of food and money donated was heart warming to say the least.  When the teacher arrived on Monday to pick up the donations,  she was overwhelmed.  I presented her with a food gift card for $511.00 and enough food to fill her pick up truck. 

My attitude about all of the snow days has been less than favorable recently and my Bible study lesson today was on being content. In fact, it referenced the same verses about Paul that Pastor Steve preached from on Sunday. So, since I'm only homebound and not being flogged or stoned or beaten or shipwrecked or in prison, guess I need to chill out and be content! I even made a list of all of the things I'm thankful for in this situation. Nothing like a little Godsighting to get you back on track!! :).

Sometimes I sheepishly approach God's throne with what I think are the most insignificant and silly concerns. I "send up" these requests while thinking, "Does this really matter in His eyes?" This week, I have been praying one of these prayers. As deadlines approached at work and inclement weather had postponed many of them, I was beginning to worry that I wasn't going to accomplish the tasks at hand. I began praying that God would provide not only the time, but the man power to help complete the tasks. When inclement weather postponed my work, yet again, I began to buy into the enemy's thoughts, "It's my fault. I should have started this project sooner. What was I thinking?" I kept praying, though. This time, I was uncertain and helpless praying, "God, I don't know how or when, but I will trust that You will provide the time for me to complete the work you have given me." The following two days at work were filled with people stopping by to offer their assistance! God had heard my prayers! He just didn't stop at placing one person in my path to help, but He sent four angels to not only help me meet my deadlines, but reveal Himself to me. He does hear our prayers! "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:7

During the 10 Great Dates meeting, I was sitting down 2 chairs and across from one of the wives that I didn’t know. After about 45 minutes of the meeting, I could see she was ready to leave. She looked at her watch and then her husband several times and she even picked up her pocket book and set it in her lap. I asked God to somehow change things so that she would be excited about being at the meeting.  Well, the meeting ended and people mingled. She and her husband were among the last people to leave the Church that night! I don’t know what happened. Maybe she resigned herself to the fact that she was going to have to pay for 2 hours of babysitting instead of 1.  Maybe someone said something that touched her heart and made her want to stay. Either way her attitude changed as I had prayed.

My Godsighting this week is Mountain PEAKS. There were 25 kids last Sunday and lots of Mountain View kids brought friends. We had delicious spaghetti on real plates (!) and lots of volunteers to help with the activities. In fact, the response to PEAKS has been overwhelming! Every time we meet, we have enough volunteers and lots of children. Many families and groups are signing up to prepare dinners. God is right in the center of this! Our congregation is ministering to children and God is saying "Well done good and faithful servants!". 

God gave me many sightings at the Rainbow of Hope quilt auction Saturday, many glimpses of Him at work in our church, in our community, and in individual lives that day. I always look forward to attending and helping at the event, but I don't go into it thinking that I'll get to see Him there too. But I surely did see Him at this year's event, and He has called me to share one of His sightings with you.

I talked to somebody there I didn't know. I mean, I shared more than polite pleasantries with her. I felt led to ask her "What is your story and why are you here?" and she told me about her beloved husband who has passed to Glory three years ago. She told me how she loved him and respected how he lived his life through all its adversities, even his own dying. I really enjoyed listening to her, and thanked her for sharing her time with me, because it helped complete something in me that I had been missing for awhile - true appreciation for little things. She didn't know it, but I had been thinking about the limitations that the diagnosis of an illness brings along, and how overwhelming that feels at times. Her words lifted something important I needed to hear at that moment - that we need to live through our challenges with an empowered spirit, we need to encourage each other, and remind anybody we even sense is having a struggle that they are not alone in their life walk.

God brought His angel to me that evening to hear His encouragement through her; He even added His word to our departure too. As we were saying good-bye, she took my hand, locked her eyes on mine and said, "I know exactly what you are going through. I want you to hear these words that I say every night before I go to bed", and she proceeded to share a poem of encouragement that she had memorized after her husband died.

I know I saw Jesus in those steel blue eyes. I heard my Father's message in her words, and felt the Holy Spirit when we hugged. I was shown what to do and how to do it, so that I can do it too.

On May 22 we left Forest headed for Mackinac City, MI in our RV pulling a tow dolly that supported the front wheels of our van.  We were traveling with our friends, Bob and his wife. He led with his RV because on a previous trip he had followed us and said my wife drove too fast.  Since we were following, we used the route he planned.

Our route took us through West Virginia, mostly on I-64.  We should have known better, because if something is going to happen Friday afternoon, very little can get accomplished until Monday.

After about 4 hours high speed travel, we turned off interstate I-64 and were 15 miles up route 35, just entering the town of Winfield.   It was about 2:00 in the afternoon and traffic was as light as it would be that afternoon between noon traffic and school traffic. We were only going 30 miles per hour when we heard the loud screeching sound of metal scraping pavement.  My wife immediately pulled over, but could only pull partly off of the road.  My wife got out and checked around the camper.  She found that the left wheel for the dolly had come completely off and was nowhere to be seen.  There was no damage to our RV and our van.  There was no apparent damage to the dolly, except for the lost wheel and the other parts that held the heel on.

Bob was able to pull off of the road about a block ahead of us, where he parked and came back to our camper.  About the same time a local police officer stopped and offered to help My wife pull the van off the dolly, then disconnect the dolly from the RV and put it some stranger’s front yard.  The policeman was extremely polite and helpful.  Once the dolly was off, he told us of a church parking lot where we could go park until we took care of things.  He also told us if we needed to stay overnight, we could stay in the high school parking lot.  He would clear it with the school.

We proceeded to the church parking lot in our 2 RV’s.  Bob’s wife drove our van there. We all counseled in our RV.  Bob called an acquaintance that lived about 15 miles away.  His son answered and said he and his dad would help.  As we discussed what we needed to do, there was a knock on our door.  It was a neighbor whose home was adjacent to the parking lot.  He wanted to know if we needed any help.  His name was Rick.  With his help we determined there were 2 places in town that might be able to repair the dolly.  Rick took Bob to check these on these places.  While they were gone, my wife drove the van back to look for the wheel.  When she returned, not having found the wheel, Bob’s friends arrived.  They talked with us. Since Bob wasn’t back yet, they decided go look for the wheel.

Bob returned with Rick after about an hour and a half.  One place was no help.  The other thought they could fix the dolly, but it would take about a week to get parts. Rick would not take anything for driving Bob all over town, so Bob asked if he would like a stained glass window for his house.  Rick chuckled and said “I already have one.”  I bought one from a lady in Hurricane (WV).  As Rick and Bob spoke, Bob’s friends pulled back into the parking lot.  Bob asked Rick the name of the lady who made the window for him.  When Rick told him, Bob said, “Do you see that tall guy getting out of the truck and walking across the parking lot towards us?  You’re not going to believe this but you bought that window from his wife.”

We all met and assessed the situation.  Bob’s friends said they would come back the next day (Saturday) with a bigger trailer, pick up the dolly, take to their house and fix it.  

Rick said he knew the people in whose yard the dolly was laying, that they wouldn’t’ mind if we left the dolly until Bob’s friends picked it up.  We realized it was getting late.  We called a rental place that had a trailer we could use.  It was closing time but he would stay open until my wife arrived.

While my wife, Bob and Rick went to get the trailer, Bob’s friends went to look for the wheel again.  They gave up and started back when the son thought he saw the sun reflect off something in a bush.  They walked over and found the wheel under the bush.

In the mean time my wife walked into the rental company and asked for the trailer to get the van to Michigan and back.  The owner said he could do that, but there was a daily fee.  He convinced her she would save money by driving there and dropping it off, then renting another jut before we came back.

Then my wife called the insurance company, who said everything was covered including rentals and repairs.

Everyone arrived back at the parking lot.  The trailer was attached, van driven on and locked down. Everyone thanked everyone, shook hands, and said good byes.  We continued on our trip after about a 4 ½ hour delay. 

A situation which started out as a potential disaster turned into multiple God sightings:

1)       Because Bob was leading we were traveling slower.  At a higher speed, even if only 5 mph faster, could have led to an accident sooner, putting it on I-64.

2)       Also because Bob was leading we used his route. As it turned out, if we had followed the route I looked up we would have been on I-64 longer

3)       This accident did not happen on the interstate where at high speed numerous outcomes could have been disastrous, including major injuries and death.

4)       If we had followed the route I looked up we would have by-passed Winfield and possibly been in the “boonies” when the accident happened.

5)       The traffic was light at the time of the accident.

6)       Very little damage was actually done.

7)       The courteous policeman who could have only have just told us to get out of the way.  He helped bring calm to the situation.   Physically helped, gave helpful information.

8)       Bob had friends nearby who cane quickly to help. 

9)       Rick, a true Christian, went out of his way to be a good Samaritan.

10)    Bob had friends who lived nearby.

11)      The friends dropped what they were doing and came to help.

12)      They link between us, Bob, his friend’s wife to Rick and his stained glass window was obviously more than a coincidence.

13)      Perfect strangers allowed us to leave the dolly in their front yard.

14)      Bob’s friends found the wheel.

15)      The rental agent stayed open past closing time to help us. 

16)      The rental agent had one trailer that met our needs.

17)      The rental agent he told my wife how to save money.  In doing so, he greatly reduced what he would have earned by not being helpful. .

18)      The insurance company said our insurance on the RV would cover the entire cost.

This week, God decided to come to a meeting with me, other parents, our Pastor and the District Youth Coordinator.  As we lit the candle and opened our hearts, we listened to what Shawn had to say about a very small church in Altavista and their Jr./Sr Youth Program.  While he spoke God whispered to me that we must do more to create a program here that will minister to our young people in the Forest community.  I left the meeting inspired and resolved to do whatever I can to help create a Jr/Sr Youth program here at Mountain View.  I don't think he's done whispering - can you hear him?

Four families from the church were camping at a remote campground.  A fifth family was working as camp host assisting the rangers.  The third day of camping, one of the couples, my wife and I decided to walk to the camp store about 100 yards down the road.  We were delayed about 40 minutes by small chores.  Half way to the store a road intersected from the left.  As we neared and were almost in the intersection, a car came through the intersection obviously in a hurry.  I heard something about “bee sting” as they went by.  The car headed towards the store.  Another vehicle, coming up the mountain pulled into the store parking lot.  As the driver got out of his vehicle, the one in a hurry pulled in, stopped and someone inside yelled to him.  He went over and started CPR.   The man was having difficulty breathing. We arrived about that time and my wife asked if they needed an Epi-pen, (a pre-loaded needle containing epinephrine).  Someone yelled, “Yes!”  Sherry pulled one out of my back pack, where she always keeps two in case she has an asthma attack.  The man doing CPR grabbed it and rapidly pushed hard against his thigh. Immediately the man began to breathe better.  When we saw he was doing better we went on to the store, looked around and bought a few items.  About 10 minutes after the excitement, the camp host and park rangers drove up and checked on the family that had the problem.  When the camp host saw us he came over and said, “You won’t believe what happened.  You see that man over there with his wife and daughter?  They stopped at our site and said they had an emergency; the man is allergic to bee stings and was just stung twice.  Did we have an Epi-pen.”  The host checked the camp first aid kit which didn’t have one.  He called the rangers who said they didn’t have any and if they did they weren’t allowed to administer it.  They said they’d call the rescue squad to meet them at the camp store.  Then the camp host said, “The amazing thing is that man over there who was coming up here to camp is an EMT.  He pulled in to get something and saw they were having trouble, went over and started helping.  He said someone gave him an Epi-pen, he used it and the man started breathing better.  They don’t know who gave them the Epi-pen.  They disappeared.”  We all chuckled and told him it was my wife who supplied the medicine.  About 20 minutes later the rescue squad arrived, applied an oxygen mask, put him in the ambulance and took him down the mountain to the hospital 40 minutes away.  They kept him overnight for observation.  The next day, the family stopped by to thank my wife.  The doctors told them the EMT’s CPR and rescue squad’s oxygen would not have saved him.  The Epi-pen saved his life.

The fact that those little chores delayed us so we would be there at the right time is a God sighting.  The appearance of the EMT is a God sighting.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our family has been really struggling financially the past few months.  We were about to be evicted from our home.  I was so afraid and called a friend to get emotional support.  That friend is at Mountain View and, after hearing my need, shared it with Pastor Steve.  He asked you all for help for us and we are amazed at your generosity!  The church ended up getting just enough for me and my family to be caught up in our rent through September.  Just the “RIGHT” amount, can you believe it? “Godsighting”!!!

I don’t know how to thank you all at Mountain View for the way you so quickly responded to our family’s desperate need.  So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  May God richly bless you all.

Over the summer we had a meeting to talk about the children's ministry. After the meeting, I started really thinking about a name for the ministry and came up with Mountain T.O.P. (Teach Our People). It was a good name for the whole Sunday night experience (small groups, children's choir, etc.) but didn't really describe the new ministry for K-5th grade we had talked about starting. The next morning I wrote something for the newsletter using Mountain T.O.P. and sent it to the team for review. Dan e-mailed back that he had thought of the name Mountain P.E.A.K. (Preparing Enthusastic Awesome Kids) for the newest ministry. I sent that out to everyone and Pastor Steve immediately e-mailed me that he had been thinking of and praying about a name the whole way home from church that night and he had come up with Mountain P.E.A.K.S. (Preparing Enthusiastic Awesome Kids Spiritually). I think God likes that name for our children's ministry!

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