A Night With God, At His House - In my Car

The twelve hours from Saturday evening to Sunday Morning were so strange.  Saturday night I went to bed at 8:00 pm (as I've been doing lately), excited that I could get nearly 10 hours of sleep and still make it for my 7:00 am appointment at the church.  As I've been doing lately also is playing Good, Good Father on a cycle of 7 times, and before I normally get through the 2nd or 3rd time, I am asleep.  Well this time was different.  I went through all 7. . .  and then I went through all 7 again.  Being still tired and asking God to give me sleep, I went back to what I use to do, a playlist of 22 different worship songs.  That didn't work either - a few songs into it I kept getting the thought to try what my dad had suggested, play a sermon podcast.  So I started one, but soon said to myself, "this won't work." I went back and was about to change to a worship song, when Pastor Robert Morris (from Gateway Church) on the podcast stated his title of the sermon.  It caught my attention so much, I said, "I want to hear this." So I left the podcast playing, hopping that I would fall asleep partway through it.  Well, half way through it, I didn't want to fall asleep until I finished the podcast.   At the end of the podcast, God started to speak to me about what pastor Robert Morris was saying.   When it was over, I played a worship song.  I was still really tired, but I just couldn't fall asleep.  It was nearly 10:00 pm now.

I suddenly felt a feeling saying, "go to church."  Strange.... I tried to ignore it but it kept returning. I kept saying, "this is a crazy idea my mind has come up with that I'm trying to decide if it's God or not!?"  This is crazy. (Side Note: I've been really working with God lately to learn how to tell the difference be the voice in my head and God's voice, and He's been testing me with it a lot).  Finally, I said, "God if this is you let me know, but this is crazy."  He replied, "Go to church, I will meet you there."  I'm like, "well technically, your everywhere."  "I will meet you at church." He replied.  I said again, "this seems foolish, it is just silly."  I was immediately reminded of a direct word from God earlier this year, "It may seem silly, but I said to do it."  So I got up and as I was told to, put on some warm clothing, (and packed a few extra jackets just in case) and packed a pillow and left (all the while trying to confirm with God if I was doing the right thing).  I had peace the whole time.  The way to church, God really spoke to me - His presence was very present in the car there.

When I got to church I parked where He told me to and I just felt that I would be spending the night there.  So I laid my seat back and got out my pillow.  As I was laying back, I asked God, "So why am I really here?"  His reply came right away, "Because you heard my voice.  I said I would meet you here and you came."  He continued with, "You will find rest in my voice, you will find rest in my presence."  Shortly after I fell asleep - after more than 2 hours of trying everything I've ever done to fall asleep, I followed God's seemingly crazy voice, and I fall asleep just like that.  Praise God!

No, I didn't have the best night, but my sleep was Wonderful.  Yes, I woke up who know how many times because of both my position and being really cold, but each little snippet of sleep, was wonderful.  In the morning I was well rested.  God said He would give me rest, and He did.  God is Good All the Time!

I woke up to my alarm around 4:45 am.  I then asked God, should I head home to shower, shave, comb my hair and brush my teeth and eat now, or should I sleep another 2 hours, miss our appointment, and go to McDonald's and pick up a comb, hair gel, toothbrush and toothpaste at Walmart?  He told me to do the latter.  So I got a lot more sleep - though When I woke to my alarm, I really had to use the bathroom.  When He told me to sleep, I said, God if you want me to sleep, you can hold my bladder until I get to a bathroom - and He did.  He's soo Good!