Missed Opportunities....

I went to Bluewater today with one of my lovely Sarah friends.  We had a great time, there was coffee, lunch and wandering round the shops....probably the perfect way to spend a day off in my opinion.

I felt God speak to me in the car on the way home through two almost encounters that occured today.  

Almost encounter  no 1

This one happened in The Body Shop.  My friend was looking at cleansers (as you do in such an establishment!) and the lady who worked there saw my bag on my back (my Mac bag....had to change my mac because the camera wasn't working......I thought mac's didn't have problems?!!!) anyway...she started asking me all about the computer and how lovely they were etc etc. Somehow we started talking about where I worked, I boldly told her I worked for a Church.....and then.......we carried on chatting, and after another 5 minutes or so we said goodbye and left the shop.   I didn't really think anything of it at the time, other than she was a really nice lady.

Almost encounter no 2

This one happened in Boots (something about cosmetic shops?!).  I was buying some hair products and the lady serving me started talking to me about how she was about to become a grandmother any day now.  She literally started talking about this out of no-where.  I didn't ask any questions, I didn't have a baby with me, I didn't have anything that signified I might be in the least bit interested that she was about to become a grandmother....!  She was another lovely lady and we had a great chat about how excited she was, how she'd like to be called 'Nanny', how this was her first grandchild...the conversation continued for a bit and then I went on my merry little shopping way.....

Observations: (frustratedly made in the car on the way home)

Both shops were relatively quiet, The Body Shop was empty and there was no queue in Boots. There was plenty of space and time to pray.

I'd already told the lady in The Body Shop I worked for a church...how easy would it have been to say 'actually, the Church I work for really believe that prayer works...can I pray for you about anything?'

Again, I could have offered to pray for the new grandmother, that everything would go well in the birth, and that her family would be so blessed by the addition of the new baby.

I could have then asked God if he wanted to say anything specific to these ladies...and He probably would've, because He loves to make Himself known to those who don't know Him.

Conclusions:

What a negative blog!

But actually today left me feeling kind of positive.....after saying sorry to God for missing two pretty amazing opportunities I thanked Him that they came up in the first place.  I thanked Him that he gave me a chance to step out for Him.  The fact is I missed them both today, but I serve a God who is full of grace and will use me again.  I know there will be many more chances to step out, offer to pray, prophesy and bring the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.  I hoping the lessons learnt today will enable to me be bolder in the future, spend more time listening for the still small voice of God and actively seek for opportunities to see His Kingdom come on this earth.