The Finger of God!

This is a journal of some of the more significant incidents of divine acts that I have personally experienced.

Friday, April 22, 2022. At the workshop I administrate we did a bulk mailing for a local business. Our bulk mailing stamper has “Return Service Requested” on it, which should not have been on in this case. As a result, we have been receiving envelopes back, for the last month or so, because the name on that envelope did not line up with the address anymore. So, I would stop in at the post office periodically and pay the return service charge for the envelopes that were returned since my last visit to the post office. They would group the charges together, to an extent, so that ended up being a series of small charges that needed to be added.

Anyhow, I had it on my list to stop in at the post office, for a week or so, and on Tuesday I finally got it done. When the postmaster saw me he said, “Oh, its you. I was just getting all your stuff together.”

Wow, that was good timing.

This morning I dropped something off at Eli’s place and he showed me the raised bed in their backyard, in which they used plastic signs, that I had brought to the workshop from the dumpster at TDC last year, to line the edge. He said the raised bed was 8′ by 4′ and was 9.5″ deep, and the signs were 4′ long and 9.25″ high. “So,” he commended, “we did no do any cutting; they just fit right in place.”

Well, God was working at setting that one up for quite a while, wasn’t He?

(Just a minute ago, as I spoke the above sentence into my speech to text software, I decided to use the word “well” to begin the sentence instead of “wow”, beings I had used “wow” to describe the post office incident. But, when I spoke the sentence, the wrong word came out of my mouth, and I said “wow” instead. However, the system misunderstood and put down “well”, which is what I actually wanted.)

This afternoon I was printing the workshop’s spring newsletter, but the quality insisted on being very poor and I was at a loss to know what to do about it. The problem was with the black and red toner, and the black and red toner that was in the printer was aftermarket toner that we had problems with before. But the quality got no better when I put the OEM toner in that I had sitting there. (The problem still persisted, even after about 200 pages of the name-brand toner.)

I prayed about this situation, asking God what I should do about it. And the response I received was, “Go home, and try again next week.” So I went home, and we’ll see how things work out next week…

It turns out I have about eight hours of webinar videos to watch, from the two different courses I am taking on publishing and marketing books. This evening I attempted to watch these online videos, but they only played for a few minutes before stopping, and they wouldn’t get going again.

I asked God what I should do about it and his response seemed to be, “Those videos can wait. I want you to finish Harry’s songs instead.” (Referring to songs I was working at harmonizing and typesetting for a friend.) So that is what I did.

It is easy for me to forget that God has us all figured out; and He truly has His fingers in our day-to-day lives, more so than we will ever realize in this life. And yes, I have found from experience that His way is always the best.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Here are some excerpts, from the past few weeks of my diary, that illustrate how God takes care of His Children that trust in Him:

June 16th – I just figured over my finances today and saw that it is going to be very close, in the coming months, with getting my credit card bills paid.

Again, God is in control… I leave it in His hands, and I choose not to fear.

June 20th – Eli mentioned that I must have forgotten to charge for designing the spring newsletter. (Yes, I had completely forgotten we had agreed to that.)

June 29th – Just before I got there Joanna tried faxing again and it worked. She looked at my invoice she mentioned paying for the newsletter designing for 2021 through this past spring, versus just this past spring like I had on the invoice. (She thought I had asked about that charge last year and we just forgot about it till now.) Thus it was that an additional $300 was added onto my paycheck.

Wednesday, July 22, 2022. This morning, after reading in my devotional, I read a few stories in Vera Overholt’s True Angle Stories. Those stories got me anticipating a session in God’s presence, which remained in the back of my mind as I read a Bible Helps booklet that was on my stack of things to read. When I was wrapping that up I saw that I would not get done in time to have a session on God’s lap before breakfast. When I got done with the booklet my clock chimed 7, which is our normal breakfast time. As I was dressing to go downstairs Mother called up the steps and told me, “Daddy and Curtis had trouble in the barn, and Daddy says they won’t be in for breakfast till 7:45.”

Just what I subconsciously wanted! And I dove into bed and “reveled on God’s lap” for the next half hour.

Isn’t God amazing?

Tuesday, August 9^th, 2022. Albert Horst just asked me to look up something else for him online. And I have that tune for Louis that needs to be done… (I feel as soon as I get some of those distractions taken care of, more come.) On top of that, I nap quite a bit during the day and spent hours relaxing in God’s presence instead of actively getting work done.

I was feeling quite overwhelmed with my everlasting to-do list when I went for a nap on the Lord’s lap this evening. But afterward, I felt much better about all the stuff I had to do.

God showed me that these distractions from my main projects are in His control. And they basically indicate that He is not in a hurry for me to get my books completed and published.

I laid my schedule in God’s hands and as He cradled me in His lap, He assured me that He really enjoys the time I take to “hang out” with Him, and everything is in His control and will hold out perfect in the end if I allow Him to man my schedule.

What a relief. May I never forget this revelation and again insist on my own notions.

Wednesday, Sept 14^th 2022. This evening I spent a bunch of time scratching my head about how to work the next chapter of the book. I decided I need to rewrite the chapter but was unsure about the details.

Before I quite for bed I opened a copy of the latest published version of the book to casually note how many chapters it had and what chapters I added since then. I flipped through it and “chanced” to look at a chapter that “happened to be” the part I am working on now. And wow! The words were just the concept I needed for my rewrite project. I had removed those paragraphs through the revision, but now I saw they were just what I am needing.

Nov. 5^th 2022. Here is excerpts from a recent email conversation I had with a friend:

Me, Nov. 2^nd — Attached is a copy of my manuscript, if you happen to have the time and interest to provide critical feedback.

Blake, Nov. 3^rd — Alright, thank you. As I said, it might be a few months before I’m even able to read it. But if I am able to get to it in a timely, I’ll see if I can give you feedback. 

Blake, Nov. 5^th —  I realize I emailed you saying I likely could not get to your manuscript promptly, but after I sent that email, I started reading and found the time Saturday morning to complete it.

Me, Nov. 5^th — I might as well tell you, when I got your reply stating how you are busy and may not get to read my manuscript for a few months, I prayed that somehow God would give you time, in the next week or so, to look at it if it is His will. And He sure did not mess around with answering my prayer…

Blake, Nov. 5^th — I simply worked on my schoolwork either last night or the night before while sitting on the couch. I got done early and remembered the manuscript so I started reading it. I had a free morning today so I finished reading and writing today. God does answer prayer.

Dec. 7^th 2022. Here is my diary entry for today:

This morning I tackled the idea of using ProWritingAid, which I was emailed about. (ProWritingAid is AI editing software. I already use Grammarly, which is something similar.) I was offered a 40% coupon for purchasing ProWritingAid and felt that now is the time to make the decision.

When I asked God about it, I right away entered a phenomenal experience in the Lord’s lap… He distinctly answered my question, “Buy it and use both programs for now. At $240 for lifetime access, you will soon have the program paid off.”

“Thank you, Father.”

After purchasing and installing ProWritingAid and taking it through the 1st chapter of my book (Yes, I made a few changes) I tackled the next question:

“Father, should I be asking the workshop boys about going to that live nativity play, that Lamar Wise is doing on Saturday? (This is a play only for handicapped people, and I run a workshop for handicapped boys…)

The answer came before I even got done asking it, “No, don’t bother.”

“Thank you, Father. What would I do, and were would I be, without You and Your all-wise control?”

In the evening I tackled an email, from one of the guess speakers in Texas, that offered training on public speaking. (I was in Texas for a Self-Publishing School workshop over the weekend. SPS is a course I am enrolled in to gain help with publishing a book.)

I took that to God as well, and the answer was a clear, “Do it. I will provide the means…”

“Thank you, Father, for your quick responses and unwavering support. Your value in my life is truly priceless.”

I got a connection request on LinkedIn, which I accepted before going through my feeds. You wouldn’t believe how many quotes I came across that somehow made me feel better about spending more money, to learn about being a speaker.

I then filled out the required online form and booked a call with The Speaking Lab for tomorrow afternoon. After all, God did not guarantee they would accept my application and give me the training, He only told me I should apply…

Oh, I must include, I had a great part of this diary entry typed up when I left to check emails that had come; and when I got back most of it had disappeared. (Yes, I know I remember saving it…) It seems God has no end to testing my patience. But He is faithful. It will be worth it…

Hey, I need to share yet:

I made a new folder, in my offline email folders, labeled “Career Related”. Then I moved a handful of folders from the “Book Related” folder over to the new folder. I also added a folder to the new folder for emails related to the speaking education that’s coming up…

That says it, my brain finally wrapped around the fact that helping others find the fulfillment they crave is my career; it is not just a book I am writing.

I thought of putting this diary entry on my blog too illustrate God’s faithfulness to me. God responded, “Yes, I want you to do that to illustrate your faithfulness to me.”

What a paradox.

Dec. 8^th 2022. This afternoon, on my call with Charles Forest, from The Speaker Lab, he told me I would be a fit for their program. He said they can split the $8,000 fee into two payments, and I told him that if I pulled all the money out of my savings I can do it.

I felt God’s approval and I did it.

In the evening I figured over my finances again and found that it will be getting down close to two digits, but I trust God knows what is best and I have confidence that I made the right decision.

#55 Dec. 20^th 2022. In connection with my enrollment in The Speaker Lab and how close my finances will get: I already received $345 more than I had been expecting. Last Mon. Daryl walked in and purchased a printer of mine, that I hadn’t been using for a few years, for $100; and I received a class action settlement check of $5, from Bank of America. Now today I got $240 in cash, form the workshop, for Christmas. I have no doubt that this will work out.

Mon. May 15^th 2023. This past Saturday I found an envelope from Lydia Stauffer, from Manto MI, in the mail for me. It contained a check of $45.48 that had “song print out” on the memo line. I deposited it, but I have no remembrance of any songs I printed out for someone in Michigan.

Today, minutes after I had contemplated more about Lydia Stauffer and what that check she sent me is all about she called me and answered all my questions. She is a sister to Atlee, for whom I had typeset numerous songs; and it was through him that I had written the melody for and typeset a song that she had written.

June 1^st 2023. This morning I was heading south on I81 to meet with Albert Horst, to go the CLP Writer’s Conference in Dayton VA.

   I was heading for the park and ride at 696 exit, but I got my mind on other things, and when I thought of it again I was passed. So I got off the 997 exit while I called Albert to ask him if I should come back or he should come down… and he said, “I see you at the end of the ramp!”

Here I had the wrong park and riding in mind and I “accidentally” got off at the right place.

July 4^th 2023. I just published my book, and after purchasing different educational courses and book marketing I am virtually broke. (I had attempted to get a job a few times, over the winter; but the doors kept swinging closed, as if I wasn’t supposed to walk down that road, and I didn’t feel led to go down that highway.

I thought of it that doing a driving trip for an Amish or Joe Wenger I had met at Red Rock would help me out, and a week later Aaron Lapp asked me to drive him and some friends to Maine this coming weekend… So I jumped for the chance.

September 15^th 2023. It was about a month ago that I figured over my finances and discovered that with my normal earnings I would be $400 short for the credit payment that will be due on September 18th.

I decided to trust God.

I did get some unexpected income here and there over the next couple weeks, including when a friend sent me $30 extra when paying for a book he purchased. The highlight was yesterday afternoon when Carmi Auker called me and wondered if I would drive him and a co-worker home from work early. He said he has plans to go into Lebanon County in the evening and had called numerous closer drivers to take him home early and it just didn’t suit them.

I knew I needed the money, and I had the time, so I told him I would do it and left right away.

I drove them where they needed to go, and Carmi gave me a cash down payment of $40 and said he will send a personal check in the mail to cover the rest.

This afternoon I noted that I would need to get paid today for what I had earned so far in order to pay my credit card bill on Monday. So I managed to get an invoice to Alvin Nolt’s, the workshop treasurer, and his wife wrote me a paycheck.

At home I figured over the cash and check I had to deposit and discovered that if I deposited all but $23 of my cash I will have enough, with $2 to spare, in my checking account!

Then, when I told this story at supper, Kevin told me he would be on the road this evening and could make that deposit for me. So I got it together and send it with him. (I figured over my amounts a little more thoroughly later and found that my automatic credit card payment will be a little less than I had thought. So I’ll be good by $34 after all.)

Isn’t it amazing how God provides when we trust Him.

Mon. Sept. 24^th 2023.  What a day of unmerciful hiccups. Fortunately, I did have some breaks from it here and there… and now.

   I think today was the first I got the idea that hiccups might be solely divine. A God sent, to fulfill His divine purposes…

   In the afternoon I thanked God for the hiccups, because I am sure they are for my good in the end. Then I prayed, “Father, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, if  Thou wilt I will drink it. The hiccups soon started getting much further apart, and I thanked God for the seasons of peace I had to enjoy between them. And that is when they stopped altogether—for a few hours.

   In the evening I had hard, painful hiccups again, that persisted at least an hour, through all the hiccup remedies I could think of, till I finally decided to ask God to remove them again.

   The above-described scenario happened again except that time I had a few more hiccups, just like normal, before they stopped altogether. I never hiccupped since… Yet.

   I did let God know though that He is to feel free to give me the hiccups again, whenever he sees that it will be the best for me, because I do want what is best for me in the long run, even if it is momentarily painful, and I am confident that God knows what is best.