Girls - Get - Away Cruise

I want to share the story of a special God sent friend with whom I would love to share this Girls – Get – Away Cruise. To get to the present I have to take you with me on a journey to the past. About 21 years ago I was the manager of a small retail shop. I had 3 assistants and one in particular that was full of drama. She was about to be married and every day it was one thing after another with that girl. The short version of the story is she did not stay at the store and neither did I. Jump forward about 8 years and I am getting my nails done one evening at the same place that I have gone to for years and low and behold guess who is there! You got it ..that Drama Girl. This time she is different but then again so am I. We are both journeying with the Lord. My husband and I had struggled with infertility and I felt led to share that with her. I explained that we were going through the stages of adoption and that we were just waiting on God’s timing. She prayed for me right then. I can still remember how her prayer just lifted me up. It was a powerful prayer. She even said to me “you will have a child”. I was very moved by that. On the following Saturday, my husband and I received the call that would change our lives… our son had been born! My nail lady shared this with Drama Girl and during my six weeks at home she came to visit and brought presents one of which was a Bible for our son. Again she touched my heart. Over the course of the next few years we had a few casual meetings in the mall or at restaurants. Isn’t it funny how God just puts people in your life? Now, where are we today? Two years ago I joined a team of REALTORS and guess who is a part of that team. You guessed it again but this time I will tell you she is a precious and lovely lady named Jennifer. I knew she had affiliated with this company and I had apprehensions about doing the same for myself but after God led me to the same company where she was through various circumstances, I now know that she was part His plan. During this time my Dad has passed away, her son has had melanoma spots removed from his back, our husbands have both been through job changes, and we have had many ups and downs in our own careers. Our husbands have found that they have common ground and go to men’s prayer groups together during the month. There have been a couple of occasions that she has just got me. One time was right before we were to go to a national convention. I had not made any money in a few months so I knew funds would be real tight. She called me to her office and gave me an envelope with cash in it. She said “you pay me back when you can”. She wanted us to go enjoy just being together and grow professionally and spiritually at the same time. Before we flew out, she had her Bible in her lap and we prayed. She told me later how she felt led to give part of her money to some students that were on our next flight. They were going to New Orleans to help rebuild. Her heart is so big for God! Another awesome thing that she did for me was to give me a new Bible. I walked in to my office one day and it was there with a card that said “For His Glory”. In the note she explained that she had felt the Holy Spirit telling her to give me this Bible since she had bought one for herself. She had no idea how valuable it would become to me as I led a Bible study. I never knew that a new Bible would bring a freshness to God’s word. She did, because she listed to His prompting. He knew how much I needed that Bible. I have only shared a “touch of the hem of the garment” that she has had on my life. It would be a gift back to her if I could tell her in a special way why we would be the ones going on the cruise. I know God has plans for her, plans to prosper and not destroy. Plans to give her a hope and a future. Jer 29:11 Please let our friendship be even more for Him as we bond with other Christian ladies on this retreat.