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have I met you before?

John 13:35 NLT
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

Have I met you before?  Several times in the last few weeks I have had this question come from some people I came in contact with, and I even had to ask a couple people this.  The people that I have met and spent some time with are incredible in so many ways.

This weekend my son and I traveled to New York to work with some friends from Raceway Ministries to help restart the outreach at Watkins Glen International Speedway.  First of all, road racing is strange.  The people there say it is racing but twisted.  Which is true.  The cars turn right many times, and there are 11 turns in the race.  My boy had a blast, and it was so good to spend that time with him.  But Sunday morning I had the opportunity to preach in the fan outreach worship service.  One of the couples there had been to Martinsville.  We connected, prayed together and got to encourage one another.  It was awesome.

Last weekend was our back2school outreach, and there were many people who I recognized but couldn't remember where I met them before.  The stories we shared were so good.  I heard about churches that are winning people to Jesus and thinking outside the box.  I heard stories about how God had given people 2nd chances and God's grace had become so real.  

I've even had some of those moments where I think "I've been here before".  I'm not psychotic or psychic, but those kind of things happen.  What is God doing?  Maybe He is preparing us to be a blessing or to be blessed.  The people we encounter every day are not coming along our journey just by chance.  God has a plan.  God wants to teach us and use us.

Your story and mine are credible. The pain we have gone through has meaning and is important.  As we share where we have been, where we are and where we are going, we can point out how good God is and help others see they they too can experience God.

If we will look at the people we meet a little different, we might be able to have a bigger impact on the kingdom of God.  I don't know about you but blessing people, encouraging people and lifting people is something that I want to be right in the middle of.  Yes.  God blessed you and has blessed me so we can be a blessing to others.

Next time you get the chance, ask the question "have I met you before?" and see how God works in your conversations and in the lives around you.

Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

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