When God Speaks... in a Bar!
This week's story is about God speaking when and where we least expect it. This is from Josh, one of our football coaches this past Summer, who has been a part of our Wednesday group.
I have played basketball as long as I can remember. But after last season I knew it was time to move on from playing ball but I didn’t yet know what was next. I was talking with my grandpa about what’s next and he suggested I reach out to my old basketball coach to inquire about coaching and I said I’d pray about it. The very next day my old coach, who I hadn’t talked in years, reached out to me and asked about coaching! I figured my grandfather talked to him because they knew each other but I didn’t have anything else to do at the time and thought it sounded fun so I said yes. But when I asked my grandpa if he had reached out to my old coach he said, No! This was just God moving me in the right direction as I sought to honor Him and so this past year I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach the freshman basketball team at Crean Lutheran High School. I’ve really enjoyed coaching and seen the opportunity it provides to model following Jesus to these young players.
So, about 5 weeks ago after one of our preseason games we had a team party with the kids and parents so we could all bond a bit. I was talking to the parents and they started asking me about my walk with God and then one of them had asked if I knew what FCA was (Fellowship Christian Athletes). I told them I’ve never heard of it so they began to explain what it was and told me it used to be a part of the school but they discontinued it for some reason. Then they told me that I should talk to the school to bring it back because they thought I’d be a good fit to be a part of that. Following this conversation, I went home very excited thinking about all the great things that could come from FCA. Before jumping into things, I began to pray to God to see if this is something that he was calling me too, I didn’t want to overstep Him! But after praying for 4 weeks there had been no confirmation about FCA.
Then one recent Friday night, all my friends that are in college were home for one more night and wanted to go to the bars one last time. Places like the bars aren’t my scene anymore but I wanted to see my friends one last time so I was conflicted. I kept asking God if I should stay home or go out. Around 11pm, still undecided, I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit tell me I should go out with my friends and spend time with them. When I arrived, there was a huge line waiting to get in but you could pay $20 for early access and skip the line and although I didn’t bring any cash (so I wouldn’t be tempted) my buddy spotted me a twenty and I went in to see my friends. The bar was packed shoulder to shoulder, not my idea of a fun night out. Through the night I saw many people I haven't seen in a while which was good. Then a friend I haven’t seen or spoke to since high school came in and we started having a conversation. I told him what God’s been doing in my life and he told me what God’s been doing in his. He plays collegiate baseball in Washington, so I'm asking him about that, then out of nowhere he asks me, “Do you know what FCA is?”. The biggest smile came across my face and in that moment I was filled with overwhelming joy! My friend said he knows the guy that runs it in Washington, and had the chance to share his testimony in front of 500 kids. I told him I’ve been praying for confirmation about FCA for four weeks now. We exchanged numbers and decided to meet up again to talk more about FCA. I went home in awe of God! Out of all the places in the world, I would’ve never guessed to have my prayer answered at a bar. But that's who God is, He uses unlikely circumstances for extraordinary purposes!
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
Lamentations 3:25-27
I have played basketball as long as I can remember. But after last season I knew it was time to move on from playing ball but I didn’t yet know what was next. I was talking with my grandpa about what’s next and he suggested I reach out to my old basketball coach to inquire about coaching and I said I’d pray about it. The very next day my old coach, who I hadn’t talked in years, reached out to me and asked about coaching! I figured my grandfather talked to him because they knew each other but I didn’t have anything else to do at the time and thought it sounded fun so I said yes. But when I asked my grandpa if he had reached out to my old coach he said, No! This was just God moving me in the right direction as I sought to honor Him and so this past year I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach the freshman basketball team at Crean Lutheran High School. I’ve really enjoyed coaching and seen the opportunity it provides to model following Jesus to these young players.
So, about 5 weeks ago after one of our preseason games we had a team party with the kids and parents so we could all bond a bit. I was talking to the parents and they started asking me about my walk with God and then one of them had asked if I knew what FCA was (Fellowship Christian Athletes). I told them I’ve never heard of it so they began to explain what it was and told me it used to be a part of the school but they discontinued it for some reason. Then they told me that I should talk to the school to bring it back because they thought I’d be a good fit to be a part of that. Following this conversation, I went home very excited thinking about all the great things that could come from FCA. Before jumping into things, I began to pray to God to see if this is something that he was calling me too, I didn’t want to overstep Him! But after praying for 4 weeks there had been no confirmation about FCA.
Then one recent Friday night, all my friends that are in college were home for one more night and wanted to go to the bars one last time. Places like the bars aren’t my scene anymore but I wanted to see my friends one last time so I was conflicted. I kept asking God if I should stay home or go out. Around 11pm, still undecided, I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit tell me I should go out with my friends and spend time with them. When I arrived, there was a huge line waiting to get in but you could pay $20 for early access and skip the line and although I didn’t bring any cash (so I wouldn’t be tempted) my buddy spotted me a twenty and I went in to see my friends. The bar was packed shoulder to shoulder, not my idea of a fun night out. Through the night I saw many people I haven't seen in a while which was good. Then a friend I haven’t seen or spoke to since high school came in and we started having a conversation. I told him what God’s been doing in my life and he told me what God’s been doing in his. He plays collegiate baseball in Washington, so I'm asking him about that, then out of nowhere he asks me, “Do you know what FCA is?”. The biggest smile came across my face and in that moment I was filled with overwhelming joy! My friend said he knows the guy that runs it in Washington, and had the chance to share his testimony in front of 500 kids. I told him I’ve been praying for confirmation about FCA for four weeks now. We exchanged numbers and decided to meet up again to talk more about FCA. I went home in awe of God! Out of all the places in the world, I would’ve never guessed to have my prayer answered at a bar. But that's who God is, He uses unlikely circumstances for extraordinary purposes!
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
Lamentations 3:25-27
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