Today's moment is a Cranberry Creek moment....I may write a book one day...but until then, this will have to do.

We were in Calgary at the Art Market...a beautiful show in an up-scale venue. Bob was on the front line, serving tastes of the pudding. He had a string of people turn up their nose at him, and then one particularly rude woman just sent him over the edge. He handed off the tray of samples and came back to the kitchen and began to rant...."What is the matter with people?" Why do they have to be so rude?" "Why are we doing this, anyways?" "I don't think I can do this anymore!" I just consoled him, tried to encourage him, and sent him back out to the warfront. After he left the kitchen, I prayed for him, for our business, for understanding on why we are even doing it.

What took place next was so amazing yet simple and sweet...it had God's signature all over it.

When Bob returned to his sampling spot, he began, "Would you like to try some Cranberry Pudding?" Up steps a wee elderly man in a shirt, tie and red cable knit sweater. He was VERY wee, and VERY elderly, and his sweater was VERY red.

He looked Bob right in the face and said, "Why yes, and this is why I am here. I come every year just to buy my one small pudding....it makes my Christmas, you know. I'm so glad you are here again this year, I don't know what I'd do if ever you don't come."

Bob managed to finish up with the gentleman, and then came back into the kitchen where we both wept....and thanked God for bringing the wee man in the red sweater. We sometimes get so focus on the "big picture" that we forget to zoom in and look closely at just one person, or just one kind word, or just one minute in time.

Take time to zoom in on the minute.....you never know when God may touch it and turn it into a moment.

Monday's Moments

Life is not one big happy constant party.....it holds good moments and not so good moments; fleeting moments and moments that linger way too long. I have been made aware recently of the moments of my life and how VERY special some of those moments are.....so much so that they must be recorded and shared.

What would life be without the gift of special moments?

God is good.

All the time.

I am thankful for every minute of life that God gives, but there are times when the minute becomes a moment suspended in time. A special gift from God himself, if we take the time to notice.

Because of these mundane minutes transformed into memorable moments by God's grace, I feel compelled to have "Monday's Moments" every so often. A place where I can record and share with you some of the special moments God has given to me and mine. I trust you will enjoy sharing these moments with me, and will be encouraged to look for God's hand as He changes your minutes into moments.

This Monday's Moment.....

While we were in Honolulu, we went for dinner at the Spaghetti Factory....a little background to set the scene....I found out that the restaurant was having an amazing special...all their complete dinners for 40% off to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Dinner for two for $12.50! Salad, fresh baked bread, spaghetti of choice, ice cream and beverage! I LOVE a good deal so I was up to go there. Bob was not. He figured that we were in Hawaii and every dinner should have an awesome ocean view (the SF is in a warehouse type mall with few windows, and is furnished with dark antiques). When we arrived we were escorted to a table in front of a two story window with a view of Fisherman's Wharf....SWEET! Dinner was great...we just enjoyed the view, each others company and the familiar food.

That would have been great if that was it....but God decided to change our minute into a moment.....before we left we went to the restrooms....they are upstairs by the bar....it's a mezzanine overlooking the entire restaurant.
As we both came out of the restrooms....this four or five part harmony broke out and filled the entire room...

We looked over the balustrade to see a table of about 12 young Hawaiians standing at their table, holding hands and singing grace. The place was filled with the sounds of God's people praising God.....you could almost hear the angels in Heaven joining in...everyone stopped and listened. Hallelujah...Hallelujah.....praise God....thank you Lord.

We stood in awe as they sang...I cried as I too praised my God for His goodness to me. I cry now as I re-tell it.

And then the moment was over....the whole restaurant broke out in applause....and everyone went back to what they were doing before they were interrupted by the moment.

We left the restaurant with a sense of God's blessing on us and with a special memory forever etched in our hearts and minds of when God turned a regular minute into a special moment.

Be blessed today...and look for the moments!