Blessed Beyond Words

There have been times in my life when God has worked in unexpected and inexplicable ways leaving me in awe and reminding me just how powerful He is. He broke through Heavenly and Earthly barriers once and spoke loudly to me - and his message saved my daughter Misty’s life. Another time I was sinking into the depths of a depression so deep it began to seem the only way out was to end my own life. The moment I came to that conclusion, I felt the Presence of God overwhelm me and His love enveloped me. He showed me my children and impressed upon my mind my value and worth and the depression was lifted. And I am still here. Those two moments impacted my life enormously and imprinted within me a deeper knowledge of Who God is and how much He loves me and wants the best for me.

I had a third powerful intervention in my life by God Thursday evening, April 11, 2013. But in order to understand the impact of Thursday, let me back up a bit to a balmy Tuesday night last summer. August 21, to be exact. Sarah and I had been discussing off and on all summer the possibility of starting a nonprofit organization utilizing a mobile food truck to reach out to hungry people with compassion and love. Sarah saw an ad on Craigslist for a company which builds customized food trucks and she contacted one of the owners, Craig, and set up a meeting with him for us to look at a truck and ask some questions. We were exploring and debating and seeking God's will.

We met and both of us were very impressed with Craig's food truck and all the helpful information he gave us. We left that parking lot encouraged and a little more convicted we should pursue this project. As you know, we did. After launching The Torch in February - we started keeping an eye on Craigslist and E-bay for food trucks. And of course, we prayed and prayed God would show up and guide us. As He has. First, He handed us a blessing by causing the IRS - of all places - to approve our application as a 501(c)3 in record time. Only God could speed that organization up. Then He showed us He was with us through encouraging emails and messages and donations and support and prayers from all you people who are stepping up and getting involved.

God never does things half-heartedly, though, and as we have progressed through this process the blessings have begun to flow more rapidly and freely. Two weeks ago, there was a new posting for a food truck on Craigslist. This one was in HOWELL of all places, right in our backyard! We rejoiced at the ease with which we found that truck and were excited to know it would not be difficult to check it out and have a mechanic look at it.

We made an appointment with the owner and ventured to northern Howell for a peek. We loved the look of the truck. The paint job was a bright, clean orange and we could easily envision our sharp-looking logo proudly posted on the side. The inside of the truck was very clean as well - but there were a few items of concern. There were certain aspects of the truck we believed would not meet the Health Department specifications for licensing. The owner was very nice and even told us as we were leaving he was willing to drop his price for our non-profit. We agreed after we left the gentleman’s home we would check with the health department and have a mechanic inspect the truck  before we attempted to negotiate a price with him.

A few days later, after I had heard from the health department we decided it would be in our best interest - and the most responsible course of action - to have the health department inspector look the truck over before we bought it. We already had a mechanic lined up. I contacted the owner and told him what we were doing. He was anxious to sell the truck so he dropped the price another $7000 and suggested we could buy the truck, now priced at $13,500 and use the difference to bring it up to code. I called Sarah and told her of his offer. We agreed to pray about it. Then I went to California to see my sister.

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One morning while I was in California I prayed about the food truck and suddenly realized God was impressing on me it wasn't the one for us. Later that day Sarah sent me a text and told me she didn't feel good about the food truck and felt like it was not the right one for The Torch. She said she had seen another food truck ad on Craigslist and had sent an email explaining a bit about us and what we were doing along with a link to our website. 

The next day she received this message:

“Sarah,

    People exist in this world to help other people. I have spoken to my partner and we know that we are here to help you. Your cause is very noble and may be more crucial than I can perceive at this time or ever.

    We have already met, And now I have read your stories. It is not possible for me to refuse to help you. My partner knows that God has a purpose for us and we must fulfill it. We are not seeking to make a profit from this project. As a matter of fact we will be making a large donation. However, like everybody else, we need to pay our bills and keep the lights on too. 

   So we will do this at cost and below (might not make sense to you right away). It is all about cash flow. I believe that the equipment you need will be donated. It is our job to define exactly what is needed. There are somethings which will not be donated. But there will be funds made available for those items too. Whatever money is not donated can be earned via a very simple process which we are very good at. I am sure that God will provide all of the needs for this project.”

It was Craig, the same gentleman we had met in August when we were still exploring the idea of starting this ministry!

I don’t think I can adequately describe how I felt when Sarah read that message to me over the phone. Breathless, amazed, in awe, speechless. It was like the very Presence of God was right there in that room and nothing I could say would sufficiently express to Sarah everything I was feeling. My heart and soul praised God with words I could not utter.

So last night we met with these very amazing gentlemen who were clearly sent to us by God. And we spent two incredible hours discussing God, food trucks, life and spell-binding supernatural blessings! We made a plan to have a food truck built - largely through donations - and realize God made a plan to break through the cosmos and show up here on Earth to provide us with a food truck. Sarah and I left that meeting overwhelmed with the Glory of God and such a display of His Power and Presence. 

He is real. This ministry is real. He wants us to GO! We have to GO and take Him to people. We are praying for miracles and life-change and the spark of a spiritual fire to ignite Michigan and even beyond! Things are happening and God is on the MOVE! Sarah and I are so very grateful His amazing plan to reach out to people in our community allows us a small part to play. We are humbled by this God we serve. We have been healed, blessed, encouraged, saved, loved and moved by His very supernatural Presence and power. His impact is huge, His call is clear. 


We - and YOU will GO!