Lord, fill me with Your Spirit and use me today, in whatever way You desire for Your glory.

For many years now, this has been part of my morning prayer. Whether my calendar is full or empty, I know that God has a way of making my day turn out in ways that I could not have imagined. Jesus brought one of those surprises to me just last week.

Aorm is a precious Thai junior in high school who, although being raised by her staunch Buddhist grandmother, has been part of the growing Adventist community in Khon Kaen since she was nine years old. Since pandemic restrictions were put in place many months ago, she has attended our house-church nearly every Sabbath. Her love for the Lord has even influenced her grandmother to occasionally attend our services over the past couple of years and to express interest in Bible studies.

“I like to come and worship with you and practice my English skills. And I love to eat all of your delicious American food,” Aorm told me one Sabbath. We have been blessed with many visitors throughout these weeks, and they are always happy to eat our plant-based homemade Sabbath lunches.

For one meal, I had made some oatmeal-raisin cookies that she particularly liked. She told all of her friends that she wanted to learn to make healthy food like Grandma. (Most of the church family call me Grandma.) Andru, her friend, told me that Aorm was too shy to ask, but that Aorm wanted me to teach her to make healthy food.

I said that I would be more than happy to teach her, and we arranged a cookie-baking evening together. It was such fun! Aorm had never used such equipment as electric beaters or my handy little Pampered Chef nut chopper. In the end, my kitchen smelled so good, and she gleefully wrapped the cookies in a container to share with her friends and family. The following day, she happily returned the container and said that everyone loved her cookies — especially her grandmother, who really enjoyed them.

I was happy and grateful for the opportunity to have built that memory with her. However, I was surprised again when I got a text yesterday asking if she could come back that day and learn to cook some more.

God answers my prayers in such interesting ways. When we make ourselves available, He uses our simple and unique gifts to His glory.

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