the man on the ferry

We were just traveling a short distance from our last place at the Bye household in Bergen to the Pederson household in Kopervik on Tuesday morning. I had been interested lately in getting more hungry for God and for the depth of His heart for me. I have not really been surprised by events such as the one that met me on the boat that day. As usual we drove the car onto the ferry and then all piled out to go up to the observation deck or to sit inside the passenger area. I always like to walk to the top and see the view. We did it together then I pulled away by myself. I found a little place in the back of the boat, away from the wind and still in the sun shine as it tried to peak through the clouds. It has been an extraordinary bunch of days in regard to the weather. Today is the only day that it seemed a bit cold and the wind had picked up over the water. I stood there behind the smokestack looking out into the expanse of water. It was a couple of moments to be alone, to not be the leader of the team, and to just hear from God. I started reading from 2 Corinthians. I of course sort of wanted Will to wander past me and enjoy the scattered sun and the view, but I knew that I needed to be there alone. A few minutes later a man came behind me and got my attention. 'Excuse me, Jeremiah 33:3.....I feel like the Lord reminded me about Jeremiah 33:3 for you.' He walked away. I shouted after him....'Thank you! Are you a Christian?' I figured he was but I just did not really understand where in the world he came from. Did he just see me reading my bible and figure I was a Christian....then pray for me and get a verse for me to find? I don't know, but one thing is clear----the verse he gave me was from the Lord for sure. As he walked away I had this thought that I should run after him and find out more. I felt the Holy Spirit slow me down. I stopped from following him. This was for me. The moment was made for me, for my heart alone. I turned to lean against the smokestack again, resuming my position of great revelation. I looked up the verse quickly. It read, 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you did not know.' Hmm.....wow. I was inspired by this verse!!! I have been wondering what the next step for me is. I have been struggling with some strange things lately---some questions of why I was not improving my skills as a painter, artist, musician, or anything. I have stopped doing most of those creative things. I guess in that same regard I have stopped calling to God and hearing His answer. This was a needed calling out. BUT THEN>>>>>>>the greatest part of it comes last. I was looking closer to the verse underlined in my Bible. Sometimes I underline them when there is an event that brings about a revelation or something. I then write the date and the place where the verse came to me. So this is what I looked closer to find. Written there next to the verse was 'May 2006 Bye Family Bergen' REALLY??? Wow! We just left that house only hours ago!! I remember that Wenche Bye had given me that verse when I came with a Norwegian team after my DTS outreach. I had just experience a disengagement relationship and was dealing with the heartbreak of that. She encouraged me and helped me see forward to what God had planned. When this reminder about Jeremiah 33:3 came it was like the circle was completed and the restoration had come in my heart. Only a few days ago (April 18) I remembered the heartbreaking relationship split just 3 years ago. I was at the Bye house on that day. So......what a strange man on the ferry would not know was that he was a part of God bringing a completion to my broken heart healing. Amazing! God is good and He is doing great things----do I believe it? OH YEAH!!!