I have been experiencing an issue with focus the past few days. I have these amazing blocks of time hyper-focused and then blocks where I simply want to remove blocks from a game on my phone called Blockudoku. Today, it is clear I need to jot down the gist of where God has had me this week. In a strange twist or perhaps His humor, I finally had a breakthrough in the game and exceeded 6K.

Wednesday evening, Miss Liz brought Stout to visit me at Danielle’s request. We may or may not adopt this s8 month old black dachshund in two months. It will be Mark’s decision, either way, as I promised such after Sunny died. She ended up visiting with Lyss and I until closing time, roughly 2.5 hours. It was clear to me that God wanted her to visit here and just experience His peace. Stout totally enjoyed his visit, as well. It may very well be that Lyss takes Stout or encourages her folks to get him since Wowzer passed Summer 2024.

Yesterday, Miss Futina visited and played “Hard Fought Hallelujah” from Brandon Lake for me. We sang and praised and then I shared “Count Em” with her in return. Oh, how I adore her and treasure her visits with me. Lord, may you convict her brother-in-law when he visits to make things right financially for her family. I can sense that she gets her soul fill-ups here with me more often than not, especially based on how her kids and grandchildren treat her. May she feel YOUR LOVE always.

Shortly after Futina left, Miss Erin arrived. I could feel an exponential weight on her spirit. While I thought it was about an ill family member, I learned it was from being forced to terminate three of her assistants. As she shared, I could feel my stomach churning and the weight of her pain. When I “topped off” in the pain department, I was convicted to pray over her. All I know is that I immediately felt my pain dissipate, diminish and leave my spirit. Fairly quickly, I could see the same happening to Erin.

How I know is that she verbally confirmed the release. Erin immediately shared a praise and worship song she was “bee-bopping” to at her office and a cute story about how a pregnant co-worker on her team listened to it with her. Then, we ended up talking about how our hands literally have the name of God inscribed, just as our breath is marked by Him. We chatted of raising hands and the oath they represent to God. We talked about the “best high fives ever” and how she was Catholic until about five years ago.

All in all, it is clear the world is struggling in countless ways. People are struggling to connect and somehow, someway, God uses me to bridge those gaps. People have always felt connected to us and our store. On this day of commercialized pagan love, I thank my Father in Heaven for loving me so beautifully. I love it when I know He is using me for His purposes. May I love every person who enters the shop today in the ways they most need to be loved. Amen.