Of Teeth and Snakes and God

Only God would do this, and I think He so cool! Here's how it went:
I had a special meeting today with someone I had never met before, and because this meeting related to my serving Christ, Satan was doing his best to delay and distract me. Finally, however, I was all gathered and organized, dressed and coiffed - ready to go... except for one very important thing; I could not find my lower dentures.

Like many, I have trouble wearing my lower plate and remove it when I am in the privacy of my home or car. Experience has taught me to put these dentures in prearranged places so I can find them, but this morning they were in none of their customary places. Now, I am conscious of how like a hag I look without my teeth, so was prayerfully searching everywhere... under the bed, in my sox drawer, everywhere and anywhere. No dentures were found.

Finally, continuing to pray, I decided to lay pride aside and go to my meeting half toothless. I loaded the car then made one last loop around the house. I even decided to check Richard's nightstand and drawer, but what I found on his side of the room was not plastic, no, not at all!

Looped along one side of our bedroom recliner was a large corn snake who had recently ingested a mouse or other critter similar in size. The meal had probably been taken in earlier this morning because the bulge was not far back from the snake's head. Lethargic and sleepy after its meal, the snake offered no protest as I scooped it into a box and took it out to the back yard. I was surprised at how long this snake was when uncoiled. I estimate it was between four and five feet long.

Almost immediately after releasing Mr. or Ms. Corn Snake, I found my lower dentures. They were just inside my purse, right where they should have been, right where I had already looked!

Praise God that He didn't reveal where my teeth were until after I discovered the beautifully marked corn snake. I am not afraid of or repulsed by snakes, but Richard, who sits in that recliner wearing only his briefs, has a strong aversion to snakes. Had he sat down there to relax and read before bed, he would have had a very unpleasant surprise and perhaps been bitten by the startled reptile. Like I said, God is way cool!

So, off I went to my meeting and to spend the rest of the day at the Holy Land Experience. Did I mention I love that place? Yesterday I wrote about it as if comparing it to theme parks, but my true passion and present focus is on the ministry. I cannot praise the founders enough and TBN has taken it to even greater heights as an outreach for Christ... as a way of praising and honoring God... as a teaching ministry... and even as a wonderful and wholesome form of entertainment.

Today I spent time in the priceless Scriptorium plus various prayer gardens and really came to appreciate the many new designs and upgrades all the more. I also went to the Prayer and Praise service and, of course, the Passion presentation. I visited with several people after the final scene but did not have an open door for prayer with anyone. I always wait on the Holy Spirit's lead. I will be going back again Tuesday.