If you love God surprises then you’ll forgive me for postponing my tips for “Living in the Fast Lane.” I promise to get back to those. It was a spirit-filled weekend, and I loved severing along side of the women’s ministry team at Temple Baptist in Texas. But first, I have something amazing to share with you.
This fall and winter I have a packed speaking schedule. Knowing I would need an extra measure of God’s strength, grace, and inspiration to keep going, I asked the Lord to show up and show off in a BIG way—not in my way but in His way. Boy did He ever!
On my way home from Houston to Nashville, God arranged an unexpected rondevu—which is actually spelt, rendezvous and means to “meet you.”
I was sitting at the airport in Houston awaiting my flight, when I looked up and saw a familiar face sitting directly in front of me! Quickly, I pulled out my phone and called my husband.
Ring-ring. “Hello?”
“Hey. Can you hear me?” I whispered.
“Yep. What’s up?” He replied.
“I’m sitting across from a famous person in the airport whose name starts with a B.” I shared with excitement and then hesitated long enough for him to guess who it was.
“Is it Brad Pitt?” He guessed.
“NO!” I replied rolling my eyes. “It’s not Brad Pitt!” “Although,” I said rethinking his presumption, “meeting Brad Pitt wouldn’t be half bad. But the person sitting across from me is Beth Moore!”
“You should say ‘hello.’ He suggested.
“I think I will.” Click.
“Excuse me.” I said as I approached her. “I just called my husband to tell him that there was a famous person sitting across from me at the airport and their name started with a “B.” He guessed it was Brad Pitt, and for a moment I thought… ‘hummm, that would be really awesome.’ But then I told him it was you!” She laughed and asked what my name was—probably to file it under suspicious characters. I took the opportunity to thank her for being obedient in teaching God’s Word. I told how her much I have learned from her, and that I was a Bible teacher, too. Then, I returned to my seat and thanked God for His sweet surprise.
A few minutes later, they announced it was time to begin boarding the plane to Nashville. I got up, gathered my belongings, and headed for the gate. Beth joined me in line and asked about my ministry. I knew our conversation would be short since my seat number was 1-A, but nevertheless, it would be sweet.
Entering the plane, I discovered another surprise. An elderly man sitting in my seat. Immediately, I assumed he was confused about his seating so I called for the stewardess. She explained the situation.
“Oh, that’s my boyfriend.” The stewardess winked. “I wanted him to sit up here with me so I switched his seat. Would you mind taking his?” she asked.
“I don’t mind at all.” I replied. Which is his seat? This is where the “God surprise” comes in. The man’s seat was next to Beth’s! And the rondevu between two sister’s in Christ began—a rondevu only God could have orchestrated.
I explained to Beth that I knew how important is was to study on your way to an event—assuming that’s where she was going—so I promised to read my book and keep my mouth shut.
“Oh, no.” she replied. “I don’t have to prepare for anything on this trip. Usually I do, and I don’t get the privilege of visiting with the person I’m sitting next to on the plane, but not this time.”
So, for a little over two hours we shared, laughed, and I even cried a few times. It was also fun discovering that we knew some of the same people associated with LifeWay and my church.
Beth Moore is a genuine jewel!! She is precious, down to earth, likeable, has a servant heart, hilarious, deep, humble, gracious, kind, gorgeous, and no bigger than a minute. But you knew that already.
After the plane landed, we snapped a few pictures, and then, she graciously introduced me to Travis Cottrell and his beautiful family who were there to pick her up from the airport. What a treat! What a blessing from God!
I never imagined that asking God for some extra inspiration would come in such a wonderful package such as Beth Moore. But, that’s our God—right!
This experience has taught me not to hesitate to ask God for anything. It’s taught me to dream bigger. Why not, we serve a BIG God! It’s taught me to simply say, “Your will be done” instead of making my own request. Why—because God’s will is always better, brighter, and bigger. When we allow His will to be done in our lives, it surprisingly knocks our socks off every time!
Karen Ehman says
Micca-
I love when God blesses a sweet sister for her obedience as He did you!! Now, where is the picture?!?!?! See you next weekend at Hearts at Home!!!
Karen
Rebecca Ingram Powell says
Micca Campbell!
How dazzling! I’m praising God with you, friend! What a blessed and truly divine appointment.
Oh sweetie! What a precious story, what a mighty God!
Laurie says
Doesn’t it make you just love God even more! I can just imagine God with a smile waiting on you to experience what He had orchastrated for you. What an amazing God we serve!
Van says
Who says being a Christian is a stuffy passtime? God is so fun!
B His Girl says
How fun Micca! God ordered your steps for sure. I like that this encounter led you to think about not asking for what you want but His will. His will is immeasurably better that we can ask or imagine. It knocks our socks off! How encouraging this is to all of us. Thanks for sharing. I love your description of the famous B. What a blessing she is to the body of Christ. She’s the real thing.
B His Girl says
How fun Micca! God ordered your steps for sure. I like that this encounter led you to think about not asking for what you want but His will. His will is immeasurably better that we can ask or imagine. It knocks our socks off! How encouraging this is to all of us. Thanks for sharing. I love your description of the famous B. What a blessing she is to the body of Christ. She’s the real thing.
Amy L Brooke says
No, you don’t know me, but I traveled with Pam Gates to She Speaks. She was so touched by what you wrote for her evaluation — really.
I don’t know if she will have told you or not. Not sure she understands blogs though I do get an occassional e-mail. She is part of Hearts at Home and Jill is my friend. Right after She Speaks I bent her ear for 3 hours about it all and talked about Pam’s talks (we practiced in the room). Jill decided to ask Pam to kick off a ministry/life sharing thing they are going to start doing. I do not know the date, but you can pray for her. If I find out the day, I’ll let you know. Pam was SO EXCITED! 🙂
On Purpose says
Thank you God for knocking socks of this weekend!
Natalie Jackson says
Wow! How amazing!
Lisa says
Micca,
God does bless us so much bigger than we even begin to imagine for ourselves! I prayed for you to have a special trip home from McAllen Saturday when I dropped you at the airport. I was only thinking small stuff like
relaxing,personal time etc. WOW! Now I feel like I know someone who knows Beth Moore!How awesome is our God!
You were such a blessing to us at Baptist Temple and God gave you the thank you we couldn’t have done ourselves.You deserved this blessing!
Lisa Younce
Sharon Sloan - Joy In The Truth says
Oh my, Micca Campbell!
My heart is racing, my feet are dancing and I am hootin’ and hollerin’! WHOOOOO-EEEEE! That is amazing! So excited for you! It’s almost like a dream. Pinch me. I mean, pinch you. You were the one who was there!
What a blessing for the BOTH of you! God ordains such special meetings! I know that He refreshed you both during that rendez-vous! 🙂
How fun! Thanks for sharing this! Something tells me there will be more to this story down the road a bit! 🙂
Squeezing your neck in love through this keyboard! 🙂
Sharon 🙂
Laurie Ann says
I’m so glad you and Beth Moore received the blessing of meeting each other and spend some time together chatting. How awesome is God to orchestrate something like that?!?
Shari Braendel says
Oh my sweet goodness! I cannot even imagine you and Beth in one airplane together, not to mention the same row! The people around the two of you probably wondered who in the world those two southern speakin’ women were! LOL! I wish I could have been a fly on the airplane wall! I agree with Sharon Sloan in that I think this is just the beginning of the story! Oh dear..you and Beth! hehe! I want to come to that conference! So glad the two of you were blessed this weekend…because it was not just a blessing to you….but a big one for her,as well. love ya, Shari