A Lost Wallet & Returning to the Altar
After three hours of Conflict Management training at the SECC Executive Board Room with Dr. Brian Cafferky, both my mind and my stomach needed a break. The session was challenging, practical, and very engaging. We worked together on a real church conflict, using biblical principles and proven conflict-management steps to find meaningful solutions.
On my way home, I stopped at La Sierra Natural Foods to pick up some favorite vegetarian items and ordered lunch from the nearby Oasis Vegetarian Café. The vegetarian carnitas burrito, garlic mushrooms, and avocado ginger were just too tempting.
Later, as I was driving home, I planned to stop for gas at Costco on East H Street in Chula Vista. But when I reached for my wallet, it was missing.
I checked my car, backpack, and bags several times, but found nothing.
It hit me quickly. My wallet had my debit and credit cards, ID, and other important things. I went straight home and started calling my bank to cancel my cards.
That evening at a prayer meeting, our church family prayed for my lost wallet along with many other needs. It was comforting to remember that God cares not just about big events in the world, but also about the details of our own lives.
The next morning, I felt prompted to call Oasis Vegetarian Café and ask if anyone had found a wallet.
“Yes,” they told me. “We have it. What a relief, and what a reminder.
God's care for us is not limited to what we consider the “big things.” His love touches even the ordinary details of our lives. The greatest example of that love is Jesus, who chose to suffer and die for us while we were still lost in sin.
Today at 1:00 pm, we begin our prayer and fasting experience under the theme “Returning to the Altar: A Call to Prayer, Surrender, and Renewal.” Throughout Scripture, altars became places of worship, surrender, remembrance, and renewed relationship with God.
Maybe that is what we all need today: to return to the place where we remember who God is and give Him the things we cannot control.
Let’s come together to bless the Lord and keep seeking Him.
-Pastor Lim Liwanag
