Shopping with Jesus in Vegas

I was standing in the middle of the Las Vegas strip.

Lights flashing.
 Music playing.
 People everywhere.

It was one of those scenes that almost feels surreal. Neon reflecting off glass buildings. Laughter echoing down sidewalks. Music spilling out of restaurants. Groups dressed up, celebrating something.

And that’s why we were there.

We were celebrating friends who had been married for 30 years.

Thirty years.

Faithfulness. Commitment. History. Grace.

We were there to honor love that lasted.

We went to a New Kids on the Block concert. We laughed. We met new people. We made new friends. We watched a couple celebrate three decades of choosing each other.

It was beautiful.

And yet, in the middle of all of that celebration… something inside me was quietly drifting.

Because everyone in Vegas is looking for something.

Some are shopping for clothes.
 Some are shopping for experiences.
 Some are shopping for escape.
 Some are shopping for identity.

And if I’m honest… so was I.

The first few days, I walked past store after store.

I looked at things.
 I admired things.
 I noticed things.

But I didn’t take anything with me.

I was window shopping.

Present — but not receiving.

And later, in the quiet of my heart, God showed me something that made me stop.

That’s how many of us live with Jesus.

We walk with Him.

We hear about Him.
 We sing about Him.
 We even surround ourselves with people who know Him.

But we never actually stop long enough to ask:

“Lord, what do You have for me?”

We observe Him — but we don’t receive Him.

And then something shifted.

On the third morning, I woke up alone.

My husband and his best friend had gone golfing. The other wife was still resting.

No plans.
 No schedule.
 No distractions.

Just me… and Him.

So I prayed.

I worshiped.

And I stepped back onto the same strip — but this time, I wasn’t window shopping anymore.

This time, I was available.

And what happened next, God used to show me something I will never forget.

He whispered:

“Everyone shops differently with Me.”

Some people window shop.
 Some people shop for others.
 And some people finally shop for what they need to survive.

And the question He asked me… is the same question He’s asking you right now:

What are you shopping for?

PRAYER

Jesus,

Thank You for walking with us everywhere — even into places we didn’t expect You to speak.

Forgive us for the times we’ve window shopped with You.

Teach us to seek You wholeheartedly.

Help us pour into others with boldness.

And remind us to receive what our own souls need.

You are our daily bread.

Our necessity.

Our provider.

We choose to shop for what matters.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Lord Jesus, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your mercy, your blessings, and your grace. Lord Jesus, we thank you for this episode that has uh came from our vacation that we taken. Lord Jesus, we hope that this is as meaningful to our listeners as it was to us when we realized what we were doing. Lord Jesus, I pray that we are able to lay things at your feet today, that they realize that shopping is so many different things and can mean so many different words. Lord Jesus, I just want you to know that you are loved and that we are humbled by your grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So let's talk about some um let's talk about shopping. Right? I love to shop. Everybody loves to shop. Well, not everybody, but you know, there's all kinds of shopping, right? You can window shop. We did a lot of that when we were in Vegas. Um, went to stores that, of course, you know, like a Louis Vuitton and a Rolex store and things we knew we couldn't afford. So we window shopped, you know, and then and then we went to places we knew we could afford, like, you know, Ross's and TJ Maxx and Walmart, you know. And then sometimes you shop for necessities, things that you have to have, right? I've had a head cold for what feels like forever now. And you know, when we went to Walmart, I had to pick up some medicine and some different things. So let's talk about it. So I was standing in the middle of the Las Vegas strip, lots of flashing, music's playing, people are everywhere, and there's all kinds of different people in Vegas. From your homeless to your people who are doing acts on the street to tourists to people who actually live there every day. It was one of those scenes that almost feel surreal. Neon reflecting off glass buildings, laughter echoing down the sidewalk, music spilling out of restaurants, groups dressed up, celebrating something. And that's why we're here. That's why we were there, right? We were there celebrating friends who've been married for 30 years. 30 years, faithfulness, commitment, history, grace. We were there to honor love that has lasted. And in this day and time, 30 years is amazing. We went to New Kids on the Block concert, we laughed, we met people, we made new friends, we watched a couple celebrate three decades of choosing each other. It was beautiful, and yet in the middle of all that celebration, something inside me was quietly drifting because everyone in Vegas is looking for something. Some are shopping for clothes, some are shopping for just the experience, some people are shopping to escape, and some are shopping for a new identity. And if I'm honest, so was I. The first few days I walked past store after store, I looked at things, I admired things, I noticed a lot of things, but I didn't take anything with me. I didn't buy nothing, I didn't take, I didn't spend my money. I was window shopping. I was present, but I didn't receiving anything. And later, in the quiet of my heart, God showed me something that made me stop for a minute and think. And that's how many of us live with Jesus. We walk with him, we hear about him, we sing about him, we even surrender ourselves with people, we even surround ourselves with people who know him and are very close to him, but we never actually stop long enough to ask, Lord, what do you have for me today? Lord, what do you have for me? What does my future look like? We observe him, but we don't really receive him. And then something shifted. On the third morning, I woke up alone. My husband and his best friend had gone golfing. The other wives were still in their rooms resting. There was no plans, no schedule, no distractions, nothing we had to do. It was just me and him. So I prayed a little while, I worshiped a little while, and I stepped back into the same strip. But this time I wasn't window shopping anymore. This time I was available for what God wanted me to see. And what happened next? God used to show me something I will never forget. He whispered, everyone shops differently with me. Some people window shop, some people shop for others, and some people finally shop for what they need to survive. And the question he asked me is the same question he's asking you right now as you listen to this podcast. What are you shopping for? Hi, brothers and sisters. Welcome back to Unrelated Sisters Truth and Grace Conversation. I'm so glad you're here today. Today's episode is personal for me, it's reflective and honest. It definitely made me think about things in a different view. And it's the first episode unpacking what God did in my heart on this Vegas trip. Because even in the middle of the bright lights and celebration, God was still speaking. He was still talking to me, and he's still talking to you today. So let's talk about it a little bit. So let's talk about window shopping. Window shopping is very interesting, right? You're close enough to see everything, close enough to admire it, close enough to imagine what it would be like to have it. But never actually go in. You never make it yours. And we walked around a lot of stores like that. You know, we walked around, we looked in at Louis Vuitton and Gucci and the Rolex and Tiffany's little blue box. But we never went in because we knew we couldn't afford those. We knew that we couldn't afford the things in those builds in those stores. So we never went in. And spiritually, that's where so many believers live. They're close enough to go to church, they're close enough to stand and worship. They sing, they read their Bible, and they're close enough to know the truth. But never surrendered enough to receive it. In Revelation 3.20, Jesus says, Here I am. I stand at the door and I knock. He doesn't break down the door, he knocks. Window shopping Christians stand at the glass. They look in, but they never open the door. Is that you? And if I'm honest, those first few days in Vegas, I was just near him. I wasn't ignoring him. I wasn't being rebellious. I wasn't not listening. But I wasn't intentionally intentionally inviting him into the experience either. And there's a difference. You can be saved and still and still spiritually passive. You can love Jesus and still not pursue him. In Jeremiah 29, 13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. Not casually, not conveniently, wholeheartedly. Window shopping keeps you safe. Receiving requires true surrender. You know, another kind of shopping is shopping for others. So on that third morning, uh things kind of changed. I woke up early, not because I had to, but because something in me wanted more. I prayed that morning. I prayed and asked God to show me while I was here. I pray that morning, I pray that prayer every morning at home. Lord Jesus, thank you for waking me up this morning. Give me the opportunity to be your light today. Show me what you want me to see today. I hadn't prayed that the whole time we'd been in Vegas. But that morning I prayed. I worshiped, I listened to some good music. I spent just moments of time with him. And then I got ready. And I walked back down to that same strip that I had walked the days before. It was the same city, the same people, the same environment. But my posture had shifted. I felt different. And suddenly I wasn't thinking about what I could get. I was thinking about what I could give. You know, I always carry podcast cards in my purse, hoping to help grow the podcast. And that morning I handed some out. I talked with some people about Jesus on the strip of Vegas. I felt like I could encourage people. I smiled intentionally at people. I talked about Jesus in a place where people don't expect that conversation. And it was powerful. Acts 1.8 says, You will receive the power. You will receive the power of God. You will receive let's try that one more time. Acts 1-8 says, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witness. Not in a perfect environment. Everywhere, even in Vegas, even on vacation, even shopping for others in kingdom living is kingdom living. It's when your faith stops being private and starts being active. But here's the caution you can't live only shopping for others because eventually you run empty. So let's talk about shopping for necessities. This morning, after we returned home, I wanted to sleep in, but God nudged me awake, and I felt so clearly it's time to shop for necessities. Not window shopping, not pouring into others, but receiving his daily bread. In Matthew 4.4, Jesus says, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Not thrive, not grow, not even survive without him. When you shop for necessities, you aren't browsing, you aren't casually strolling, you go in with intention. You know, you have a list. If you're going shopping, if you're going to the grocery store, you better have a list. Because you need what do you need? You need milk, you need bread, you need water. But spiritually, what does that look like? I need peace. I need correction. I need wisdom. I need strength. In John 6.35, I am the bread of life. He's not a snack. He's not an accessory. Bread. Essential. And I realized something. Vegas didn't test whether Jesus could go with me. It revealed whether I would prioritize him there. And when finally shot when I finally shopped for necessities, I left full. So here's the question. What are you shopping for right now? And what does that look like for you? Are you window shopping? Do you get up every Sunday and go to church? Do you sing the verses? Do you sing the songs? Do you read the Bible? But you feel unchanged? You feel unnurtured? Are you shopping for others? Are you constantly pouring? Pouring into others, giving them what they need, feeding what they need, praying for what they need. But maybe you're running really low. Or is God calling you to shop for necessities? Because you can be near Jesus and still leave empty-handed. But that is not his heart for you. Psalms 34 8 says, Taste and see that the Lord is good. Taste. Taste it. Not to observe it. Receive it. Don't admire it. You know, whether you're in Vegas, Dalton, Georgia, or somewhere clear across the world, you're sitting in your kitchen right now, and Jesus is available to you. He's knocked on that door. And the door is open. The question is, will you go in? When you think about shopping, when you think about convenience, Jesus isn't always convenient. He's not one click away. But he is right beside you. And he loves you. No matter where you are in life, he loves you. So the question is, is will you go? Will you open the door and walk through it? Find your shopping. Stop window shopping today. Pour into others. Ask God. Ask him. What do you want me to receive today? What do you want me to receive out of today's life? What do you want me to do? Allow me to be a light for you, Jesus. Here's a prayer for you. Thank you for walking with us everywhere, even into places we don't expect you to speak. Forgive us for the times we've windowshopped with you. Teach us to seek you wholeheartedly. Help us pour into others with boldness and remind us to receive what our own souls need. You are our daily bread, our necessities, our provider. And we choose to shop for what matters. We choose to shop for you. Lord Jesus, we thank you and we praise you. And we are humbled by every lesson that you teach us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So, sisters and brothers, this is just the first of what God began to unpack in Vegas. Because sometimes he speaks the loudest in the places we least expect it. You know we love you, but Jesus loves you even more. And so until next week, walk in your truth and walk in his grace.