Just a peek into my world. On the way to work I felt a special anointing and presence of the Lord as I am driving, and by the time I arrive I am wiping tears and must pull myself together to focus on the work that needs to be done. The days activities included some time spent at our Role Models of America Store. It is under my supervision to watch over the donations coming in on a daily basis, and today is a day that the sorting of these donations happens.
Now what I am about to tell you will show you that there is a God bigger and in control of all things no matter what! Every detail matters.
Someone donated the last remaining possessions of an elderly man (by the style of the clothing it's safe to say he was a older male). And I am sorting his clothing, shoes and small little things and thinking about him and handling his things with care as I am the last person who will even know that all these items all belonged to a living person with feelings at one time. Once his possessions are separated, they go different directions no one will ever think again about him when they wear his shirt, or use his things. It always makes me think when handling someone's last things, to handle them with respect. When in the bottom of the ordinary garbage bag of which his personal effects have been loaded I find a well used Bible. It's been handled so much that there are marks on it and it's obvious that he was a man a person of prayer and spiritual walk before the Lord. It's worn leather covers have been well handled and I realize I am holding the life flow of this man's life. His Word. His Light. His Comfort. His Peace. His settled ETERNITY! My handling of his garments and papers becomes even more careful as it's sure to be the last things of a prayer warrior Christian. Tenderly I set aside his precious Bible on the table.....
One of our Community Service girls (the tough girl type) walks to the room where I am working, looks at me... pauses.... I smile at her.... and she takes a breath and asks me the question. "So.... you are a Pastor right"? And with that question she literally changed her destiny and future.
"Yes I sure am and I love being one, why?" She immediately starts telling me that she needs to be baptized and would I help her to do it. After probing a little to find out what she knew about the reason for baptism - it's obvious she knows and is ready to make this commitment. I assured her it would be done at the next service. Then she tells me she has never owned a Bible so she did not know much.
Reaching over to the table and the old prayer warrior's weapon, I picked up his Bible and gave it to her. she took it with both hands and hugged it to her body and thanked me for giving it to her. The biggest smile came across her face as she was so excited knowing this Bible was now hers! Not a clue of his battles fought and won with that very Bible, only the joy of having one of her own at last.
Now here's the truly remarkable Hand of the Lord. An old prayer warrior's hand opens and his fingers slack for the last time as his life fades away and he departs for Heaven. And his old Bible may have fallen out of his arms as he leaves this earth - no need for the written Word anymore, he is in the presence of the Living Word now forever. God sees to it that his Bible gets put into the ordinary garbage bag along with his few belongings. And upon the appointed time with his Angels watching over that bag, someone decided to bring his things to our RMA store in the form of a donation. And when God has all things ready, His lost daughter in place, the right timing in her life, me in place....... that very bag is presented to be unpacked, and the fullness of time happens again and the Bible that he has prayed over time and time again, goes from his now cold hands - straight into the hungry warm hands of a soul that is longing for God, and has never had the experience of knowing God. And the prayers that I am sure he prayed over the lost, now come to pass - even after his death!!!! Extraordinary!
No one knows how many souls this girl will reach with the gospel. She is a harvest field with many many souls that will be coming behind her. She is going to experience a complete life change and her testimony when the Lord gets done will be a great light to others in her generation!
The joy of all this to me personally? Tonight I watched her be baptized in water and God and I share a secret smile - watching His Hand at work again in the most ordinary circumstances perform the most extraordinary miracle again - in the unfolding fullness of time, His perfection in every detail. The death of his saint, His Word that is alive, and the returning of a soul back to it's rightful owner ... may God be glorified in every detail.
Extraordinary Ordinary Event.
Good morning,
Now this is the type of blessing I like to read first thing in the morning , it will make for an exceptional day. One door was closed and another one opened.
Have a Blessed day !!!
Posted by: Langdon Cassidy | July 19, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Praise God.
Posted by: Chuck & Deborah | July 21, 2007 at 11:23 AM