Sunday,
August 19, 7:36pm Prayer request
for my Facebook friends:
This morning I stopped at a convenience
store on the way to church and came out to find that someone had taken my Bible
that was sitting on the front seat. Nothing else was missing, not the coins in
the cup holder, not my phone that I absentmindedly left next to my Bible, just
my Bible. I must confess, my initial thoughts weren't very Christian, they
involved lightning bolts and hoping I wasn't in the vicinity when God strikes
this person down.
Seconds later I came to my senses and the
thought ran through my head, "I hope whoever took my Bible opens it".
Please pray that this person will open the Bible and learn about God's love,
mercy and saving grace, and if it be God's will, let our paths cross again so I
can open my arms and my heart and love this person into God's kingdom.
The person who took my
Bible called our home tonight, (my name was written on the inside of the front
cover) very ashamed and wanted to let me know that he was going to take the
Bible back to the convenience store where I stopped Sunday morning. I told him
that wasn’t necessary and I wanted him to keep the Bible.
He talked about all the
notes I’d written inside and the inscription from “Cathy” (my big sister, who
gave me the Bible after I accepted Jesus) and how this Bible obviously meant
something to me. I suggested that we meet, maybe let me buy dinner and we could
talk. He flatly refused that idea and shouted, “Just go to the store tomorrow
and get your Bible”.
I didn’t say anything for
a few seconds, not sure what to say, not wanting to upset him any further, but
not wanting to end the conversation. I finally broke the silence and said, “I
tell you what, I’ll come get the Bible you leave for me, if you take the Bible
I leave for you”. Silence for what seemed like hours, then he reluctantly
agreed.
Emboldened a little, I
said, “Also, I want you to read a couple Scriptures. I’ll write the numbers and
even the page numbers you will find them on, and I want you to call me tomorrow
night to talk about them”. He replied, “You don’t want much do you?” I
responded, “Who took who’s Bible?” He chuckled a little and said, “OK, I
deserve that, I’ll do it”. Seconds later he hung up.
Please pray that he
actually picks up the Bible I leave for him, that he reads the Scriptures I
specify for him, and that he actually calls me tomorrow night. God has His
hands all over this; I can’t wait to see where He takes both of us.
I dropped the replacement
Bible off at the convenience store this morning. It was quite a process to
explain everything to the store clerk, but hearing the story seemed to affect
her so I invited her to visit our church.
The two verses I asked the young man to
read were: Psalm 139:13-18 and Jeremiah 29:11-13 (Life Application Bible, New
Living Translation (see verses below). Please pray that he picks the Bible up,
reads the verses I've indicated, and then calls me tonight to talk more. Pray
for me also, that God will give me just the right attitude, and the right words
to speak to this young man. Woo hooo, God is so good!
Psalm 139:13-18 (NLT)
13 You made all the delicate, inner
parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious
are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Tuesday,
August 21 6:03pm Bible
Bandit Update!!!!!
Praise the Lord!!!! The
young man left my Bible at the convenience store, AND picked up the Bible I
left for him. Please pray that he reads the two scriptures I asked him to read,
and then calls me tonight. God is so good, can't wait to see what happens.
No phone call - yet. I still believe he will
contact me tonight. God is so amazing!!!!!
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
God, of grace and glory, thank You for the
rest of the night and the fresh energy to begin a new day. As the brightness
breaks through the clouds of the morning sky, illuminate my heart with Your own
darkness-dispelling presence. Drive away the clouds of doubt that question Your
faithfulness in trying circumstances and the clouds of fear that make me
cautious when I need to be courageous.
I know I can make a pretty small package
when I get all wrapped up in myself. Set me free from self-concern so that I
may focus on others. Renew my assurance that I am loved and forgiven by You so
that I may be a communicator of Your grace to the people around me. Remind me
that grace is kept only if it is given away. All You have taught me on the
mountaintops of victory or the valleys of trials has been to help me say to
others, “I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there!” Help me see life
as a school of grace equipping me for a ministry of sharing.
Thank You, Lord, for what I will learn
today that will enable me to help someone who will need just what I’ve
discovered. Amen.
Wednesday,
August 22, 2:38am Bible Bandit
Update:
It's 2:20am and I just got off the phone
with my new friend. I wish I had space enough to tell everything that happened.
We talked about his life and how it wasn't going as planned and how he just
felt empty inside.
I told him my salvation story and
highlighted the similarities in our journey. I told him how I ran from God for
over 20 years but God never let me get too far away, putting people in my life
to remind me that He was still there; a sister who exemplified God's
unconditional love, a wife who cared about where I spent eternity, and a Pastor
who spent several hours Valentine's Day night answering all the questions I
could think of before leading me to Christ.
We talked about a Grandmother who took him
to church as a child, and told him he could find answers to all of life’s
problems in the Bible. We talked about the two verses I wanted him to read
(Psalm 139:13-16, and Jeremiah 29:11). He began crying and said, "I need
God, can you help me find Him?" We went down the "Roman Road"
and I answered his questions, and at 1:45am, we prayed the "Sinners Prayer"
and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
We talked about him needing to find a
church to attend and I invited him to mine, and I told him to call his
Grandmother. “She will want to know what happened tonight,” I said. We agreed
to talk again tomorrow night, when I hope he will finally tell me his name.
Thank you all for your prayers, I know God
listened to them and gave me just the right words to speak tonight. Please pray
for this young man, the newest member of God's family. To God be the glory,
great things He hath done!!!!!!!!
Wednesday,
August 22, 2:45pm
Thank you to all of you who have been
praying for me and my new friend. I wish I could take the credit for everything
that transpired, but it was none of me and all of God. Every since Sunday when
I spoke to this young man for the first time, I prayed, "Lord, please
don't let me say or do anything to get in the way of what You want to do with
this young man".
I didn't sleep much once we ended our conversation,
I just walked around the house, crying, and praising our Lord for allowing me
to be a small part in His plan for this young man. We serve an awesome God, and
last night He allowed me to get a small glimpse of what Heaven must be like.
Woo Hooo, my feet haven't touched the ground yet, praise His Holy Name!!!
Thursday,
August 23, 10:06pm Bible Bandit
Update:
I have to really change the way I refer to
my new brother in Christ, after all, he did return my Bible. So, from here on
out, I'll refer to him as my Bible Brother, at least until he feels comfortable
enough to tell me his name.
We talked again, last night, and it was
like I was talking to a different person, (of course we know he is a new
creature) he had a happy, hopeful tone to his voice and talked about how
different he felt. He took his Bible to work with him the next day and asked a
co-worker if he could join their Bible study group.
He also called his Grandmother, telling her
what had transpired, and she wants him to move back to Tennessee, and live with
her while he gets his life together. He seems to be leaning in that direction,
but hasn't decided yet. I still don't know his name, but God does. Please continue
to pray for this young man. He needs to be completely covered in prayer as he
takes the next steps in his new life. God is so good!
Has God ever given you an opportunity similar to this? How did you handle it? Please share.
