"Welcome to my blog space. I believe that God has carefully placed gems in our paths to fill our days with joy. The challenge for us is to take the time to notice them. My desire is to share the gems in my life so that, hopefully, you will see the ones He's placed in yours. I hope what you read here will be worth your time and you'll want to return often." - Cathy

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thursday Thoughts: The Bible Bandit

Posted below is the story of a man who stole my brother's Bible and how he and my brother interacted last week. It was an amazing adventure for both of them. These are the posts that my brother, Tommy John, entered on Facebook everytime there was news to share. Tommy gave me permission to share it with my readers. Enjoy!

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.


Monday, August 20, 10:55pm   Update on the “Bible Bandit”
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.


Tuesday, August 21, 12:29pm   Bible Bandit Update:
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.
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!

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.

 
Wednesday, August 22, 12:24am   Bible Bandit Update:
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
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!!!!!!!!  he 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.


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, 2:45pm
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.
 
 

12 comments:

  1. Praise God. He was in this story even before it unfolded.

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    1. Amen! One of Tommy's pills didn't go down right that Sunday morning or he wouldn't have been at the store where his Bible was stolen. Tommy always locks his car when he gets out, but that morning he didn't. God was even in this when that Grandmother told her grandson that the answer to all of life's problems could be found in the Bible. This encounter was in the making long before any of us knew it was coming. Blessings on you. Thanks for commenting.

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  2. Wow, Cathy. What a God appointment! You were so faithful to keep pressing and following the Spirits leading. Thank you for sharing this story!

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  3. It is amazing, isn't it? God was really intense about finding and saving this young man. My brother told his story at his church Sunday night and is scheduled to tell it again at a church that is finishing up the study of the book "Radical" on September 16th. At the end of the service, everyone is to decide what they can do to be more radical in their faith. It has rekindled that "new Christian" excited that Tommy felt in the early days of his own salvation and is more focused on being intentional about sharing his faith.

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  4. Oh, Cathy! You made me cry. I had a Bible and a box of tissues taken from my car once. I didn't have my name inside. What an awesome experience God gave you. I'm certain He is smiling down on you and the young man.

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    1. Thanks, Karen! God is good and He does indeed work in strange and mysterious ways. I hope whoever took your Bible readi it and found the truth that set them free inside it. Blessings!

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  5. How great to know "...the rest of the story.." Praying for Tommy's Bible Brother!

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    1. Thanks, Cyn! Tommy has tried to make further contact with the young man, but has been unable to find him. Even the clerk at the store said she hadn't seen him lately. We're hoping he decided to accept his grandmother's offer to come live with her until he gets some things straightened out. Love to you and yours!

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  6. I love the story. What an inspiration to see those challenges we face in life as God's opportunities for blessings.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Frieda! Tommy said the one thing this did for him was remind him of how he was when he was a new Christian. He said if you got stuck on an elevator with him, once the doors were closed, he'd ask you if you were going up or down if you died tonight. He said he never missed an opportunity to witness.

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  7. What a wonderful story and how fortunate Tommy is that God chose to use him in such a way. You know my passion for the "Radical" book. It leaves you praying for such an opportunity as this - Tommy's prayers were answered!

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    1. He spoke Sunday night about this story at a charasmatic Methodist Church down there. They were finishing up their study of Radical. The pastor asked him to speak as an example of what ccan happen if you are radical in your faith and don't let these opportunities pass by. They were all supposed to decide how they could take their faith to the next level after he spoke.

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