Thanks to all of you who have been signing up for the RSS feed to this site. Over 190 of you have done that recently. This helps us go up in the Google Search Rankings. Please sign-up today if you haven’t already to help us climb up even farther. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.
___________________________________________________________
We have been sharing excerpts from my new book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.
The book is on sale right now for Easter, which is getting very close. Check the book out by clicking on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.
________________________________________________________________
Today’s excerpt is about listening to God who has many ideas for us that could change the lives of others as well as ourselves.
__________________________________________________________
Chapter 58
It Is Time to Bless God
How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
Psalm 31:19
The young couple had only been married a couple months. It was September, and the wife started to think about what she would get her husband for their first Christmas together.
She thought a long time and decided exactly what she was going to get him. It was perfect, and she knew he would like it. She went to the store and made a deal with the owner. She said she would leave it on layaway and pay a little each week.
She was very faithful and was there at the same time each week to make the payment. After the fifth payment, the owner said, “Why don’t you go ahead and take it home. I know you’ll finish paying for it.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
She was very excited and took the present home where she wrapped it immediately.
When her husband got home from work, she rushed to him and said, “I have a Christmas present for you, and I want to give it to you now!”
“It’s only the first of October,” he reminded her.
“I don’t care,” she countered. “I just can’t wait for you to open it.”
The husband opened it and thought it was perfect—just like she did.
At work the next day, her husband, a rookie policeman, pulled over a car on a routine speeding ticket. As the officer approached the car, the driver pulled out a pistol and shot him two times—point blank—in the chest. The officer fell to the ground as the driver sped away.
An officer came to the door of the couples’ home. He asked if she was the wife of the officer he named.
“Yes.”
When told that her husband had been shot, she replied, “I’m so relieved.” (Her husband had been wearing the bullet-proof vest she had given him the day before!)
We never know when God has planted an idea in us. We often do things without being sure why we did them. Remember: God is completely in control. He planted the thought of buying the vest in the mind of this young wife. She followed through on what she was thinking, and it saved her husband’s life.
Maybe what we do won’t be quite as dramatic, but when we can’t shake an idea—especially one that seems out of character for us—we should check and see if maybe it’s a nudge from God and follow through on His prompting.
We should take time to bless God. We always say, “God bless you.” Take time to bless Him for giving you all the wonderful blessings He has provided for you. Everything we have belongs to God anyway, and He shares it with us.
I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.
Psalm 52:9
Further Adventures
This story was about a close encounter this young couple had with God. There are thousands of stories like this. God protects because He loves each of us. God had something in mind for this young family. Only time will tell.
What was your close encounter? Maybe you didn’t realize you had one. Many people do have them, but just pass them up as a “coincidence.” Think back to things that have happened to you that you have not been able to explain. Was that God working in your life?
Something to Ponder
Isn’t it funny that asking, “Where is God?” is like a fish asking, “Where is water?” or a bird asking, “Where is air?” (This thought is taken from Max Lucado.)