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Ephesians 6:15 – And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. (AMPC)
Yesterday, I was sitting on my walker in front of a store before heading back home. A skinny, disheveled man was there before me, pacing. "Why aren't they open yet?" he fumed.
Ah! So, this was why God had nudged me to wait. I smiled at him.
"Just retired from driving bus," he continued. "Nobody to talk to anymore. Wife left me. Said I drink too much." Oh my!
"And do you?" I asked. "Are you an alcoholic?"
"Used to be, but I kicked the habit."
"Did you go to AA meetings?"
"Nah! Too religious. Always bringing up God."
"AA is spiritual, not religious," I said.
"Whatever. You know what? Now I'm totally alone. All my drinking buddies killed themselves, one by one."
All this to a stranger! God certainly was guiding the conversation.
"You aren't planning to kill yourself, are you?"
"Nah. Not me," he said after a pause.
"So, you're promising me, today," I looked steadily into his red-rimmed eyes, "that you will not take your life, as your friends did? Promises are serious business."
"Yeah, yeah." He made a half-hearted, brushing-me-off motion. "Why doesn't this place open?"
"Do you think you might consider AA?"
"I can stay sober on my own."
But he wasn't. I stood up and held out my hand. "My name's Rose," I said. "Our lives have meaning and purpose in God's world."
He looked startled as he took my hand. "My mother's name was Rose," he said, slowly.
"Then, consider that you've just had another talk with your mother," I said. "What do you think she wants you to do?"
He didn't answer as the door opened. With one last apprehensive look back at me, he turned away.
I wasn't discouraged. With the help of God's Holy Spirit, I'd done my part. God had someone else to take him on the next step that would draw him further to faith. (The person God was readying to take him there might even have been you!) I added him to my prayer list and went along home.
There are no accidents, only appointments, someone said. That's why our conversations with God throughout the day are so important. Why are we suddenly delayed when we're trying to hurry? Who might God have for us to speak to as we do our ordinary business? The light of eternity shines to remind us that we are spiritual beings, having and sharing the human experiences that He gives us.
Isaiah 52:7a – How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace. (AMPC)
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, it is glory just to walk with You, wherever that path may lie. How grateful we are to be channels of Your love flowing through us today, and to be used by You to share Your love with those to whom You send us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Amen. Again, the Truth. Thank you!
Thanks for the challenging words, Rose.
Good one Rose.
Blessings.
Wonderful, Rose.
Blessings.
Wow Rose, God is definitely working through you. Many blessings!
Amen, Rose. There are no “accidental” meetings or events. Thank you.
Thanks Rose, it is so good to hear how you reached out to this gentleman. Blessings.
Thank you, Rose, for this encouragement to not rush away from encounters with strangers as I am prone to do.
Wow, Rose. God is using you in many ways! Please keep writing and sharing your stories to inspire us. Blessings always.
What a beautiful devotional today, Rose. I appreciate your witness to the man who was an alcoholic. May God continue to use you and bless you.
Thank you, Rose, for sharing with that sorrowful man and with us. God bless you and may this devotional touch many hearts for the Lord. Blessings.
Rose: as a voracious reader, I am hungry for more of your memoir; one page at a time hardly satisfies. However, I thank God for your faithfulness in sharing.
Awesome!! I hope and pray that I too will be available to the Lord at just such a time. Thank you for being so humble as to share this event and so caring, and available.
Hi Rose,
If only we all realized just how important our interactions with others are!! Good devotional.
Thanks.
Really enjoyed this piece. “There are no accidents, only appointments” Helps me find patience and understanding in the world when seen through this perspective. I really like your down to earth writing style, making me feel as if I was there with you.
Thank you for this lesson today and beautiful story. I have prayed for that man and for others who might be placed in his path. I pray too that I will stop and listen to the Holy Spirit’s guiding as you do. Thank you.
Dear Rose:
I am so happy you spoke to that man. I hope he remembers what you said and does go to AA. He will certainly have people to talk with there.
Thank you for sharing this story with us.
Dear Rose,
Thank you for another special devotional. You surely were the “channel of love” sent by the Lord to that fellow. Our Lord is always on duty putting us at certain places at just the right time and although we may never know the results of our interaction with someone, the Lord knows.
God bless you.
(B.C.)
Dear Rose, me again.
I knew it was you before you even mentioned your name in the devotional. You have a unique writing style. You draw the reader in after a few words.
I love these ‘appointments’. They are not coincidences and when this happens, I always take the time to thank God for allowing me to be at a certain place at just the right time.
You have a blessed day dear Rose.
Hi Rose:
That was a wonderful story of one of those “God Moments” that He sends us.
I remember when we had a sleepover for the boys’ group at our church.
We took them bowling at a late light bowling alley and the couple sitting at a table, behind our alley, having a few beers, were very intrigued by these 2 men that would invest their lives in a group of rowdy boys.
We were able to share that it was God’s inspiration in our lives that caused us to do it.
I wish more of these “God Moments” would come my way again.
Perhaps I’m moving too fast to see them.
Dear Rose,
What do we say to people about Jesus Christ?
Here are some basic things to say: “He loves you. He cares for you every minute of every day. He loves you so much that he included you in the people for whom he died. A basic message is:
“God so loved the world (including you) that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
And we can make a collection of related verses from the Bible that give assurance to the fearful persons.
For Jesus’ sake.
Love this story!
His mother’s name was Rose!
Thank you.
Dear Rose,
A very clear testimony you shared. Being a channel of blessing to someone is the kindest thing we can do. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Rose,
I appreciated your devotional, and please continue to help others. I’ve lost a few friends who drank themselves to death. It was sad to see clever men ruin their marriage and life.
Hi Rose,
I read your devotional. Interesting discussion you had with the man. Our conversations with God throughout the day are important indeed.
Thank you for writing.
Dear Sister Rose,
What a beautiful Testimony. Thank you for reaching out to the lost and hurting man- I pray he really ponders your words and comes to find his worth and new life In Christ. Keep writing Rose!
Blessings.