I received this message from Jay DeGeare who is our evangelism coordinator for our 20 and 30s at Northwest. I thought it was a great story and I appreciate Jay for allowing me to share it here:
I was late coming out of a meeting. I had a parking ticket on my window because of it. Frustrated and late for my next meeting, I noticed an elderly woman staring at me. She was dressed rather humbly and her hair was a mess. She paused as she saw me yank the ticket off my windshield. I walked around the car to put up my briefcase and she took a step closer, still not saying anything.
“What is this woman doing? Why is she staring at me…does she want my parking space…maybe she wants money…..what’s her problem?” I thought to myself.
I got to the drivers side and got in the car. Looking up at her, she seemed a bit saddened that I was leaving…then it hit me….
I got out of the car and said “can I help you?”
“Well yes, would you happen to know where the county clerks office is?”
“I sure don’t, sorry.”
“Well, could I walk there from here? I was told it was downtown and I’m downtown now aren’t I? I’m from Gainesville and don’t really know my way around”
“Well yes, you are downtown but it’s a decent sized town. You might want to find out where it is before you try walking around to find it.”
“Oh, well, ok.”
“Sorry I can’t help more”
At that she turned around and went to her parking meter to put some money in it. I walked back to my car and got in. I was looking out the window at her, watching her turn in circles trying to locate the building that looked most like the courthouse.
“Christian love, I thought to myself, taking that extra step for HIM.”
I got back out of the car and hurried into the office building that I had just come from. I asked the first person I saw in a suit where the courthouse was. After getting the directions, I went back outside. She was still standing there, lost.
“Ma’am.”
“Yes”
“The courthouse is 3 blocks away. Go down the street here and turn left, it’s two blocks down on the right.”
“Ohh, thank you so much. I’m just beside myself. I’m not from here and don’t really know what to do. I had a relative die recently and I was told she left me a bunch of money and I’m supposed to go to clerk’s office to get it.”
Now for the kicker to the story…she’s going to collect a bunch of money and I’m in the money management business.
We spoke for a few more minutes, she asked for my card, and I raced off to my next meeting. I don’t know that she will ever call…it’s really not the point. Driving to the next meeting I couldn’t help but think that God was sitting back in his heavenly chair with a small grin on his already glowing face:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
When I was a new Christian, this verse used to mean “giving of money” to me. I was reminded that day that far more importantly, it means giving of our love because of our love for HIM. These opportunities are around us everyday.
Are your eyes open?
We are watching the Terry Rush 100% Natural Evangelism DVD’s in our men’s class. After class last night Jay mentioned how we tend to wait for the big WOW moments for evangelism to really be happening when in reality it is about the little things that really do add up. Thanks Jay!
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That’s a great story! It’s it wonderful how if we will just keep our eyes and hearts open, God will put all kinds of opportunities in front of us…sometimes, we just let life get in the way and don’t take time to see the opportunities He sets before us and what blessings we miss when we do that!