Christmas shopping is one of my favorite things, but I must confess, I usually begin early in the year. I hate to shop when there are crowds of people pushing and shoving, and waiting in the long checkout lines is not my picnic.
Our pastor puts out a new devotional book every year, and we usually order about five of them for different family members. My mom gives one to my sister and me, and we get one for her. This year, however, was different. God placed certain people on each of our hearts to buy the devotional book for them. Some of them God even put on our hearts after Christmas was over.
Remember, ours is not to question WHY? Ours is to follow God’s leading.
I was only going to get one devotional book when God laid one of my relative’s names on my heart during my prayer time. I prayed for them and thought I need to text them and ask them about their family. I did, and when they answered, I was sure that I was to send them a devotional book. I was telling my mother about it, and she suggested sending one to this relative’s father. I said ok, and she agreed to split the cost of the devotional books and the shipping.
I tried to contact the ordering department to see if they could ship it to the desired address. I tried to order the devotionals online but could not find out how to send them to a different address. I called them and left a message, and then I received a call stating that they do not ship to separate addresses, only to the buyer’s address. I ended up buying one of the devotional books on eBay, and the other two were shipped to me. Ok, now it’s off to shipping them to three different addresses.
I got all the addresses and placed them in envelopes, and went to ship them off. Someone suggested shipping them by FedEx or UPS. Well, I checked, and they were extremely expensive. So, I went to the Post Office. Would you believe it? They were cheaper by far, and the books were into the hands of the three people intended for within a week.
One of the book recipients sent a message stating that it had arrived at the perfect time. Something devastating had occurred in their family’s life, and this book came at just the “Perfect time.” Wow, who would have known? God knew! Another one of the book recipients thanked us for sending the book and that he had already begun reading it. Wow, again! The third recipient has not responded, but that’s ok. I need to obey when I hear that still, small voice speak.
How many times when we hear that still small voice do we listen? Most of the time, do we question what we are being lead to do? We start rationalizing the cost, or what will the reaction of the recipient be? I tend to do that, and then I have to stop myself and realize if that’s what God wants me to do, then I must do it. It is not something I have mastered, but I am working on it. How are you doing in this area? Pray, listen, then act. Let God handle the rest!
