Little Things

The good Lord enjoys taking the little things that most people take for granted and using it for something special. 

I have a wonderful friend that buys me pocket sized New Testaments by the case to give away as I serve as a pastor.  This opens a lot of doors, and once I started looking for opportunities to give them away, it has become an everyday occurrence. 

Last week I made a hospital visit on a close friend that is very ill.  He was asleep and his family had stepped out for lunch so I took one of the pocket sized New Testaments and set it upright on a night table close to the bed.  The good Lord nudged me to take one of my business cards and slide it between the pages as a bookmark.  I left the business card sticking up so it could be clearly seen by my friend’s wife when she got back. 

Today my dad and I dropped by the hospital for another visit with our friend.  As soon as we walked in the room, the first thing my friends wife said was, “I am so sorry, I didn’t know we were going to be here another week, so I took the little Bible home.”  I could see she was distressed and needed to experience comfort that only the good Lord can provide. 

So I slipped another New Testament out of my pocket and put it in her hand.  Tears came to her eyes as she held it close to her chest.  Through the tears, she asked me if I would sign it. 

I took the little Bible and wrote their names in the front flyleaf and signed my name underneath and returned it to her. 

A secret for hospital visits is, “The Shorter The Better”. 

So I had a word of prayer with the family and left. 

The power of this story is found in the strength in God’s Word. 

There is some fine printed material that Christians use when sharing their faith.  However, I suspect that much of the printed material out there is only effective as fire starters for my wood stove. 

So with confidence, I can hand someone a copy of God’s Eternal Word and encourage them to find peace and comfort within its pages. 

“There’s nothing like the written Word of God

for showing you the way to salvation
 through faith in Christ Jesus.
Every part of Scripture
is God-breathed
and useful one way or another
— showing us truth,
exposing our rebellion,
correcting our mistakes,
training us to live God’s way.
Through the Word
we are put together
and shaped up for the tasks
God has for us.”
2 Timothy 3:16  Message