Never has one story had such an impact on my life and the lives of many others. Last week in the tragedy across from our house I wrote a devotional about “Expect The Unexpected”. This devotional I wrote was about the miracle of a man on the Daily Devotional forwarding the lesson to a company in Georgia. This man had no idea that the company he was sending it to was part of the relatives of the family of the man that was murdered. But God knew. God knew they needed comfort.
But God is so good the story gets even better because God is always in the miracle and comfort business. Not comfort to take it easy but comfort to heal the brokenhearted. I started to think of the man named “99” who originally forwarded the devotional. He lived in Tennessee. I e mailed him the miracle and was curious who added him to the Daily Devotional. This is what he had to say.
“ sure do, I will never forget him it was by far one of my loneliest days- I just felt like giving up- that suicide may be the best option for me and David Crocker “papa Crock” talked with me David was before that moment a business associate a vendor that I purchased from but after that day he will forever be “one of those persons in your life “a special person” angel- miracle in the flesh! the conversation made so much sense to me -truly Gods words through him- things that I knew I guess I just needed someone to tell me again that moment but after we talked and I thanked him he told me that someone had done the same for him and he truly believed that God was involved that somebody he said was you he said that you helped him through some difficult times after and injury with his little girl- a friend of his told him about your daily devotional and he suggested that I subscribe also! 99 McGill”
It gets better. I thought David would be encouraged by what “99” had to say so after asking 99 for permission I forwarded his e mail onto David. This is what David e mailed back to me.
CURRENTLY ON THE VERGE OF TEARS! AND AT WORK! GOD HAS SPOKEN TO ME AGAIN AND JUST IN TIME ONCE AGAIN! HE KNEW I NEEDED TO HEAR THESE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ASKING THE QUESTION LATELY, “AM I REALLY BEING EFFECTIVE FOR CHRIST” IN WHAT SEEMS TO FEEL LIKE A DORMANT TIME. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING SUCH AN UNSPEAKABLE SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME.
THANK YOU LORD FOR THESE TWO MEN IN MY LIFE, AND BLESS THEM RICHLY “IN JESUS’ NAME” I LOVE YOU, BROTHERS. I ALWAYS SAY, HE CONTINUES TO BLESS ME “IN SPITE OF MYSELF” I JUST NEED TO MOVE OUT OF HIS WAY. David Crocker
Then I asked David who added him to the list and he gave me a man named Steve. So I forwarded the entire correspondence to Steve. This is what Steve had to say.
“Sounds like the past few days have been very mixed emotions for you. First of all, I just want to say that I am very humbled/blessed to be part of your daily devotionals. I to like David, continue to ask myself, am I effective in my daily walk with Christ. I ask and pray that my walk with Christ gets stronger/matures as every day goes by. I ask that God puts me in situations that only he can get me out of to make me stronger. Some days you ask why this or that happens, but I know for sure that my faith in Jesus makes the question easy to answer. Brad- Thanks for being part of my life and ALL the others.”
Three men, three stories all ordained by God to help give healing to the deceased family but at the same time rewarding those who stepped out in faith to encourage one another. Who knew what adding “One” person to the Daily Devotional would do? God knew.
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Yes, yes let us encourage one another. I know a lot of you struggle how you may better serve the One who saved you. But as you can see from just ONE stepping up by faith look at what has happened. Many were encouraged. Right now I would ask you to do this. We know God’s word is powerful, transforms and saves. Please send the Daily Devotional out to others. But before you do I want you to see another miracle first. I want you to pray who God would have you send this devotional to. God is faithful and he will tell you. It may not be immediate but God is faithful. The name you hear you may think “Yes” and then again the names you hear you may say “No Way” they are my enemies. Remember we all were enemies to God before we were reconciled to God through Jesus. How much more should we give the good news to others as well? Once you start forwarding this then look for the power and miracles of the Lord. Yes all we have to do is step back because it is God alone who saves, not us.
Keep on keepin on and don’t grow weary of doing good for the One who saved you. There is huge power in “The Power of One” (you) sending out hope to a fallen world. But the true power of One is Jesus.
Have a great day and expect great things to happen when you step out in faith.
Brad
