Encouragement

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Matthew 6, 31, 32: "Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

I was a single parent with three children, and we were out of toilet paper, and I had no money to buy some. I prayed and asked the Lord to give me enough money to make it through that day. Shortly thereafter, a friend of mine called and told me if I did a little work for him he would pay me $40. As I drove out to his farm, I was thinking now I could buy some toilet paper. About five miles down the road, I spied something beside the road. It looked like a grocery sack. I came to a stop, backed up, got out of my car, picked up the bag, looked inside, and shouted, "Praise the Lord!" Inside the bag was a brand new packet containing eight rolls of toilet paper! You can't tell me that the Lord is not concerned with every detail of your life. I had tears of joy in my eyes as I placed that precious gift in my car and drove on to my friend's house. The Lord not only gave me a small job so I could have some money, he also gave me something more precious than gold. The eight rolls of toilet paper revealed his great love he has for his own.

I had planted a garden and needed some fertilizer. I didn't have the money to buy it, so I asked the Lord to provide it. My children sure enjoyed fresh squash, silver queen corn, and watermelons. Once again, I drove down this country road, spied something out of the corner of my eye, stopped my car, backed up, and there, just for me, was a 50 pound bag of fertilizer. That example of God's love not only strengthened and encouraged me, it also made my garden grow.

About a year later, a friend of mine called and wanted me to go with him to Hazlehurst, a town about 50 miles away. I said, "Okay", and drove on out to his place. I had forgotten to place an ink pen in my pocket. Usually I carry one and a small piece of paper to write my thoughts down. I said nothing to my friend but to the Lord I said, "Lord, I need an ink pen."

We started on our trip to Hazlehurst. My friend was driving, and I was thinking he was driving too fast and maybe I should be driving. I've learned if you drive the speed limit you get there just as soon, and you don't have the worry that you'll get a ticket. About 15 miles down the road, my friend suddenly whipped the Camaro over on the shoulder, stopped and said "You drive."

I got out of my door and went to get in the driver's door when I glanced down in front of me. There, pretty as you please, was a brand new gold Cross ink pen! Out of all the spots my friend could have stopped, he picked (God moved on him and he didn't even know it) this spot. The Cross brand of pen reminded me of the Cross where Jesus died for our sins.

A few months later, the Lord told me to take the tractor and bush hog and go mow down by my neighbors. There was an old cemetery on their property and the road leading to it was overgrown. It was a beautiful place with hundreds of pecan trees and three or four old buildings. No one lived there. Mr. and Mrs. Fussell had passed and their children lived in other states. John, who lived in New York City, had asked me to keep the lawn of the brick house mowed and gave me permission to go on the property at any time (to keep an eye on things).

I began to mow. I mowed around the old buildings and cleaned up the road to the cemetery. I was thinking, "Lord, I've done used about $10 worth of gas doing this." As I made the last round, I glanced up under a nearby pecan tree and saw a green piece of paper. I stopped the old red Ford tractor, turned off the green John Deere mower, and walked to the tree. Sure enough, it was a ten dollar bill!

I could give you hundreds of more examples how God has given me "roadside" gifts and provided the things I needed. Looking back, it still amazes me when I think of how much God cares for and provides for his own.

Matthew 6.33 "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Copyright 2003 Irvin L. Rozier...This is a story out of my book, My Walk with the Lord

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