Redeemed!

Do you believe in God’s leadership in your life through the Spirit of God? I do. I have experienced it many times!

In a community where Steve was once the pastor, I became acquainted with an older woman, a well-known and respected one. She had some physical challenges as many older people do, and I would go over to her house and help her with things. She was not a member of our church. For some reason, I never shared my faith with her, to my sorrow. I was a coward! Besides, everyone knows what the preacher’s wife believes, right?

In time, Steve and I left that community and relocated to another ministry. I heard from Sylvia intermittently.

One morning as I was going about my tasks, the Spirit of God spoke to me. He told me to write a letter to Sylvia and share my faith with her and her need for a Savior.

My response to Him was not encouraging. I said, “You know she’s going to be so mad at me for suggesting she’s a sinner in need of salvation.”

Nevertheless, the call remained in my spirit, and I wrote the letter. Was I right! Her response was stinging. Did I not know she and her family were respected members of the community? Had I not been told they were among the elite pioneers, and settlers and farmers in the area? I did know that, but also knew these things gave us no standing with God.

What I did not realize what that God was dealing with her also. Her son called me on the phone one day to tell me about Sylvia. He said one morning she called him on the phone and asked him to come to her house. She told him she had accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. She had been in touch with a pastor in a town nearby whom she knew and asked him to baptize her. It would be just her, John and the pastor there. She didn’t want any publicity.

After the baptism, she asked John to take her to the place where her grandson and (John’s son) was at work. They were business owners in the community. What I did not know was that Sylvia’s grandson, John, had been praying for his grandma’s salvation for a long time.

John went to the business and left Sylvia in the car. He said to Eric, “Your grandmother is out in the car and wants to speak to you.”

Eric said, “Dad, I’m so busy this morning. I don’t have time to talk to Grandma.”

John said, “No son, you need to come!”

When Eric went out, there she was, with her hair still wet and her face full of glory. She lifted her hands to heaven in praise. She said, “Eric! I have accepted the Lord Jesus and been baptized! MY NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE!”

Can you imagine the joy and thanksgiving that morning?

Not long after that, I received a call from John. Sylvia had died and gone home to Glory. John said, “Would you come and do her memorial? It’s what Sylvia would want.”

What a blessing! What an honor to be a part of this wonderful story! it was a team effort. God, the Spirit of God, a son, a grandson, and a preacher. In God’s economy, God gets the glory, and we get the joy!

A pretty good exchange!