Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The Penny

I heard His voice loud and clear that night. "Give the penny to Melody."
"When?" I asked.
"At her grandmother's funeral."

We were standing in the rain at the graveside service. People had started to leave and we just stood there talking for a while. I felt so nervous, as if I was up in front of millions of people speaking. All I could think about was this penny in my pocket.

My mind was saying, "It's not the right time, Lord."
"It is the perfect time," He said.

My heart was pounding, all because of this penny that God had told me to give to an unsaved friend. I played it out in my mind...we'd go for a walk, I would reach into my pocket, pull out the penny and I would say, "God told me to give this to you." All I could see was her getting angry again for bringing up God.

I didn't do what He told me to do. I didn't give her that penny because I didn't want her to mock me. Instead, about a month or so later, I tried things my way.

It didn't turn out so good. I tried to share with her how God could help her through her pain. Things just exploded because here I was talking about God again. She no longer wants to be my friend. I won't ever be able to share God with her again. All because I didn't listen. All because I didn't obey. I pray God will send someone else into her life that believes in Him and will listen to Him when He speaks.

If I had only given her that penny.....

3 comments:

Amy Wyatt said...

Wow. This is really powerful. I had a similar situation today where I didn't feel like I obeyed God. Even after He has been dealing with me on obedience. I pray He gives me another chance to minister to this person.

Carol said...

Oh, my word. This is one of the most powerful things you have written. It's so hard to follow Him sometimes. We question was that really God speaking or just me thinking? I will take this one with me today and remember to obey.

DeAnna said...

Wow!!! Isn't it amazing how we think that WE know best sometimes only to find later on that God really knows better than we do. Obedience.... pure and simple obedience is all He wants from us on a daily basis.

Thanks for sharing. By the way, I miss seeing your smiling face back in Dacula.

DeAnna