To The Ones I Care About...
A True Story by Ken Gaub
Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows
where you are and
what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly
do
after an
amazing experience I had several years ago.
At the time I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio,
with
my wife and
children. We turned off the highway for a rest and
refreshment stop. My
wife Barbara and children went into the restaurant. I
suddenly felt the
need to stretch my legs, so waved them on ahead saying
I'd join them
later. I bought a soft drink, and as I walked toward a
Dairy Queen,
feelings of self pity enshrouded my mind. I loved the
Lord and my
ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was
empty.
Suddenly the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby
jarred me out of my
doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a
service
station on the
corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone? Noise
from the traffic
flowing through the busy intersection must have
drowned
out the sound
because the service station attendant continued
looking
after his
customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing.
"Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?" I muttered.
I
began reasoning.
"It may be important. What if it's an emergency?"
Curiosity overcame my indifference. I stepped inside
the
booth and picked
up the phone. "Hello," I said casually and took a big
sip
of my drink.
The operator said: "Long distance call for Ken Gaub."
My
eyes widened,
and I almost choked on a chunk of ice. Swallowing
hard, I
said, "You're crazy!" Then realizing I shouldn't speak
to
an operator like that, I added, "This can't be! I was
walking
down the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was
ringing..." "Is Ken Gaub there?" the operator
interrupted,
"I have a long distance call for him." It took a
moment to
gain control of my babbling, but I finally
replied, "Yes, he
is here." Searching for a possible explanation, I
wondered
if I could possibly be on Candid Camera! Still
shaken,
perplexed, I asked, "How in the world did you reach me
here?
I was walking down the road, the pay phone started
ringing,
and I just picked it up and answered it on a chance.
You can't mean me."
"Well," the operator asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or
isn't
he?" "Yes, I am Ken Gaub," I said, finally convinced
by the
tone of her voice that the call was real. Then I
heard another
voice say, "Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken
Gaub." I
listened dumbfounded to a strange voice identify
herself. "I'm Millie from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
You
don't know me, Mr. Gaub, but I'm desperate. Please
help me."
"What can I do for you?" She began weeping. Finally
she
regained control and continued. "I was about to commit
suicide, had just finished writing a note, when I
began to
pray and tell God I really didn't want to do this.
Then
I suddenly remembered seeing you on television
and thought if I could just talk to you, you could
help me.
I knew that was impossible because I didn't know how
to
reach you. I didn't know anyone who could help me
find
you. Then some numbers came to my mind, and
I scribbled them down." At this point she began
weeping
again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help her.
She
continued, "I looked at the numbers and thought,
wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God,
and
He has given me Ken's phone number? I decided to try
calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you. Are
you
in your office in California?" I replied, "Lady, I
don't
have an office in California. My office is in
Yakima, Washington."
A little surprised, she asked, "Oh really, then where
are
you?" "Don't you know?" I responded. "You made the
call."
She explained, "But I don't even know what area I'm
calling. I just dialed the number that I had on this
paper."
"Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone
booth
in Dayton, Ohio!"
"Really?" she exclaimed. "Well, what are you doing
there?" I kidded her gently, "Well, I'm answering the
phone. It was ringing as I walked by, so I answered
it."
Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged
by
God, I began to counsel the woman.
As she told me of her despair and frustration, the
presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth
giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability.
In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's
prayer and met the One who would lead her out
of her situation into a new life.
I walked away from that telephone booth with an
electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's concern
for each of His children.
What were the astronomical odds of this happening.
With all the millions of phones and innumerable
combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing
God could have caused that woman to call that number
in that phone booth at that moment in time.
Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with
exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering
if they would believe my story. Maybe I better
not tell this I thought, but I couldn't contain it.
"Barb, you won't believe this! God knows where I am!"
God also knows where you are. Place yourself in His
hands, concentrate on knowing His will for your life,
and He will never forsake or forget you.
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