On my way to feed the homeless yesterday, the thought came to me to stop and check my post office box for mail. I keep that box strictly for book ministry mail and normally always check it on the way back. Reasoning, that I would have more time if I checked it later, resulted in my simply brushing the thought away. How many can join me in finding that, hindsight, often speaks louder than the Lord?

So after a delightful evening of beautiful sunshine, laughter with friends–my homeless and some, non-homeless family–after having served up a feast from, 5loaves2fish, of fresh-caught lake trout, thank you Carlson’s of Leland, fresh garden salad, potato salad, fresh fruit compote, dinner rolls and warm chocolate bread pudding. All homemade–all infused with love! Now, incredibly content, and heading home, I stopped to get my mail. My heart was already full and happy, but yet, there was more– for there in my box, leaned a long white envelope.

It’s always exciting to see real mail.

There is an old adage, “The road is paved with good intentions.” Many say, and intend to do something–even declaring it, but never do it. Truly, pavement, is all a ‘good intention’ is worth, if one doesn’t ever follow through!

However, in Heaven, the Bible tells us, the streets are paved with pure gold!

This ‘pavement’ in my mailbox is–pure gold!

The envelope contained a check from the U.S. Treasury Department, and it took me a minute to realize what it was. I had received a letter from Nicholas about a week ago. Nicholas is a prisoner I have written about before. He had contacted me for books for a class they had allowed him to develop for his prison, in conjunction with Duke University, Divinity Grad School students. He wanted my books to be mandatory reading for the class. With many thanks to Chaplain White, we were able to make that happen. The class was so popular, they graduated 3 classes of men and had over 40 men still on a waiting list to take it. Unfortunately, Chaplain White, either retired or transferred, and the new chaplain shut the class down–declaring that it wasn’t regulation. He also stopped Nicholas from preaching and nearly broke his heart. I urged him to be patient. The chaplain’s reasoning for not allowing him to continue preaching was that he wasn’t an ordained minister. No one can stop God’s plan though, and a visiting clergy came in a few weeks later, told Nicholas that God was pressing on him to come back and ordain him. Two weeks later, he did just that! Nicholas’ preaching has brought many men to salvation and his last letter to me stated that he is blessed to have baptized 119 men in 3 years. I am happy to report that the new chaplain has since gotten to know Nicholas, and he has been allowing him to preach again.

So, why am I telling you all this? Well, the check was from Nicholas, and he had told me that he wanted to join me in feeding the poor. He states that he has a heart for the homeless and wants to serve them when he gets out. He dreams of having a food truck that he can drive around and serve them, right where they are at. Since his circumstances prevent him from doing that, he is starting right now, right where he’s at, and sent a check asking me to get what I could for them.

In God’s and (my) eyes, that $5.00 is like 5 million!

It’s not about the amount is it?

No, it’s all about the heart ♥

“He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.'” Luke 21:2

Nicholas tells me they take half of his check for restitution and out of the remaining he gives to 4 churches and a ministry that helps women that have become victims of sex crimes. This is a man that has repented, received the cleansing Blood of Jesus, and has a committed heart–

A heart of ‘pavement’–the purest gold of Heaven!

“Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” 2Corinthians 9:7-10

We can take a lesson from Nicholas–he KNOWS he messed up. It breaks his heart every day, the harm he caused others and especially the hurt his family is experiencing. Yet, he’s not sulking and shutting down. He has reached out to God and received forgiveness and His abundant love, to first be restored himself, and then to share it with others. He’s surely not free physically, but he is living the freedom the Lord Jesus has bought and paid for him–and doing more valuable work than many will ever do in their entire lifetime.

How about you?

Are you living the life Jesus bought for you or does it need tweaking? Do you even know Him–really KNOW Him???

Be encouraged, Nicholas, is proof that God can use you in any situation, no matter what you have done. All He needs is for you to turn to Him and say yes!

Don’t wait to the end of your life to find out what you may have missed. Life is too short and you are needed now!

Seek Him today!

So, why did I title this “His Perfect Timing”? It wasn’t just because of the check that came on the day I served the homeless, but also a letter, that I had written to Nicholas, took 6 weeks to reach him, and when did he receive it?

Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day, Nicholas. It’s long past, but your wife tells me your oldest son is getting baptized this weekend!! You won’t be reading this but I’m just throwing that out there to you. I know you are busting your buttons over him! It’s such a blessing to ‘hear’ you, through your letters, proudly talk of all your children and your wife. I pray that you will soon join your family again . . .  In the meantime, thank you for the check and all your hard work in leading men to Jesus . . .

Thank you for doing your part right where you are!

Our Heavenly Father, is busting His buttons over you!

I am excited to announce that an order for 1,200 prison books, the “His Voice In My Heart” series, is at the printers now and will soon be sent to Prison Book Project, the ministry that sends them on to prisons, jails and rehab centers all over the country; and even to our men and women serving our country overseas. It’s but a widow’s mite in my heart because, frankly, I can’t get enough books into their hands; but for what I have been able to do, I am eternally grateful. A big thank you to everyone that has contributed to help me in this ministry!

To all of you, and to Nicholas, this scripture is for you . . .

“It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever. He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:5-7