*Subject:* *Isaiah 65:24*
This is a great story about how God works in our
lives. He never sleeps. I might have sent this to you several
years ago,
but it's worth reading again.
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in South
Africa
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny,
premature baby
and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty
keeping the
baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an
incubator) We also had no special feeding facilities. Although
we lived
on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous
drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such
babies and
the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She
came
back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had
burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates) "And it is
our last
hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying
over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good
crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and
there are
no drugstores down forest pathways. "All right," I said, "put the
baby as
near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and
the door
to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers
with any
of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told
them about
the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm
enough,
mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily
die if
it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying
because
her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the
usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she
prayed, "Send
us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as
the baby
will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And
while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the
little girl
so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I
honestly
say "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh,
yes, I know
that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are
limits, aren't
there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would
be by
sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost
four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from
home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot
water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses'
training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my
front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the
verandah
was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking
my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the
orphanage
children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing
each knot.
We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was
mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large
cardboard box.
From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes
sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages
for the
leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then
came a box
of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns
for the
weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it
really
be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water
bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He
could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward,
crying out,
"If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this
dolly
to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of
course, I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one
of the
girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in
answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that
afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer." (Isaiah 65:24)
When you receive this, say the prayer. That's all you have to do. No
strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do
send it
on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no
cost,
but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.
This is an awesome prayer takes less than a minute.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask
You to
minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your
peace and
mercy. Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence
to work
through them. Where there is tiredness
or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and
strength. Where there is fear, reveal Your love and release to
them Your
courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up
leaders and friends to support and encourage them.
Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around
them and
reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You
to do
these things in Jesus' name. Amen
P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless
you both.
Passing this on to one not considered a
friend is something Christ would do! =============
