A comment that was included on a book order the other day shot me to the moon! We all need encouragement as we live this life, and this one really encouraged me. I hope it encourages you as well:
Mark,
I’m a retired DeKalb County firefighter/paramedic. You approached our ambulance one night in the mid-90s and gave my partner and me a copy of your book One Heartbeat Away. We were finishing up the call we had in your apartment complex around 2 a.m. It was weird for us that such a tall, white guy came strolling over to our ambulance at that time and place. Lol. I’m not sure what my partner did with his book, but I read it several days later. I’m not a reader of sorts, mind you. I read it from front to back. Could not put it down until I finished. I cried. I prayed. And I was a born-again Christian. I witnessed in the back of ambulances for several years after that. I have faltered at points in my life but will always remember that moment forever. I’m ordering all of your books to reread some of them and to read for the first time the others and then pass them around to my three girls. God bless you for all you do, Brother!
David
How good is your memory? Mine is spotty at times. Some things just aren’t as specific when I recall them, and they can kind of blend together.
One of the funny things about this comment is that I didn’t even have a book out in the 90s! But, of course, David has been on so many calls that I am sure some of his encounters just blend together.
I have been trying to remember this encounter, but the only thing that comes to mind is when I was sleeping one night and heard a big explosion. I looked out the window, and there was a big fire near some trees behind where I live. So I got up, jumped in my car, and drove over there. It turned out that a car was on fire. There were some serious flames. No one was inside the car. I was chatting with some of the folks who also came out to see. More than likely, someone burned a car down to the ground to collect insurance, as it was burning in an area where people don’t normally go.
I do remember a quick conversation with the EMT folks. There were no bodies, so there wasn’t much for them to do. I gave them each a copy of One Heartbeat Away, shook some hands, and was off to see if I could fall back asleep again!
Well, little did I know that David would read the book, get saved, and boldly share his faith with others and with people he picked up in his emergency vehicle. Praise ye the Lord a thousand times over! You just never know what God might do with a seed that you plant. But you do know what He can do with a seed that you don’t plant: Nothing.
Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
We need to make the most of every opportunity that God puts us in. Time is a precious commodity. My aunt passed over to the other side yesterday. Her time here is now over, but her time on the other side has just begun.
Opportunities abound for all of us. Make the best eternal use of them that you can today!
Until the nets are full,
P.S. We received this letter from Curtis and Jennie, who own a coffee shop in central Florida. All kinds of people come through their shop, and they are always on the lookout for opportunities to witness. A Christian man stopped in their shop He just needed some encouragement and they gave him plenty!
Hey, Mark,
Something neat went on this morning, and I wanted to share. This is Tom. He came in a couple of weeks ago for the first time. He and Curtis had a great conversation that lasted over an hour. Curtis gave him One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven, and he came back this morning. He proceeded to talk to Curtis. Basically, he said, “You knew what you were doing, didn’t you? I’m already a part of the “army”; I just have to do something. So Curtis gave him The Watchman and tracts. He was so appreciative, and said, “Don’t let the fire go out and keep on burning. You have been such a blessing; you just don’t know. He left with a purpose and a desire to share with others. Can’t wait to see how the Lord will use him. That sure was an encouragement sent our way today.
Have a great day,
Jennie
P.P.S.
