"But with God, everything is possible."
Matthew 19:26
It had to be an act of God...
Matthew 19:26
It had to be an act of God...
One of my favorite books, about one of my favorite preachers, had been missing for several years. I had loaned it to another prisoner who belonged to our fellowship group, but lived in a different cell block. When, unexpectedly, he was placed on a transfer.
I was surprised at the news, of course. But I was also hoping that he had left the book with another member of our church, who would then get it back to me. But this seemed not to be the case. The book was nowhere to be found, while my friend was gone. So much for that.
It was one of my favorite books other than the Bible. "The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd." He was a traveling evangelist and itinerant preacher who traveled throughout the New England region of the United States. He also had a special love for the local Indian tribes whose communities, later known as reservations, that were scattered throughout the areas he sought to evangelize.
But as it stood, the book was gone. I could've obtained another copy of it, but for some reason I didn't. And the years passed. Then, on Tuesday the 14th of January, my chaplain and I decided it was time to go into our seldom opened storage area to do our annual clean up and disposal of unwanted items. From here we would discard everything from broken furniture that was beyond repair, to soiled towels and rags, outdated and no longer needed paperwork, to rotting books that were ready for the dumpster.
I was surprised at the news, of course. But I was also hoping that he had left the book with another member of our church, who would then get it back to me. But this seemed not to be the case. The book was nowhere to be found, while my friend was gone. So much for that.
It was one of my favorite books other than the Bible. "The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd." He was a traveling evangelist and itinerant preacher who traveled throughout the New England region of the United States. He also had a special love for the local Indian tribes whose communities, later known as reservations, that were scattered throughout the areas he sought to evangelize.
But as it stood, the book was gone. I could've obtained another copy of it, but for some reason I didn't. And the years passed. Then, on Tuesday the 14th of January, my chaplain and I decided it was time to go into our seldom opened storage area to do our annual clean up and disposal of unwanted items. From here we would discard everything from broken furniture that was beyond repair, to soiled towels and rags, outdated and no longer needed paperwork, to rotting books that were ready for the dumpster.
| And then it happened. As I started to pull those moldy books off an old, rickety bookcase, there it was. My book! It was hidden behind a row of older ones, wedged in between everything that was headed for the trash. I was incredulous. I let out a loud yell. "There's my book!" My chaplain looked at me, startled. So I held it up and showed it to him. It was in mint condition, too. |  |
I then told my chaplain the story of its disappearance. How I was heartbroken when I never got it back. But somehow, there it was. I've no explanation how it got there. Obviously, my now long gone friend did try to return it to me after all.
Well, I've been walking long enough with the Lord to know a miracle when I see it. And this was a miracle! A beloved book containing the journal writings of a deeply loved and admired, hardworking evangelist, was like finding a pile of pure gold.
"Thank you, Jesus!" was all I could say.
D.B.
*"The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd (1718-1747)."
Banner of Truth Trust. c2007
P.O. Box 621
Carlisle, PA 17013 USA
Well, I've been walking long enough with the Lord to know a miracle when I see it. And this was a miracle! A beloved book containing the journal writings of a deeply loved and admired, hardworking evangelist, was like finding a pile of pure gold.
"Thank you, Jesus!" was all I could say.
D.B.
*"The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd (1718-1747)."
Banner of Truth Trust. c2007
P.O. Box 621
Carlisle, PA 17013 USA