From Wendell & Daisy Martin’s book GO NOW! From the INNERMOST PARTS OF THE HEART to the UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD Plus Forty Stories of Faith.
Likely many of you could share similar God Moments from over the years, or perhaps, even since covid, but because public sharing may be construed as blowing trumpets, you refrain except for in intimate circles, such as your small group, etc….. merlin
It happened on our most recent trip to China and Vietnam toward the end of March. It was a rather different sort of trip this time. For one thing, I didn’t have a team of people with me as I normally do. That in itself was a refreshing experience, allowing for some precious opportunities to meet people while on a very flexible schedule. I was free to just go with the flow. One of the things on my to-do list was to deliver the quarterly supply of support money for the Christian leaders and families that Go Forth Ministry supported in Vietnam at that time.
Randy, who was accompanying me on this trip, had just read the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in his daily devotion guide that morning. Having finished that reading, he casually flipped back to the Old Testament and just happened to open to 2 Kings 4, the story of the widow’s oil. He told me later that he had wondered why God brought these two similar stories to his attention that day and was anticipating something special might happen.
While Randy was having his devotions, I was preparing for the day ahead. I carefully counted out the two packs of $100 bills, plus a $20 bill, totaling $1820, the three months of support money I had arranged to give. Really, I had prepared it carefully! I had one pack of ten $100 bills and another pack of eight. This money had been kept in a separate envelope. I count it again carefully, just to be sure, for at least the fifth time. This was just before our Vietnamese contact arrived at our little hotel room in Ho Chi Mihn City that morning. I knew the amount in the envelopes was right!
I thought it would be best to count the money once again before our contact arrived so there would be no question between us at the at the amount. First, I counted out the little stack of ten $100 bills. Then I counted out the stack of eight $100 bills. But amazingly, it totaled up to $900. I put the extra $100 aside, certain I had made a mistake. I counted again. And again, I counted $900. Once again, I put the extra $100 aside with the other $100.
This really didn’t make any sense to me! I knew without a doubt there was only $800 in the stack. But I had already found an additional $200. How could this be? I counted it again. Again there was $900. Now I had an extra $300. I was very perplexed but had a sneaky feeling that God was up to something. (CLUE!) Randy was just quietly observing. He understood. But me? Not a chance! I was just happy that our rapidly shrinking budget had been stretched, and I just assumed that perhaps at my old age, I had forgotten the simple art of counting to ten.
I counted the stack of $100 bills again. This time I counted the accurate amount. I counted it several more times before I finally handed the $1820 over to our contact, $300 richer on my part. Or was I?
God had his plan in this – of course! Just a short time later, a Vietnamese pastor came into the room and, in a passing comment, mentioned about several house church pastors who were traveling great distances every week on foot to serve the Lord. Was there any way we could help them purchase a few bicycles? It didn’t take long to understand why we had the extra cash. I quickly gave him $200 that would purchase four new bicycles. But I still had the other extra $100 and was left to ponder what other need would yet arise.
It didn’t take long. On our arrival in Shen Zhen, China, a few days later, I was absolutely amazed to be met at the front of the hotel by a snowy-haired, dear saint of a lady we had known years before but had lost all contact with. Years earlier, God had called her to a ministry of intercession for North Korea.
Traveling by herself from her lonely home on the China side bordering North Korea, she has arrived safely in Shen Zhen City with intentions of heading directly on to Hong Kong. But before reaching the border, her passport was stolen, a major headache for an American in China in a hurry and on a limited budget. For her, applying for a new passport would mean about a week-long stay at the hotel in China, the same hotel where Randy and I just happened to also be staying.
It was a wonderful reunion! Later, with a typical question missionaries often ask each other, I inquired how her finances were holding out.
“I’m ok,” she replied, a usual faith missionary response.
“But that’s not what I asked.” I challenged. After taking the time to press for details, I found that she didn’t have the money in reality (yet) to pay the impending hotel bill. How wonderful to be able to tell her how the Lord had already prepared the money ahead of the need. Not a few tears were shed as this dear women’s faith became the reality of the Lord’s promised provision to her, a limitless source that those who live by faith must repeatedly choose to rely on.
So, I have to ask: what is the lesson of the $300? Perhaps Randy has the answer! For myself, I’m reminded that God really does love us, He really is with us and aware of all we are experiencing in life as we serve him, He really is all powerful, and we really don’t need to worry about anything except our dedication to follow and love Jesus!
From Wendell & Daisy Martin’s book GO NOW! From the INNERMOST PARTS OF THE HEART to the UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD Plus Forty Stories of Faith, of which this was #38
NEXT UP:
I’d Be Remiss, If I’d Not Include Wendell’s “Final Word” From Pg. 423.