I’m on vacation this week. We’re at Hilton Head Island (HHI). I stood at the beach entrance Saturday afternoon looking out through the sea oats at the sand, beach umbrellas and the ocean and said, “Lord, You are so good to me. Thank you for allowing me to be here at my favorite place again.” I’ve sighed so many times since Saturday. It’s a sigh of contentment, rest, and pure happiness. Here I am for nearly a week at the most beautiful beach with my family and our daughter’s friend who is also celebrating her graduation. Our condo is perfect, we’re next to the pool, school’s over and a summer of special events is before me. God is so good and I acknowledge Him for His grace gifts that He pours out on His undeserving child.
After supper last night we strolled over to the pool where our daughter and her friend were swimming. Just moments after sitting under an umbrella table a man in his late 60’s came to the pool with his daughter and grandchildren. He was very friendly with everyone. He spoke to us, then initiated conversation, asking where we were from, etc. My husband shared with him that we were here to celebrate our daughter and her friend’s graduation from high school. He told him that we had homeschooled Allison all the way through. His interest piqued with this information. As a matter of fact, he then pulled up a chair and began asking questions. I gave testimony about how it was the Lord that led us to the decision to homeschool. He had provided the wisdom and the tools to accomplish the task. He was somewhat blown away that I would spend my time teaching my daughter all those years instead of “running around during the day”! I assured Him it had been a privilege and joy, even on the hard days, because it was the Lord that did it through me.
When this gentleman (Gary) sat down, his daughter and grandchildren left, and I knew in my heart that the Lord had brought him here in answer to my husband’s prayer before we left the house Saturday morning, “Lord, give us opportunities to be a witness for you while we’re away.” was his prayer. Here was our opportunity. Gary began telling us about his life, his occupation, and his moves. As he talked I could see how gracious the Lord had been to this man who was obviously unsaved. God had provided a wonderful job, family, retirement, and now he was enjoying the fruit of all those years of work, yet he was taking all the credit because he didn’t understand or know the God that had been so gracious. Using the Sharing Jesus Without Fear questions, http://www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com/templates/System/default.asp?id=27043 my husband led the conversation to the place where he could ask him who Jesus was to him.
“I’m Episcopalian” was his answer.
“So where will you go when you die?”
“Heaven, I hope! I’ve tried to be the best man I could be.”
I prayed…while my compassionate husband gave Gary the Gospel in simple, biblical terms. This man, who had barely let us get a word in edgewise up to this point, was silent. He listened with great interest, tears filling his eyes at one point.
“Wow, that is powerful” was his response.
It was evident that the Holy Spirit was working in this dear man’s heart.
The invitation was given – “Will you bow your head and trust Christ as your Savior right now, Gary?”
“I will in the privacy of my room tonight.”
“Okay. I pray you’ll take care of it then. God loves you and wants to save you.”
Before we left Gary said, “I knew when I first started talking to you both that there was something different about you. When you told me about homeschooling your daughter, and just how you handle yourselves. You’re different – you know what I mean?”
My heart cries out, Yes, Gary, we know – Christ has made the difference. We acknowledge Him for all we are, all we have, all we hope for in the future. Without Him we would be nothing. Christ gives a purpose for every day of life…even while away on vacation. We’re not here for us or because we deserve a break. No, we’re here for Him (HHI).
Will you pray for Gary? Pray that he’ll trust Christ if he hasn’t done so yet. Pray that the Lord will give us other opportunities to witness while we’re here and that we’ll obey and speak up for Him. He is so good, and we are so undeserving to be used, yet what a wonderful privilege!
RefreshHer 