My 1 Story

I was born to a 15 year old girl in 1964. As she was too young to take care of me I lived with my grandmother until I was 4 years old when she was hospitalized for the long term effects of diabetes and eventually died. I went to live with one of my biological mother’s sisters along with her husband and two children (both older). I was never adopted officially because my dad didn’t feel like my mom let him be a father to me – she was probably protecting me because of my rough past. Subsequently, I grew up rather independent and didn’t open myself up – though I was often loud and disruptive. I guess I was afraid to get too close to people – fearing they might hurt me like I was hurt by my grandmother leaving me.

Sunday after church our family had a fun time with the one to one cards. We had purchased bottled water and chips to give out to people in the waiting room of a hospital as Tim had suggested, but ended up doing something different. On the way to church we always pass many people selling newspapers at the corners. Our new plan was to cruise through the city looking for newspaper vendors. Our daughter brought a friend along with her and they were on the lookout for the bright yellow t-shirts of the vendors. They took turns handing out the water and snacks. At first the girls seemed a little timid but quickly jumped into the spirit of our drive-by blessings. They enjoyed the confused look we got when we handed out our gifts. As we drove away they would watch to see the response that we got. Most of the time the card was read and they would look up and smile and wave at us. When we exhausted the supply of vendors we took the rest of our water and chips and handed them out to the people hanging out at Williams Park. What an awesome way to spend a Sunday!

My story is simple and sweet-I received a letter in the mail that was addressed to same street #,different street. I wrote “Return to Sender” and was ready to slip this letter back in the box when it hit me-perfect opportunity to use one of those cards!!!!! I was really excited for the chance to use these cards. I jumped in the car and ventured to this address. I than walked up to the mailbox and dropped the letter in along with the card -I left feeling so proud!!!!!

About a year ago, I began to take bagged lunches to Mirror Lake each weekday at lunchtime. It was hot and I carried everything in my hands and on my back. I live in downtown, my direct neighbors include millionaires to homeless. This one to one moment was not one that I gave to someone else, but how I was affected.

I began to get to know the residents of Mirror Lake, I knew their names and where they usually lived. I soon ran out of resources and felt useless. I stopped going because I didn’t have anything to give.

It was a difficult couple of months, our apartment was broken into and we were robbed, then someone stole money out of our bank account, then my car went in for routine maintenance which ended up becoming a major and majorly expensive repair. All this right before I was supposed to go on vacation for the first time in 3 years. I was angry, disappointed, and feeling a bit selfish. Luckily, it was Thursday, I look forward to this day because I get to volunteer, it’s the highlight of my week, I wasn’t about to get in something positive for me this week.

Psalm 139:13-16 You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you. When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my action: in your book all are written down; my days were shaped before one came to be. I was a cradle catholic from birth. Going to church Sunday mornings were a normal part of my life. When we couldn’t afford the gas, we would walk the mile and a half to and from church.

Today I got to share a one2one. I ran out at lunch to the McDonalds on 4th Street and 38th. I pulled in the parking lot and the line for the drive thru was long and going both ways. As approached to turn in the truck going the other way let me in front of them. I said, “that’s the one I am supposed to bless.” So after I ordered and paid I told the lady at the window I wanted to pay for the truck behind me. She rang it up and asked, “do you want the receipt?” I said yes and then she asked, “do you want their food?” I laughed and said no I just want the receipt and please give them this card. I handed her a one2one card. She looked at me and then the card and said again, “are you sure you don’t want the food?” It was so funny. It made my day. I can’t wait for the next opportunity.

My 1 Story involves a family that my wife and I met 1 day in the parking lot of a local McDonalds.
As we pulled in my wife noticed a man under the hood of his van, looking as if he needed help. She said to me, “You should go see if he needs help.” And of course, I sighed and hesitated to get out of our van. Finally as I approached the man I noticed four people inside their van, his wife and three children. I asked him if he needed a jump start. Confused he said, “I don’t know, I don’t know what’s wrong with it.” And one thing I can tell you about myself is, I am not a mechanic, I know very little about motors if anything at all. So I got my cables and said, “Let’s try to jump start it.” No luck. It would start but then die.
Then out of my mouth came,” It must be the alternator.” What!? How did I know that was the problem? I didn’t. Then I knew it must be God, not me, so I just followed God like I knew what I was doing.
By this time my wife had introduced herself and was telling his wife and children about the church we were attending at that time. Then God says, through me, “I have my tools in my van (which was also not normal, these are tools that I never use) let me get them and I will remove the alternator so we can have it checked out.” What!? I remember my wife even looking stunned, asking me as I got my tools, “Do you really know what your doing?” My reply being, “Uhh.., I guess so.”
After about ten to fifteen minutes I had this mans alternator in my hands. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. Then God said through me, again, “Ok, let’s go to the parts store to have it checked.” You can have alternators checked? What!? How did I know this? When we got there I walked in, and with all the confidence God had put in me I said, “I need to have this checked.” The man behind the counter said, “No problem.” Taking it into the back room, he soon returned saying it was dead and needed to be replaced. He offered a new one for $ 140 dollars or a rebuilt one for $90 dollars. My mouth dropped open and about that time, the man I was helping (whose name was Greg) said, “I don’t have that kind of money.” And at the same time I could hear God telling me, “Buy it for him .Buy it for him.” So, out of my mouth came, “That’s o.k. I got it.” What!? I knew then for sure it was, most certainly, without a doubt, God doing this because that was just not like me. I had always been on a tight budget. I would help people from time to time but $90 dollars was part of our rent money. But I was also smart enough to know God must have a bigger plan.
When we got back from the parts store, my wife, his wife and children were all eating ice cream and acting like old friends. I proceeded to act as the mechanic, putting the alternator back on without any knowledge, then we jumped it again and the van cranked right up and stayed running. Praise God!! I knew it had to be God. So we all gathered together to pray and thank God and give him all the praise.
The next week Greg and his whole family came to church and committed their life to Jesus. At that time I thought, ok God, I now see why you used me and gave me this knowledge because you wanted to make this connection to Greg and his family through my wife and I. Wow. God is a good God. It all still amazes me.
End of story, right. Not quite.
Greg and his family kept coming to church off and on until about a year after we met them, Greg became ill due to diabetes complications and quickly passed and went home to be with the Lord. What!? It all happened so fast and then it all became so clear to me that God really is the Alpha and Omega. He already knew what he had planned for Greg before my wife and I ever met him and his family.
I want to thank you Father God for using my wife and I, for giving us the knowledge to help you help Greg. In Jesus name, Amen
We still remain friends with Greg’s wife and kids to this day.
I just want to end this story by saying,” Please never pass up that chance God is placing in front of you. This might be your 1 day to be his mechanic.”

The other day I was out with the staff for lunch. We were celebrating Randy’s birthday. He wanted to go to Outback on 4th St. We noticed the thin crowd when we went in and asked the server if it was always like that for lunch. She said sometimes it wasn’t that busy. I was reminded of the story I shared in my last message about working the afternoon shift of a restaurant. No tips!

I’m not sure where to start my story. Growing up we went to church occasionally. I do remember a few days at Sunday school, but not many. As a family, we did a lot of things on the weekends and church was set aside. At school we had chapel service, but it seemed to be a ritual that never meant a lot to me.

I wasn’t until years later, when my husband and I had a daughter that thoughts of God came back to mind. We both knew we wanted to find a church where we could feel comfortable and our daughter could grow up knowing about God. At that point I didn’t realize how much I was looking for God also.