What a great day to serve the Lord, and what a great week to
 remind us of his unconditional love for us.  Today is a special date 
for me personally, as forty six years ago I gave my heart to Jesus and 
received Him as my Lord and Savior.  It took place at North Dayton 
Baptist Church during a Revival with Evangelist TD Hall. I was fourteen.
 I am grateful I had Bible preaching pastors who weekly preached the 
Word of God and the Gospel, yet God used a fresh voice to speak to my 
heart through the power of the Holy Spirit. The only difference than 
today's date of April 13 and 1976 is that it was a Tuesday night in 
1976.
Fast forward to 
last night, Tuesday night, April 12,  2022. John and Shawna Keehner lead
 a wonderful monthly ministry of providing meals to our community. A 
great team prepares, cooks, serves, and delivers.  I was blessed to be 
able to deliver several meals to some Eaton homes.
One
 of those homes was the house of a man named Fred.  That name means 
something to me as Dad's name is Fred as well as my middle name.  I 
knocked, stepped back and waited.  In a few seconds a man opened the 
door.  I introduced myself and he the same.  He shared he has thought 
about visiting.  He shared some health battles he has.   I asked if I 
could pray for him.  He invited me in, and before I prayed, I asked 
him,"Fred, are you a Christian?" He shook his head no, and I asked for 
the privilege to share and he graciously said yes.  How wonderful it was
 to hear him pray and ask Jesus into his heart, right there in his 
kitchen.
I was thrilled and left with the expectation he may be here Sunday.
I
 share this to praise the Lord!  It was a divine appointment. Not because I
 am anything special, but because of God's grace and how he chooses at 
times to use people. You see I knew where the house was because Travis 
and Carlena McDaniel are usually the ones who drop off Fred's dinner.  
God has been using their faithfulness, and friendliness, month after 
month, that opened the door for me last night.  He used the faithful 
cooking and serving, and preparing from many of you.  The team had 
prayed prior to my arrival at the church last night, and God was already
 at work in a heart and we didn't know it.
Are
 you still following me? It gets a little funny at this point.  I was 
talking to my sister Sheila when I pulled into Fred's driveway and asked
 her to hang on, this will only be a second.  After a number of minutes I
 returned to the car and she was still on the line!  She thought I had 
been abducted by a prospect, but she soon rejoiced when I shared the 
story with her. 
And
 then... it hit me!  God had just given me the greatest privilege 
outside of being saved,and that was to share the Gospel and see a person
 respond and accept Christ.  Forty six years to the very night, what had
 happened in my heart continues to happen in the hearts of others 
recognizing their need to be saved. Jesus saves.
I
 don't share this story because I think I am something...I am not. I 
share this to encourage you! Us!  God is a work in our church in a great
 way.  He is answering prayer.  Lives are being changed and God is using
 you.
