Led by the Lord...

On Monday evening this week, I began the process of my normal iPod shuffle uploading. It's been such a joy to listen to sermons while exercising at the gym. I successfully loaded two sermons onto the shuffle...along with 11 songs from the new Leeland album. After the loading was complete, I walked downstairs and taught the evening basement Bible Study. So far, all went according to my expectations.

The study was glorious and after praying with Brooke, I headed to the gym. As I walked inside the gym, I quickly put the headphones into my ears to listen to Francis Chan...Only to find that that the shuffle only had the Leeland songs! I probably skipped the tracks about 40 times until I gave up. Frustrated, I sat down on the bike and began the boring process of riding for 30 minutes while staring at TV shows that had nothing but teenage girl appeal. (I can't stand shows that have anything to do with the drama that I see for free on facebook.) I was mad. No sermons...and 30 minutes of nothing but riding and watching.

Doug walked over to me as his friends left the gym. Doug is a guy about my age that works out about the same time that I do each evening. He and his wife have a son that is about two years old. Doug carries with him a strong Jersey accent with Brazilian roots. A great guy. As Doug walked over to my area of workout (well, it was me and a bunch of older ladies...), he began to talk with me about...life. After a few minutes of casual talking, the door was opened for me to share with him of the Gospel. What a joy it was to talk for about 25 minutes (and what a tiring time as well) with Doug of the glories of my Savior. Doug and his family are really seeking the Lord right now and want to get plugged into a church. I pray I will see him again when I work out...and at church as I worship with my family. Please pray for Doug.

I left the gym and was thinking back to my iPod dilemma. If I had a sermon on that night...I probably would've given Doug just a minute of talk and then went back to the sermon listening. I truly believe the Lord took the sermon off my iPod so I could actually live out a sermon by talking about Jesus to my friend in the gym. I'm truly grateful that I had no sermon to listen to that evening. I'm truly grateful that I was led by the Lord to speak of the only good news that I know. The tomb is empty, the Savior is alive, and the atonement for my sins has been paid for. What a Savior.

The next day, I turned my iPod in the car as I was heading to teach at a high school. I wanted to listen to Leeland that morning. To my surprise, Francis Chan came on. Same iPod, no change, different day...glorious Savior.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Dave