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Yes,
God knows all about you—where you are, who you
are, and what you need. He knows just what will make
you happy, and how to find the best use of your life.
Trust Him, won't you?
Ask Jesus, God's son, to come into your
life and give you the love and peace and wonder of life
that only He can give. Ask Him to forgive your wrongdoings,
to remove any barriers that may prevent your knowing
Him, and to come in with all He has for you. Then thank
Him for being in your life. He's right there for you,
and He loves you.
—Nina
Williams
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God
Knows Where You Are
Ken
Gaub
I
was driving on I-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with my wife and children.
We turned off the highway for a rest and refreshment stop.
My wife Barbara and children went into the restaurant.
I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so waved them
on ahead, saying I'd join them later. I bought a soft drink,
and as I walked toward a Dairy Queen, feelings of self-pity
enshrouded my mind. I loved the Lord and my ministry serving
Him, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was empty.
Suddenly the impatient ringing
of a telephone nearby jarred me out of my doldrums. It was
coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner.
Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone? Noise from the traffic
flowing through the busy intersection must have drowned out
the sound, because the service station attendant continued
looking after his customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing.
"Why doesn't somebody answer
that phone?" I muttered. Then I began reasoning. It
may be important. What if it's an emergency? Curiosity
overcame my indifference. I stepped inside the booth and picked
up the phone. "Hello," I said casually, and took
a big sip of my drink.
The operator said: "Long
distance call for Ken Gaub."
My eyes widened, and I almost
choked on a chunk of ice. Swallowing hard, I said, "You're
crazy!" Then realizing I couldn't speak to an operator
like that, I added, "This can't be! I was walking down
the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was ringing.
..."
"Is Ken Gaub there?"
the operator interrupted. "I have a long distance call
for him."
It took a moment to gain control
of my babbling, but I finally replied, "Yes, he is here."
Searching for a possible explanation, I wondered if I could
possibly be on "Candid Camera"! Still shaken, perplexed,
I asked, "How in the world did you reach me here? I was
walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and
I just answered it on chance. You can't mean me."
"Well," the operator
asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?"
"Yes, I am Ken Gaub,"
I said, finally convinced by the tone of her voice that the
call was real. Then I heard another voice say, "Yes,
that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub."
I listened dumbfounded to a
strange voice identify herself. "I'm
Millie from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't know me, Mr.
Gaub, but I'm desperate. Please help me."
"What can I do for you?"
She began weeping. Finally she
regained control and continued. "I was about to commit
suicide, had just finished writing a note, when I began to
pray and tell God I really didn't want to do this. Then I
suddenly remembered seeing you on television and thought if
I could just talk to you, you could help me.
"I knew that was impossible
because I didn't know how to reach you. I didn't know anyone
who could help me find you. Then some numbers came to mind,
and I scribbled them down."
At this point she began weeping
again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help her. She continued.
"I looked at the numbers and thought, wouldn't it be
wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and He has given me
Ken's phone number? I decided to try calling it. I can't believe
I'm talking to you. Are you in your office in California?"
I replied, "Lady, I don't
have an office in California. My office is in Yakima, Washington."
A little surprised, she asked,
"Oh, really, then where are you?"
"Don't you know?"
I responded. "You made the call."
She explained, "But, I
don't even know what area I'm calling. I just dialed the number
that I had on this paper."
"Ma'am, you won't believe
this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!"
"Really?" she exclaimed.
"Well, what are you doing there?"
I kidded her gently, "Well, I'm answering the phone.
It was ringing as I walked by, so I answered it."
Knowing this encounter could
only have been arranged by God, I began to counsel the woman.
As she told me of her despair and frustration, the presence
of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth, giving me words
of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed
the salvation prayer and met the One who could lead her out
of her situation into a new life.
I walked away from the telephone
booth with an electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's
concern for each of His children. What were the astronomical
odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and
innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God
could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone
booth at that moment.
Forgetting my drink and nearly
bursting with exhilaration,
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