DANNY SHELTON'S FAITH BUILDING STORIES #001

God's Perfect Timing

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting a young couple from Puerto Rico who were visiting with our 3ABN Latino Network manager, John Dinzey. When I was introduced to them, I asked what brought them to 3ABN and they just beamed from ear to ear, bursting to tell their story.

The young lady felt impressed God wanted her to promote the Spirit of Prophecy to young people. She thought if she could work with 3ABN it would accomplish God’s mission on a much larger scale. So she prayed to God, “Lord, if you want me to pursue this idea with 3ABN Latino, then please make it possible for me to speak to John Dinzey.” She laid out her fleece; if she was able to contact John over the phone and he indicated that 3ABN was interested…then that would be her sign. . . . she and her husband would come to 3ABN and meet with John in person.

After prayer, she picked up her phone and dialed 3ABN’s phone number: 618 627-4651. The phone rang and rang until the answering machine picked up. She listened to the voicemail telling the hours of operation, “Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5:30 pm CST.

“Oh no, this is Friday! How am I going to reach him today?”

Then she remembered she had the phone number of Irma Murray, one of our 3ABN employees. Not wanting to give up, she quickly found Irma’s number. She dialed the area code and the first three numbers but then she was so nervous, she accidentally dialed the last four digits of 3ABN’s phone number. This number was neither 3ABN’s nor was it Irma’s.
A lady named Kim answered the phone. When the young lady from Puerto Rico asked for Irma, Kim told her she had the wrong number. The young lady told her she was trying to contact 3ABN but couldn’t get through.

“Well, I used to work for 3ABN, who are you trying to contact?” Kim responded.

“I’m trying to reach John Dinzey.”

To her surprise Kim said, “If you want to talk to John Dinzey he just happens to be here at my hous!"! Kim then handed the phone to John who talked to the young lady about coming to 3ABN to share her vision with him. About a week after this happened I went to Puerto Rico with John and his wife Idalia for some meetings for 3ABN Latino. After telling the story to the audience, John took me aside and said, “Now let me tell you the rest of the story!”

He proceeded to tell me that about two weeks before the young lady called the “wrong” phone number he had received some mail delivered to his house by mistake. It belonged to his neighbors who lived a short way down the road. For two weeks he had intended on hand delivering this mail to them, but kept forgetting to do so. This particular Friday morning, feeling guilty that it had taken him so long to return the mail, he set out for his neighbor’s house. He knocked on the door, and his neighbor Kim opened the door and just handed him the phone.

“Here, this is for you. Someone called me by mistake but they really want to talk to you!”

Let me ask you folks, would you call this coincidence or divine providence? I think we know the answer to that question. Of course it is divine providence! One of God’s wonderful traits is that His timing is always perfect! What an awesome God we serve! Exactly when John arrived at the neighbors, the young lady called the “wrong” number. Of all the numbers she could have called . . . . Kim’s number was the only phone number where John was reachable!

Friend, I want to encourage you to hold on tight to Jesus! Ask for guidance and direction for what God has planned for you. He loves you and cares about every detail of your life! When you have a problem take it to the Lord in prayer. Our heavenly Father loves to come to the aid of His children and supply their every need according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19