July 4th Surprise🎆

            I recently took a spiritual gifts assessment after many years.  The results gave me my three top gifts, one of which was evangelism.  I scoffed a bit at this one because I usually think of those with the gift of evangelism as being missionaries or people who go door-to-door talking with people and handing out tracts.  Or, perhaps, someone who drives around in their car with a loud speaker blaring out “Jesus saves”. Many you have done some of these things.  I know I have.  I don’t usually think of simply sharing my faith as evangelism.  You may think this too.  However, this morning changed my view.

         I just had to get out of the house so I decided to drive to a local coffee shop early this morning.  I took my Kindle with me to do some reading and enjoy the weather.  I decided to sit outside – no one was there.  I had been reading for about an hour when a young lady who worked there came outside to sanitize a table.  She came over to me and asked if I needed anything.  She was very sweet.  We started chatting and I asked if she was a college student.  No, she had just graduated from high school.  She told me that she was hoping to go to a Bible school in England soon.  Oh oh….that perked up my ears.  I asked her if it was Capernwray, which is where I attended Bible school.  She said, YES!!  This “YES” lead into a conversation about her former church, her former pastor and his wife, etc. etc.  We knew the same people and some of our best friends were from the same families.  We talked and talked.  As we did, I occasionally looked around at several tables that were now occupied.  I saw people watching us and listening to our conversation.  I don’t think she noticed, but I did.  At the end of our conversation I told her I would be praying for her, that God would bless her with attending Capernwray.  As she walked away I again noticed that there were a few who were still looking at me and talking among themselves.  I can’t say what they were talking about but I believe some of their discussions had to do with Jesus.

       We never know what Jesus has planned for us each day.  I surely didn’t.  I walked away feeling encouraged for having shared my faith and the joy of the Lord with a young 18 year old and anticipating what the Lord might do in the lives of those who were around us.  A double blessing!!