By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory
Ken Speakman
I Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to “in everything give thanks.” To give thanks when you don’t feel like it is not hypocrisy; it’s obedience. Does this mean even when my flight is cancelled, my vacation has been interrupted, or some difficulty comes my way? Yes it does. God often has something else, or something better for you.
In January 2010, I was the guest speaker at the Michigan Gideon Mid-Winter Conference in East Lansing. It was a weekend conference and I was scheduled to leave very early on Sunday morning.
On my return flight to Nashville, bad weather caused me to miss my connecting flight in Detroit. “Lord, why is this happening to me,” I asked? “You know how I want to get home!” I would now spend Sunday in the Detroit airport. As I stood at the counter and saw my plane still at the gate but without me on it, I thought, “I don’t like this Lord; it’s not fair!”
The gate agent returned and booked me on a 4:10 pm flight. Sitting in the gate area still displeased with the Lord, I heard a lady behind me say she and her husband were going to Nashville to the Veteran’s Hospital. He would have a stem cell transplant, and would be there three months.
It was then the Holy Spirit revealed to me why I missed the flight. I got up, walked to this couple, and said, “Did I hear you were going to Nashville for three months?” “Yes, my husband is very ill with cancer and we will be at the hospital for three months. We have never been there. We are Ron and Linda from Pennsylvania.” I told them my name and that it was their fault I missed my connection. “I am the one God has assigned to look after you while you are in Nashville.” Linda was a Mormon and Ron had no spiritual faith.
To make a wonderful story short, my wife Reba and I ministered to them during their three-month stay. We took them to dinner, had them in our home, and shared Jesus Christ with them. Both were wonderfully saved when they left Nashville. Linda often called to give me a report on Ron’s progress. One day the sad call came that God had called Ron home.
As a child of God you do not have to beg the Holy Spirit to fill you; He is eager to do so. He then will perform His amazing ministry through you. Among them: He inspires, reminds, and enables you to show His love and grace to others.
Thank you Lord Jesus for allowing me to miss that flight.
