Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to
pass." Psalms 37:3-5
It’s difficult to know where to
start with this story. But I want to share it with you for encouragement. A year and a half ago my wife died unexpectedly.
She was, in everyone’s mind, a picture of health. It has been the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with.
Really, it has been indescribable pain and yet God’s grace has been very rich and I have found comfort from His Holy
Spirit, His ministering angels and great friends.
I am not writing to complain for I am
blessed. Then 6 months ago I experienced a ruptured appendix...I was in the hospital for 10-days. My biggest concern was someone
to take care of my bulldog Dolly, who had been my faithful companion for 11-years. She was well-cared for...so, why am I telling
you this?
I knew the time would come when she would
die and inwardly this was very heavy in my heart. I didn’t talk to anyone about it, but it was there. Less than six
weeks after the surgery I had a deliverance seminar in Houston that would include five services. The church was a Nigerian
Church pastored by, my now good friend Dave Arogbonlo. There were people at the seminar that had come from various parts of
the country. One family of nine had travelled from California and were staying in the church parking lot in a travel trailer.
I did not know this until the close of the final service on Sunday evening.
Sometimes God "Singles You Out for A Blessing."
Many of our team members were with me for this seminar, I’m glad because they got to participate in this "miracle" as
well. They are all witnesses.
After the last service Pastor Dave asked
if I go into the Church lobby and sign books for people. I was glad to do this. The first lady who came up to me was from
the California family. The mother of seven children. I actually found out they were from Montana but drove from a meeting
at Bethel Church in California to attend our seminar. Her name is Dari. She handed me a scroll with a ribbon around it, a
big smile on her face. I was a little puzzled at first. "Open it." She said. I opened it and there was a picture of a bulldog
puppy and this letter…
"Dear Don We cannot fully express into
words how your ministry has changed our lives. God has used you to be a doer of the Word and show people how to receive their
freedom. God spoke to my wife in a vision last night about purchasing a bulldog for you. She will be healing to your heart
and will bring joy and comfort to you...she asked for the Lord’s angels to minister for you, for your grief to be lifted
and for healing of a broken heart…"Eleanor (puppy) is from truly exceptional World Class Euopean English Bulldog bloodlines...we
have made arrangements for her to be driven to an address of your choice...with love, John, Dari and kids."
Pictures of Ellie were included in the
scroll. A $2,000.00 bulldog bred near Kansas City, purchased via the internet. I was overwhelmed. ONLY God knew my heart...surely
not this lady visitor. Tears filled my eyes, but I still didn’t know how special this was.
They gave me a phone number and e-mail
address so I could contact them when I was ready for the delivery. The next morning our ministry team went back to the Dallas-Ft
Worth area. I didn’t know where they went. As I thought about it, I thanked God and in a couple of days I called them.
They didn’t know where I lived and I didn’t know where they were. I talked with John, he told me they thought
I lived in North Texas and they had rented a space at a mobile home park until the transaction took place. He told me that
Eleanor was being driven to them and they would transfer her to me on Monday.
I looked up the address of the trailer
park and found it was less than a mile from where I had an appointment that Monday evening! Amazing. I had never been to this
town some 40 miles from my home...Eleanor was to be delivered to them about 5:30, I had an appointment there at 7:00...wow.
I finished my meeting and literally drove right around the corner to pick up "Ellie" Team members Fred and Nesta Partin drove
me there, they were familiar with the location. They had also been at the meeting with me in Houston.
This was becoming like a chapter right out of the Bible...about me. God
and I knew...even if no one else did! They presented me the puppy and we talked...I asked "Where will you go from here?" John,
the husband, said, "That all depends on you, right now you are our assignment!"
