by: Denny

This blog post is the last in a series of four. To get the most benefit from it I highly suggest you scoll down and read the three previous posts in this order: Just Do What He Tells You, Follow The Leader, Though None Go With Me

December 9, 1986: I had left Rogers, Ark. with a load of Tyson frozen chicken products that morning. I had five drops in Chicago then on to Racine, WI with a final in Stevens Point. It was a gloomy rainy day which didn’t help that I was already feeling down and discouraged. The divorce had been finalized three weeks earlier, and I was missing my son. She hadn’t allowed me to see or talk to him for months. I pulled into a truck stop off I-44 in Missouri to check the temperature on the load and grab a bite to eat. As usual I read my Bible while eating. When I opened it Jeremiah 29:11 caught my attention. It reads: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” That was exactly what I needed to hear at that point in my life. God had spoken to me through His Word, so I simply wrote 12-9-86 in the margin next to that verse. There are times when God will answer prayers immediately with specific instructions to follow as I mentioned in two previous blog posts. Then there are other times when you wait for months or years to see His plan unfold and come to pass. In the meantime, keep serving Him and allow Him to fit all the pieces together. Don’t get ahead of God by trying to make something happen on your own. For the next seven years my faith grew as He continued to do great things too numerous to mention. In 1991 I took a job driving for Ruan Transport hauling bulk cement out of the two cement plants in Mason City to locations in IA, MN, SD, ND, WI, and NB. I had driven for them previously for four years in the late 1970’s, and they hired me on the spot. This allowed me to be home every day. I became more involved in my church, began to preach, was inspired to write many poems, plays, and participated in many short-term mission trips to Mexico.

March 16,1993: Demand for cement slows down in the winter months, and because I was low on the seniority list, I got laid off from December until April. I had established a friendship with the missionary to Mexico (Sam) that my church supported. I had decided that I would spend one whole month working with him to which he replied, “Come on down!” He knew my desire was to find a Godly wife and jokingly said he could introduce me to several women. I headed for his house near San Antonio where we met and then proceeded to the border. He explained that he had a friend, Jake, on the Texas side where we would be staying and using as a base, and he had a single daughter named Lucy. We arrived at their place on Friday afternoon. Introductions were made and the four of us sat around and talked for a while, then Sam and I unloaded our stuff into the spare bedroom. Afterward we crossed the border and visited some of Sam’s contacts to set up our agenda. It was late at night when we returned. Lucy and I started sharing our life experiences. She had recently left Mexico having lived there for ten years as a self-supporting missionary. Sam and Jake left us alone to talk and it seemed like time stood still, but we suddenly realized it was 5AM. I got a few hours’ sleep and after Lucy cooked a fabulous breakfast, Sam and I spent the entire day in Reynosa, Mexico. Once again it was late when we returned, and Lucy and I talked until 1AM. The next day was Sunday, and the plan was to go to church. We met up with some other missionaries and we all sat together. Lucy was standing next to me, and during the singing with my eyes closed, I reached for her hand. She grabbed mine and immediately the Lord said, “Do you know you’re holding your wife’s hand.” Tears began to flow down my face. Little did I know until later that the minute she met me on Friday the Lord told her, “There’s your husband.” She had asked the Lord, “But how can I marry a man I just met and don’t love?” His reply was, “When you touch you will feel the love.”, and we certainly did! Later after lunch we compared notes and realized God had been orchestrating the details for years to establish His plan for both of us. I proposed, and she said yes. Her father was outside and busy getting the garbage together for pickup with his back to us when we returned. I remarked, “Pretty busy huh Jake.” Without turning around he said Yaa. “Well, I guess you’re too busy to ask you if I can marry Lucy.” Previously Lucy had shared with him what the Lord had told her concerning me, but she instructed him to not say a word and see what God would do. It was a special moment when he said yes, tears flowed, and we had a group hug. Sam wasn’t really upset when I told him the missions work with him was canceled. Lucy and I were married 40 days later, and our 29^th anniversary will be May 1^st. I had to leave out many more details due to space about the miraculous way God brought us together. I can’t remember exactly when it happened or when I realized it, but as I was reading the book of Jeremiah one day, I came across the date 12-9-86 written in the margin, and I remembered the promise God spoke to me years earlier. It is no coincidence that Lucy’s birthday is December 9^th, and she grew up and was living in Springfield, MO not far from the truck stop at the time God spoke His promise to me. God truly does speak to people today!

It is my hope that by sharing my personal experiences with the Living God someone will be stirred to believing in Him. He is not far away from anyone if you look for Him in everyday life events. I’m not some great evangelist, preacher, or teacher with a degree. I’m just an old truck driver who had a life changing encounter with Jesus one day 38 years ago in Turlock, CA. while sitting in my truck. I’ve had some wonderful pastors, especially Jim and Sandi Nunes, who though they had no children treat me as a son. They taught me much firsthand, things you don’t learn in a Bible school, just as my dad had taught me firsthand how to drive a truck. I don’t have a huge group of followers with these blogs posts, but if only one person gives their life to Jesus Christ it was worth my time and effort.

Another reason I write is to keep alive the memories in my mind, because as I get older in life, I don’t want to forget what God has done for me. I don’t get to see my grandkids much and I may not be around to see them become adults. Maybe someday when they’re older and read these blogs, it will give them an insight to the kind of man their grandpa was. Like King David I was not without my faults and failures, but my heart was for God and my desire was to please Him and live according to His Word. I want to pass on my heritage and legacy to them in hopes they will all come to faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him. My advice to them would be to give Jesus Christ first place in their lives. Seek Him and He will guide you into all truth because there are many who live by their own truths based on their feelings. Don’t be in a hurry to find a husband or wife but pray and ask the Lord to bring that person into your life. Make absolutely sure they are the one and your value systems and beliefs line up with Biblical truth.

I think I may post some of my poems in future blogs. Please like, share, comment, or subscribe if you are encouraged by these writings.