The Right Place at the Right Time

Remember Red? Red is the German Shepherd found near death, delivered to a South Carolina shelter and destined to be euthanized per the order of the shelter director. The Lord told me to pray over him, led me to take him from the shelter, and within hours the Lord used Red to help save the life of a homeless man. Ever since, the Lord has used Red and me countless times to share about Him with friends and strangers alike.

I travel often with Red to all sorts of likely and unlikely places, including Cardinal Bank in Purcellville, VA, where he is treated like royalty by the entire staff, manager included. Often, we visit for treats rather than financial matters. Recently at the bank, and this has occurred innumerable times through the years, a woman was attracted to Red. A woman when Red was near death anointed him with oil, and you can laugh all you want, but I believe God has touched him in a special way that he and I would be used together to glorify His name.

In the bank that day, I told the woman the story in a nutshell, grateful yet again for the opportunity to share my passion for the Lord as I shared Red’s amazing testimony. I have told the story so many times that I cannot possibly recall the wide variety of responses, except to say many have cried at the glory of the Lord as He manifests in Red’s phenomenal story.

This time, the listener’s response was quite different from all the others I have heard through the years.

“Sounds like you were at the right place at the right time,” the woman said.

She continued by telling me I should write the story of Red – not realizing I have not only written the story, but have been called to write a book. My tears sprang forth as I received God’s confirmation for what He had reminded me less than an hour before – that He will hold me accountable for the book – and books, of course – He has called me to write.

But what truly stood out above all else in the brief conversation with this stranger was what she said about being at the right place at the right time.

If we yearn to serve the Lord, if we are passionate about sharing the Gospel with the world, then it is imperative we are at the right place at the right time.

But how? The answer, to me, based on years of experience, is really rather simple. We know the Lord, we spend time with the Lord, we listen to the Lord, we are sensitive to Him, and we obey what He tells us – even when it does not make sense. He will give us every instruction we need to be used by Him.

If we press into Him, if we are filled with His Holy Spirit, receive His love, love Him with all our hearts, study and apply His Word, and keep our hearts clean by confessing and repenting on a regular basis, we will not be able to help but end up at the right place at the right time.

For His Glory.