The smallest detail of ours is important to The Lord

[Lou Newton]

I was getting my car ready for the 700 mile trip to Quincy, Illinois to visit Isaac and Leah and I needed new windshield wipers. So I went to Walmart to buy them. I bought a regular one for the passenger side and a deluxe one for the drivers side. I got the passenger side on with no problem. But when I tried to install the drivers side a small clip flew off and dropped into the leaves. I could not find it no matter how long I looked.

Either evil Lou or the Devil said, you can just return it and get a new one. I immediately thought, if I just return it someone else will buy it and it will be broken. I should do unto others as I want others to do unto me. So I told The Lord I would go back and just buy another one.

I did so and as I was checking out I mentioned what had happened to the cashier. He said, no, do not pay for this one, go back and get the broken one and take it to customer service. They will give you a new one for this broken one.

I went to my car and got the broken one and took them both to customer service. I told the man the truth as complete as I was able. He looked in the box and compared the broken one with the new one. He said, These two are not the same. I think someone brought this back before, broken. I said again, I was not sure if I broke it or it was already broke. He insisted that he exchange the broken one for the new one free.

As I was driving out of the parking lot, The Lord smiled down upon me. It was only $18, but it was not the money that was important.

I am selfish and not honest and I am an evil man. But The Lord took care of this whole situation when I handed it over to Him. The Lord is able to conform even evil men to His image. BUT surely I am not able to do this.

It was not the $18 that The Lord saved me. It was the fact that He helped me to do the right thing. Even more, it was the fact that even little things pertaining to us are important to The Lord because we are important to Him.

Surely Jesus cares for us. What else could matter.

[Steve Hollander]

Wonderful testimony Lou. I am often tempted to do exactly what you went through. At times I was strong and did what was right. But there has been many times I did not do what was right. I hope I am able to follow your example brother and always choose righteousness over my greed and lust. But I am a very sinful man. Lord Jesus please help me to honor You and not take Your name in vain but rather wear it truthfully to Your glory and blessings . Amen .

[Lou Newton]

Thanks for the reply Steve.

I wish I could say my first thought was that I did not want to grieve The Lord, but it was not. My first thought after the temptation to return it was that I did not want to cause someone else to buy this broken item. Then I thought it does not pay to disobey the Lord. Disobedience brings a cost. I did not want to pay that cost. The fear of the Lord is spoke about very often, in the scriptures, and that is what often causes us to do the right thing.

BUT look how The Lord cares about our actions, OR cares about our souls. A God that loved us less could just say, do whatever you want, I will take four times from you later. But The Lord cares so much that we are conformed to His image. He wants us to enjoy the reward of being like Him.

I was just really struck by how much He cares for us. The Lord wants us to do right, NOT for His benefit, but for our benefit.

It helps me to understand by thinking how I care that my children be righteous. It is NOT for my benefit, that does not even enter my mind when I think of their actions. I want them to be righteous for their benefit. I want the very best for them.

The Lord Jesus wants the very best for us.

[Baruch]

This blessed me, Lou and Steve. Thank you. Perhaps we do not often think of this: it is an example of sowing to the spirit. Every such thing, big or small.

[The Knight]

This was a blessing to read. Thanks, Lou.

[Lou Newton]

This was a blessing to read. Thanks, Lou.

Thanks for the reply Karl. It is good to hear from you.

[Lou Newton]

I just got back home at 9 PM tonight. I am very thankful for the Lord's protection and blessings during my trip.

[Steve Hollander]

Glad to hear it . I have been praying for you .

[glen smith]

Mystery of the coin:

Look at one side.

Of even the common sparrow He is aware - all of them. Can you comprehend such awareness. I cannot. This is why all the symbolic images of the LORD have multiple eyes. Having walked with the LORD long enough to comprehend that there are not any coincidences in my life or yours. Everything serves the purpose of the LORD - not our purpose but His.

Flip the coin over.

We are expendable. The purpose of the LORD does not depend on us.
Relative to the success of the LORD's plan we are unimportant.
The plan of the LORD will bear fruit through us or someone else.
Only Christ was indispensable - not Peter, John, or Paul.
Otherwise, the apostles would now be over two thousand years old.

Now put the coin in the treasury of the LORD.

Here the angels sing of the LORD's love towards us.

Now that's mystery.

We are both in his hand and completely dispensable (or not a determinant factor) for His plan.
Yet . . . we are cherished for His sake.

Bottom line:

The divine revelation as recorded in the Bible is about who the the LORD is.
The divine revelation as recorded in the Bible is not about us but is for us.
This fact must be illuminated to us before we can properly understand the Bible.

[Lou Newton]

Mystery of the coin:

Look at one side.

Of even the common sparrow he is aware - all of them. Can you comprehend such awareness. I cannot. This is why all the symbolic images of the LORD have multiple eyes. Having walked with the LORD long enough to comprehend that there are not any coincidences in my life or yours. Everything serves the purpose of the LORD - not mine but His.

Flip the coin over.

I am expendable. The purpose of the LORD does not depend on me. Relative to the success of the LORD's plan I am unimportant.
The plan of the LORD will bear fruit through me or someone else. Only Christ was indispensable - not Peter, John, or Paul. Otherwise, they would now be over two thousand years old.

Now put the coin in the treasury of the LORD.

Here the angels sing of the LORD's love towards you.

Now that's mystery. I am both in his hand and completely dispensable (or not a determinant factor) for His plan.
Yet . . . I am cherished for His sake.

Bottom line: The divine revelation as recorded in the Bible is about who the the LORD is and is not about us.
This fact must be illuminated to us before we can properly understand the Bible.

Outstanding comment Glen, thanks.

[Steve Hollander]

Thank you Glen, I agree with Lou.

[glen smith]

I always . . . always . . . always . . . excitedly pick up the found penny off the ground. I put on my readers and find where it reads, "In God we trust." Then, I thank the LORD for having an angel or messenger drop it there. The penny is not a coincidence or happenstance any more than the sparrow falling to the ground escapes our Father's notice. A penny on the ground does not escape our Father's notice. The found penny is a very little thing of no importance to the world but so is the sparrow falling to the ground. When I find a penny, the LORD must smile at His little reminder that He watches over me. I flip the penny over to the other side to see that the thing the LORD does in watching over me is all about His purpose. This keeps me humble. When I put the penny in my pocket I hear the angels sing of the LORD's love towards me and you and towards that person to whom I shall presently proclaim the gospel.

"A found penny" satan said, "is just a happenstance."

Not so according to the law of the USA.
Locating "The God we trust" on a coin" is possible because of the law.

"In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 and has appeared on paper currency since 1957. A law passed in a Joint Resolution by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by President Dwight Eisenhower on July 30, 1956 declared IN GOD WE TRUST must appear on American currency.

Pick up the found coin.
Like everything else in our relationship to the LORD, it is what you make of it!
The LORD watches and waits . . for you.

[Lou Newton]

I always . . . always . . . always . . . excitedly pick up the found penny off the ground. I put on my readers and find where it reads, "In God we trust." Then, I thank the LORD for having an angel or messenger drop it there. The penny is not a coincidence or happenstance any more than the sparrow falling to the ground escapes our Father's notice. A penny on the ground does not escape our Father's notice. The found penny is a very little thing of no importance to the world but so is the sparrow falling to the ground. When I find a penny, the LORD must smile at His little reminder that He watches over me. I flip the penny over to the other side to see that the thing the LORD does in watching over me is all about His purpose. This keeps me humble. When I put the penny in my pocket I hear the angels sing of the LORD's love towards me and you and towards that person to whom I shall presently proclaim the gospel.

"A found penny" satan said, "is just a happenstance."

Not so according to the law of the USA.
Locating "The God we trust" on a coin" is possible because of the law.

"In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 and has appeared on paper currency since 1957. A law passed in a Joint Resolution by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by President Dwight Eisenhower on July 30, 1956 declared IN GOD WE TRUST must appear on American currency.

Pick up the found coin.
Like everything else in our relationship to the LORD, it is what you make of it!
The LORD watches and waits . . for you.

Thanks Glen, very good post.