These stories are used with permission from Signs Publishing Company. More of these stories can be found in these collections: Ordinary People—Extraordinary God, Ordinary People—Faithful God, and Ordinary People—Generous God

Inconvenient little things

It was one of those inconvenient little things, like waiting in line at the bank or losing your keys. Those inconvenient little things can jeopardise your whole day's schedule--and my 11.30 appointment was one of those little things.

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The gardenia bush

I am sitting today on my sunny patio looking at a gardenia bush growing in a pot. I bought it yesterday from a nearby nursery.

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Bounced blessings

For most of my working life I've held only part-time jobs--by choice. The few times I took on full-time employment, my limited spare time was taken up by the mundane chores that keep a house and home running.

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Go back to Bethel

I stop and look out the window at the sunshine, surprised I hadn't noticed it before. I feel the warmth within.

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And I feel loved

I struggle to concentrate. My sweat blends with my tears as I reach down to the bottom of my soul in search of my last bit of energy.

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More than we ask for

I met my husband when I was at a low point in my life. My career was hanging in the air, socially I felt inept and spiritually--well, that part of my life was nonexistent.

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Prepared to answer

As a medical student, I was invited to an annual conference for respiratory physicians to share the results of some research I had conducted. On one of the evenings we were treated to a splendid meal in the resort's restaurant.

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Visiting the AIDS hospice

In 1999, I was a student at Mission College, Thailand. I didn't know why God had sent me there--but I soon found out.

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God's chocolates

I was feeling more than a bit frazzled as I shoved open our tattered screen door. I was hurrying to get the kids in the car and to church on time.

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Hometown missionary

A few years ago, a young lad was taken into custody in an outback-Australian town. After being processed and interviewed, and having been refused bail, he was locked in the cells for the night.

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