The Messenger

Written by Velda Short

God does show up in extraordinary ways just like you’ve heard the announcers say on this radio station.

My husband, Steve, and I went to Cades Cove near Townsend Tennessee one weekend just so we could ride our bikes around the 11 mile loop. They close off the road to vehicles on Saturday mornings and it is a great place for a bike ride. We made it there by 8:00 that morning, in order to miss the traffic, and we had a great ride. It was a beautiful, blue sky day and the weather couldn’t have been better.

When we got back to the parking lot to load up our bikes, there was a bike parked right behind our vehicle and a gentleman was standing talking with a lady. It seemed to be a pretty deep conversation so we just stood there for a while as not to interrupt them.  In a few minutes the man noticed us standing there apologized for his bike being parked behind our vehicle and began a conversation with us as well.  We exchanged a lot of information, such as our names, where we were from, etc. Interestingly enough, his name was Dave Grace. He was very friendly and seemed to ask us a lot of questions. I don’t remember exactly how he asked if we were Christians or not, but he did and we talked a lot about the Lord.  I thought maybe he was a minster, but he wasn’t. He asked what we did for work, how long we had been married, and how many children we have as well. He told us he was from Knoxville, TN and I was excited to share with him that we have a new station in that area, 106.7. During that time, his wife was sitting across the parking lot talking with another lady.  He suggested that when she was finished talking we go sit at a nearby picnic table, share our snacks and talk about our favorite person, the Lord. So, that’s what we did. It was a great time of sharing and fellowship. We found out that their coming to Cades Cove is a ministry for them. Twice a week they drive from Knoxville, ride their bikes around the loop, and then share the Lord with whomever they are led to. At the end of our conversation, Dave asked if he could pray before we left. When he prayed, one distinct thing I remember he said was ‘Lord, we ask that you be with Steve and Velda. We know they have issues, just as we do because they are a blended family. Help them to keep their focus on you. I was amazed!  After his prayer I said, “You did not realize this, but we just had a couple of the hardest days we’ve had with being a blended family.” Well, we hadn’t thought to ask them how long they had been married or about their children, and then we did and found out they had a very similar story except they had been married a lot longer than we have.  Sherry Grace’s husband had passed away just as Steve’s wife had, and Dave was divorced just as I was. They shared their struggles with being a blended family, but they were just as much an encouragement as well. It was truly a God ordained time. We were so thankful and encouraged that God used Dave and Sherry to encourage us in our marriage and family, tell us it was going to be okay and to keep our focus on Him.

We had had this trip planned for quite some time, but because of the conflict I was tempted just to stay home.  However, I had a sense inside of me to go ahead. After the encounter with our Messenger, I realized that had been the prompting of the Holy Spirit. God is intimate and involved in each of our lives just as He says He is in Psalm 139:1 – 18.