For what it is

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, Build Faith, deadly spiritual perspective, deception, Depression, end of life, eternal, Faith, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, Know God, knowing God, perspective, snow, snow conditions, snowing, spiritual adventure, spiritual deception, Spiritual Perspective, Spiritual picture Truths, walk with God, winterTags:, , , , , , , ,

Evil walked into the store. The wretched man was encased. I looked into his hollow eyes that darted everywhere but seeing only his own pain. He was giving all his food away. Like a madman desperate to give everything away. Now. It had to be now. I had to take it or he was putting it in the dumpsters across the street.

I asked his name and the foulest unworthy proclamations came out. Desperate. More desperate. I told him I knew of three freezers with some space as he threw huge bags of food in my trunk. I gave him a contact card almost forcing it upon him in case he needed someone to talk to or in case he wanted his food back later. He couldn’t get away fast enough. Like it’s owner that car is not long for this world.

“What have I opened myself up to?” I thought as I walked back into the store.

I think He wants to kill himself and he wouldn’t even tell me his name” I told my new friend. “Most people are very afraid of him and would be happy if he did” he told me. Then he told me more that I didn’t want to hear. All I said was “Jesus loves him too.”

I had just met the shell of a man, dead to life, a house for demons and not capable of saying his own name. He said he didn’t deserve a name “for what it is”…whatever that meant.

It’s hard to see well in the storm

As I drove home, I prayed “Lord, I failed. I said only a few words to a desperate man and only gave him my card. What good is that?” The answer came swiftly and almost audibly (which doesn’t happen often to me). “You know what I did with a couple fish and some barley loaves. I can do that with words in someone’s life”

I watched the snowstorm come from the safety of our warm loving home. I thought of the evil I had encountered. It’s like cancer, as the cells are there in all of us looking for a place to grow. It’s bigger than my love for mankind. It’s not bigger or stronger than God’s love that he can show through me.

At least these were my thoughts just before the phone rang. It was him.

Gary

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

86 thoughts on “For what it is”

    1. Thank You Teresa. I am glad some rays of hope came through. We sure do not get it in the news feed today. God’s love shown through our lives to each other really works. On the back of my contact card is an invitation to find God…it’s a start.

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  4. This is a very powerful story; you showed great compassion and understanding ~ “It’s bigger than my love for mankind. It’s not bigger or stronger than God’s love that he can show through me.”

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    1. Thanks for bringing that out Randall. The spiritual powers working here are way more powerful than any of us. I personally felt powerless and at the same time felt the power of God. A bit like standing firm in a tornado.

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  8. I went to prayer. It’s amazing what we don’t know, but God does. So glad you gave him your card, Gary. That’s a hand reaching out, a mustard seed of faith and sometimes that is all it takes. God’s blessings to both of you!

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  9. Gary, you have done what you could in that moment. That’s more than some of us do sometimes – it even happened with me that I was too shy to say what GOD had prompted me to say on the bus sometimes… when I wasn’t, the conversations that came out of it were mostly awesome, but not always…. However, we may leave an impact that’s much bigger than we think, because after all, it’s not (just) us speaking or taking action, but GOD.
    I know and I trust that HE has and will continue to use you to help this tormented man.
    GOD bless you for all you do, may HE reward you abundantly for your labour of love 💕 🙏🏻

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    1. I was definitely reminded of how inadequate I was as a person and yet ready to jump into someone’s life at the same time Eva. If good comes of it, it will be Gods good not mine.

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  10. It sounds like God put you on the front lines, or behind the front lines, of a raging spiritual battle, Gary. My mind immediately went to my own son, who struggles with mental health and addiction issues. The reality is, every desperate person we encounter, on the street or in a grocery store, is someone’s son or daughter. We may never know, this side of heaven, how God used our imperfect actions to put someone back on the right path. You wrestled with something here that is way more than Gary-sized, yet had the presence of mind to leave the man your card. You were right where you needed to be. I’m praying, too.

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    1. Thanks David. You know what can happen with mental health. People have labeled this guy “crazy” and he has become an untouchable I guess. I hope he reads the back of the card as well. He has my number so we will see. The grocery store friend is watching as well.

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  11. Gary, I just prayed for him and you. Your way of sharing this encounter hit straight to the heart. Yes, God is always right. You didn’t fail. Look what HE did by putting YOU on this path. I pray for discernment and actions that are divinely directed. And safety always. It reminds me of when Paul (a friend who used to deliver meals to addicted and the homeless with me in this nonprofit we volunteered with) and I knocked on a hotel door of a man who wanted to commit suicide, that very night. We never know who God will place in front of us at any given moment. Thank you for being you, Gary. Stay safe and blessings to you and your entire family. 🙏🏻

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    1. Thanks Karla. God really doesn’t consult or ask us when he uses us. I have asked God to give me a “heads up” next time, but he is silent on that issue of mine (I suspect shaking his head). Yes, God is always right and we just get to ride along on his business with the human race.

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      1. You’re welcome, Gary!
        I love your response. What a truth! I can see him shaking his head at me for multiple reasons, lol. Your last sentence hits straight to the heart. It needs to be a quote so I’ll make it one. “God is always right and we just get to ride along on his business with the human race.”-Gary Fultz.
        I’m so glad to be on God’s side and part of his family with you. Blessings and prayers to you all.

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    2. I had chills in the middle of this Nancy. I was not going to back down or leave a guy like this though. Giving him my contact card was hard for me I admit, but it could also be a “life line” for later for him. bottom line is he needs God. Who he has become is beyond his own power to change (as with all of us if we just admit it).

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    3. Amen to that, Gary. One of the most difficult things for me to learn was ‘to let go and let God’. No one, regardless of who they are, can make it without the guidance and loving forgiveness of our Father. I may be a lapsed Catholic (for personal reasons) but I will never lose my faith or Christian values. I talk often with God; it’s a really good feeling knowing I can. I will say a prayer for you and the man who called you. God will fill in the blanks.

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  13. Intriguing, but not your usual upbeat venue of post Gary.
    I’m certainly not the sharpest tack in the box, but am no stranger to encounters with ‘Evil’.

    “You know what I did with a couple fish and some barley loaves. I can do that with words in someone’s life” . . . those words you shared on your contact card God can use in ways we may never know to defeat evil and encourage others toward Him in ways we most likely will never know . . . I’ve been blessed to see this happen a few times from my contact cards left with a prayer on wilderness hikes that someone responded to.

    You’ve done your part, the rest is in his hands brother. Be blessed !

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    1. Thanks Fred. My upbeat has been flat for a couple weeks on the home front. I lost an uncle and his sister was put into hospice same day. I tend to get some reflection time in for awhile when life stuff happens close up. Thankyou for your encouragement.

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  14. When I don’t have the words for someone, the devil always wants me to feel like a fall short but God speaks loud and clear and reminds me that prayer is powerful and HE HEARS and works in that person’s life in ways that He knows are best. You stepped out in faith because you listened and gave your time. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I do sense the truth of what you say Sue. I also tend to second guess myself not realizing I am borderline on questioning God at the same time. I actually felt pushed within me (God’s spirit I believe) to make sure this man had my contact card.

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      1. I understand and can relate to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. He wants me to be so bold sometimes and I still doubt. I feel like I have missed opportunities and yet God in His grace and mercy helps me to grow from that. God gives me courage:)

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    1. Thanks Hefners. I make for a crusty friend sometimes. I hope he will accept some kind of relationship with someone, even if it’s me. I have been an accountability guy most of my life and can get a little hard on people. A lady told me one time…”I really like you and dislike you at the same time”….hard cases and rough edges meet??

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  16. Praying for this man, and also for you. God is with us at all times. And you are right, Jesus loves this man. Sometimes, when a person is in such a state, the fact that you actually reached out to him in kindness kind of jolted him. You got his attention. Matthew 19:23: “With God all things are possible.” God knows the answers; we must trust in His ways. Considering the state of the world of late, it is no wonder so many people feel they are on the fringe, and no one cares. It is a wonderful that you gave him your card and your number.

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    1. Some day we will find out how much more prayer meant then we think Linda. We all get to share in this mans journey this way. I had not thought of the jolting. That’s very probable. People who have a growing relationship with God in our world today will be put in the line of fire sooner or later. Hopefully armed with God’s love and let God do the judging.

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      1. Prayer is everything! God is always listening. No prayer is wasted. God uses everything in wondrous ways. God is good with the big picture, but He is meticulous with the details as well. That is why faith and trust are so very important. We may not see the big picture, but we may catch a glimmer of some of the details. He uses these details for His purposes. In that way, there are really no ‘little things’ at all. Everything matters. Everything counts. We must be on watch then for those glimmering moments, those places where we must be fully present with what we have on hand in that moment. You were there in that moment and that is what is important.

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    2. So true Linda. We have a God who is detailed to every atom in the universe and knows every thought made. I do not think I have the capacity to take in how important it is to be present and ready, or understand how much God guides and uses prayer.

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  17. It seems to me you were the right man in the right place at the right time with the right words. The Lord, our God, doesn’t make mistakes. And He is never off His guard. Your experience expressed here sounds just like the Almighty I have come to know. And from Him I am still learning. God Bless you, Gary!

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  18. Wow. My dad used to always say that he could let worries about situations like this go because he wasn’t working alone but in partnership with God. Good for you for giving him your card and doing your part of the partnership. Bless you and bless the man.

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  19. Luke 12.48 … For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
    God has given you much, Gary, and has been preparing you for such interventions in your life as this. You have been His faithful servant, and He therefore trusts you with His beloved. Godspeed to you both.

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  20. In the darkest of darkests, Jesus reaches down and plants a ray of hope. You were His heaven to earth connection in which His ray could shone through. You’ve given us a powerful reminder that we are each on call to be that ready vessel to shine Light. Thank you Gary!

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    1. So true Beth. I was reminded also of a table prepared for us in the presence of our enemies. I think our cup runs over and spills on the evil surrounding us. A cup of pure light spilling into the darkness is quite a visual picture of God’s power.

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    1. That’s a good prayer to pray. This is God’s arena of battle and power. It’s humbling and there is trepidation to be thrust into such a place in another’s life. The way cultures are going in the world, this is a warm up for all of us.

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    1. It’s a “this happened to me this week real life story Donna” It’s also far from any end I hope. I debated even writing about it but felt it may have value in encouraging believers to be ready for anything. We also nee to realize that the few words or deeds we do at the nudging of God’s spirit may seem small but he delights in using little things in big ways. He also does not feel the need to clue us in on the endings sometimes, that may come later. Story time at the banquet??

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  28. Thanks Gary. I just finished reading all the comments to date after reading your post previously. One of the great benefits for you sharing this story is the possibility and addition of so much spiritual help and the many prayers from your wonderful readers for the man you met which certainly seems to fit the bill of a divine encounter. I know what it is to be a blessed recipient of such much prayer, by people who never met or knew me, after I received my initial witness. It led to my salvation long ago. Let us hope and pray this man yields to the love he feels and is being shown to him by the Lord’s intervention through you, a faithful witness. Adding my prayers.

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    1. Thank You RJ. There really are a bunch of readers that are ready to pray, ready to add their wisdom for other readers and between all of us, make quite a difference in lives we have never met but some day will. Someday there will be a lot of “Hey whatever happened to…?” “Oh, he’s over there….”

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    1. Thanks Max. it’s not always easy to be willing to step up and take risks with total strangers. I guess we should be ready as much as possible to trust God and develop our character as well. Somewhere, somebody is hoping their son or dad will have someone help.

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    1. I had not thought of that Cindy. I have actually brought up the idea for others to carry such a contact card in our church. I do not know that any do that. It’s a good idea to think through for total strangers to rea the back of your card… “what few words could make a difference in someone’s life?” and put those few words on the back of a card with your contact and blog info on the front.

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  32. So often we downplay our impact, unable to see beyond what’s on the surface…maybe for some good reason we’ll never understand this side of heaven. But in the face of evil there’s also the spiritual realm of things we can’t see. I hope we get to hear more of this story. 😊

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    1. So true Stephanie. I am hoping the story gets more lines on my end and praying on his end. Side note: The store owner (my new friend) and I have had some good talks since…a story in the making as well.

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    1. Thank You Nancy. I believe you are right. I have had a mental tussle about what else could I have done without pushing him over the edge. The answer is “I felt like almost pushed him over the edge as it was”. That being said, he may need to go over the edge, whatever that means. Some need to be on their back in a pit totally helpless before they look up.

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  35. Pingback: Be Prepared- Might Still Need My Gloves – Jesusluvsall's Blog

  36. Wow! What a story! And he called you? I’m blessed by the grace you displayed and the interest you showed in this man. Your words “Somewhere, somebody is hoping their son or dad will have someone help.” I have family that has been so lost in addictions and homelessness, and I’ve prayed for someone to help them, never really knowing how God would work and who “someone” would be. God is so faithful, and you were willing to be used by Him. Bless you for being a someone for this man and those who love him.

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    1. I know what you mean Stacy. I guess when God wants our attention he can get it in so many ways. I once heard someone say “check up continually on your listening ability and then check in with your response-ability” I hope I never need hearing aids with God…not sure what that would look like.

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      1. He certainly can! One of the things that I love about reading blogs is how intimately I can feel the experiences people share even if I haven’t experienced that exact situation myself.

        I can identify when I needed hearing aids with God…it wasn’t a pretty time of my life. Thank Yahweh for MERCY and GRACE.

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