"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jer 33:3

Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day?

I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago. At the time I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with my wife and children. We turned off the highway for a rest and refreshment stop. My wife Barbara and children went into the restaurant. I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so waved them off ahead saying I'd join them later. I bought a soft drink, and as I walked toward a Dairy Queen, feelings of self-pity enshrouded my mind. I loved the Lord and my ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was empty.

Suddenly the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby jarred me out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone?

Noise form the traffic flowing through the busy intersection must have drowned out the sound because the service station attendant continued looking after his customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing.

"Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?" I muttered. I began reasoning. It may be important. What if it's an emergency? Curiosity overcame my indifference. I stepped inside the booth and picked up the phone. "Hello," I said casually and took a big sip of my drink. The operator said:" Long distance call for Ken Gaub."

My eyes widened, and I almost choked on a chunk of ice. Swallowing hard, I said, "You're crazy!" Then realizing I shouldn't speak to an operator like that, I added, "This can't be! I was walking down the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was ringing... "Is Ken Gaub there?" the operator interrupted, "I have a long distance call for him."

It took a moment to gain control of my babbling, but I finally replied, "Yes, he is here." Searching for a possible explanation, I wondered if I could possibly be on Candid Camera! Still shaken, perplexed, I asked, "How in the world did you reach me here? I was walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and I just answered it on chance. You can't mean me."

"Well," the operator asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?" "Yes, I am Ken Gaub," I said, finally convinced by the tone of her voice that the call was real. Then I heard another voice say, "Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub."

I listened dumbfounded to a strange voice identify herself. "I'm Millie from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't know me, Mr. Gaub, but I'm desperate. Please help me."

"What can I do for you?"

She began weeping. Finally she regained control and continued. "I was about to commit suicide, had just finished writing a note, when I began to pray and tell God I really didn't want to do this. Then I suddenly remembered seeing you on television and thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me. I knew that was impossible because I didn't know how to reach you, I didn't know anyone who could help me find you. Then some numbers came to my mind, and I scribbled them down."

At this point she began weeping again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help her. She continued, "I looked at the numbers and thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and He has given me Ken's phone number?' I decided to try calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you. Are you in your office in California?" I replied, "Lady, I don't have an office in California. My office is in Yakima, Washington." A little surprised, she asked, "Oh really, then where are you?" "Don't you know?" I responded. "You made the call." She explained, "But I don't even know what area I'm calling. I just dialed the number that I had on this paper." "Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!" "Really?" she exclaimed. "Well, what are you doing there?" I kidded her gently, "Well, I'm answering the phone. It was ringing as I walked by, so I answered it."

Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, I began to counsel the woman. As she told me of her despair and frustration, the presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and met the One who would lead her out of her situation into a new life.

I walked away from that telephone booth with an electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's concern for each of His children. What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time.

Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering if they would believe my story. Maybe I better not tell this, I thought, but I couldn't contain it. "Barb, you won't believe this! God knows where I am!"

God also knows where you are. Place yourself in His hands and concentrate on knowing His will for your life. He will never forsake or forget you.

(By Ken Gaub - Yakima, Washington)

I was speaking at a church in the new area where our ministry has moved, and in the process, I was introducing some of our staff and our family. I started with my wife - after all, none of the children would have been possible without her. And then I was starting to introduce our daughter and son-in-law and our family treasure, 18-month old grandson Jordan. I saw them standing at the back of the church. Now, while I was talking about them, I suddenly noticed a little head bobbing along past the tops of the pews, and I thought I recognized those curls.

It quickly became apparent to me - and then to everyone in the church - that little Jordan was on his way to where his grandfather was. Oh, that big choir up in front...they didn't phase him. All those big people in the pews...they didn't phase him. His father's pursuit didn't phase him. He marched up that aisle like a man on a mission . . . climbed laboriously up the three steps to the platform . . . and he walked right up to the pulpit. I picked him up, whispered that I love him, and he was satisfied. Then - and only then - was he willing to go with his Daddy back to where they were. Later my daughter said, "Dad, from the time he heard your voice, there was no stopping him. Getting to that voice was all that mattered!"

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about STRAIGHT FOR THAT VOICE.

Now, there were lots of people in that sanctuary right then - but only one as far as Jordan was concerned. He heard my voice - and he was totally focused on being where I was. That's how I want to be with the Lord I say I'm following. It's how He wants all of us to be.

Jesus models this magnificent obsession in our word for today from the Word of God in John 8:28-29. He says, "...I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me . . . the One who sent Me is with Me . . . for I always do what pleases Him." See, there was just one voice that mattered to Jesus, one person's approval - His Father's. There was never a decision about "which voice should I listen to? Who should I make happy?" The only question was - "What's my Father saying? What does my Father want?" That settled it.

The Apostle Paul was a man who went straight for one voice - and He showed us the way to simplify and clarify thousands of daily choices we make. In Galatians 1:10, Paul says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?" Paul's saying, "There's a lot of people in this room - but only one Voice I care about." Listen to his bottom line: "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." He knew it was a choice - please Jesus or please people. It still is a choice.

I saw in my grandson that morning in church a determination to respond to one voice and only one. He walked by all kinds of people . . . he walked toward things that otherwise would have probably intimidated him - because he wanted to be wherever that Voice was. That is a beautiful picture of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ . . . to really be a follower of Jesus. All that matters to you is what He's saying . . . where He's going . . . what will make Him happy. Once you know that, you know what to do, and you know where to go.

Has someone else's voice become more important to you than your Savior's voice? Has someone else's approval crowded out His? Has the crowd distracted you or kept you from being where His Voice is? Remember what your Shepherd said: "My sheep listen to My voice . . . and they follow Me" (John 10:27).

Sound like the type of relationship you've been looking for? Find out more about how this relationship with God can be Yours for Life! If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ, and you'd like to make sure, check out YOURS FOR LIFE at: http://www.hutchcra ft.com/yours/

[Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc. Permission to reproduce this material is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, will not be sold, and will be distributed for the sole purpose of expanding the Gospel.]