A Macedonian Call

Though my plans were already fixed, I was always flexible as the Lord leads. One night I received a surprise call from a sister stating desperately her concern about her family condition whose husband is a brother, perhaps, more than an acquaintance of mine. In fact, a very dear brother in the Lord and a very close friend of mine. Gauging the urgency and need of the call, I prayed over and considered it before the Lord how to render some shepherding, as much as the Lord allows. But left it to the Lord for His confirmation. 

Surprisingly the next day morning the Lord confirmed the call as I was reading the "Macedonian call" in Acts 16, and the lady saved in the obedience of that call was "Lydia". So was also the sister who called me. When I received this solid confirmation from the Lord, I changed my plan and made a plan to visit them for fellowship, prayer and shepherding. Praying and trusting the Lord to speak His timely word for the full recovery of my brother's family for His testimony.

Acts 16:

9 And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: A certain man, a Macedonian, was standing and entreating him and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple-dyed goods from the city of Thyatira who worshipped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to give heed to the things being spoken by Paul.

As planned, I did visit them, all the while, looking to the Lord for His feeling, speaking and leading. As and when I got the opportunity I would minister something of Christ from the word and experiences to them, mostly related to God-man living and the need to be filled with the word and the Spirit; more practically of spending time together as couple to pray and fellowship. Though my experiences were trivial, still I would testify to them and shepherded them. At times, specific and other times generic; here a little, there a little. For about two days and nights I mingled with them, blend with them and ministered to them. We also delved at large on a particular matter of matrimonial concern. Though being a naive myself, still with whatever I have learned and understood, I have faithfully ministered, using some Bible verses with readings from the ministry books. All the time ending in prayer, looking to the Lord for His grace.

The Lord knew how much time I needed to spend with them and He arranged it accordingly. He even had to cancel an appointment with my cousin brother, and even had to delay my return flight ticket at least by an hour, so that I can spent extra one hour in fellowship and prayer before I left. In fact, the last one hour turned out to be the climax of my two days stay there. I enjoyed a lot, I believe, they too.

In factual term, it was indeed a "Macedonian Call." The Lord indeed opened up the heart of a sister and her household! May the Lord fully restore and recover this precious family for His testimony in that city!