By Kevin Dooley

I am continually amazed at how God brings people into our lives when He knows that our head and soul are straight – and when they’re not, it’s totally different. Well, I had an amazing time recently at a CBMC Key Man dinner. The purpose of the meeting was just to help me see the benefits of spending time on people’s lives and helping them to change – to see that Christ is actually in charge of our lives versus ‘me’ always trying to get to the next thing or trying to take control. We had amazing conversation! One man told his story, that while he was a bank president, he was charged with a felony … but how his life has changed since that point and that he has now delivered his life over to Christ. Another man, 72 years old, shared that retirement was not his goal; he is slowly closing down his law practice to just spend time with guys and pursue full-time ministry with CBMC. I spoke to the group about the four men that I have spent time with and how I’ve seen their lives changed – it was such a touching moment to see Kristian, Marc, Kevin and Bill, right there with me that evening – knowing they each have had their lives impacted in a major way. I could just feel God’s presence that night and it was so wonderful! After the meeting, I had a great drive home, a wonderful conversation with my wife – it all added up to a very powerful evening.

Then the ironic twist – the next day someone cancelled a meeting on me and I got stood up on an appointment. I became very frustrated because business hadn’t been going as well as I would like and now this. I reached out and asked God to show me why He wanted these appointments closed. I then went to work out, to relieve some of the frustration. In the midst of working out, I saw one of my clients who came and told me he had a referral for me. Okay, I thought, this was the reason for the change of plans; so that I could be given this referral. But then … I couldn’t believe it … I saw another man familiar to me – a man who I had met for the first time the night before at the dinner – the son of the 72 year old attorney. I approached him and as we talked, he began to cry about all the tough things he was going through. He had been thinking about giving me a call today, just to get together and talk. Now here we were at the same place, at the same time – we both were emotionally stirred at how we met up. I have been going to this gym for 3 years and have never before run into him – but today! Next to impossible? Well, nothing is impossible with God. We are going to begin meeting together and form a friendship.

Unbelievable … but God works in the most mysterious ways when your soul is open to Him, when your soul is available, and when you have chosen to stop trying to do it on your own…such a wonderful thing!