On August the 3rd, 1994, the Lord led me to send the following e-mail to my World Vision colleagues across Canada.
To: All Staff
From: Penny Olive
Date: August 3, 1994Several weeks ago, the Lord placed something upon my heart, and so I mentally dashed out in several directions on my own to do His Will. Finding no clear answer on my own, I gave it to Him and a week ago, He let me know that this was not something I was to do on my own, and that I was to reach out to you.
I did nothing. 3 days ago He literally dictated a letter to me in the still of the night. I did nothing.
My husband can testify to the fact that, not only do I sleep anywhere, anytime, anyhow, for what ever number of minutes I choose, but I can also fall asleep at the drop of a hat. And so last night as sleep evaded me and I uncharacteristically tossed and turned, I began to praise the Lord for my sleeplessness.
I rose from my bed to share the following with you...
I am blessed to work with Beverley. She has been working as secretary here for over 5 years now. Bev is a blond, blue-eyed, vivacious, good-natured, generous, and loving person. There is always a bubbling joy in her, a fruit of the Spirit, always there, just under the surface, and as the Lord works through her, it bubbles over and spills onto the person He is blessing.
To Jerry, her husband, she is Proverbs' wife of noble character.
For myself, I am blessed to have met Bev in that place in Christ as sisters, where we shall be for eternity. She is my "Timothy", who takes a genuine interest in my welfare, and looks out for the interest of Jesus Christ, and not for her own. I praise and thank the Lord daily for her presence in my life.
Bev and Jerry have two sons, Jordan age 6, and Timothy, age 9, who are a joy to be with. Already at their young, tender ages, both of these boys have a fierce love for the Lord, and a desire to know and to do His Will.
'Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.'
Proverbs 22:6Jerry and Bev are presently teaching the children about tithing.
About a month ago, Jordan, Bev's young son, was riding his bike on their residential street when a speeding car forced him to leap from his bike to safety. The woman ran over the bike with her car and did not stop. The children told Bev they did not recognize the car nor the driver.
Jordan was shaken up, but miraculously unhurt. His bike, however, was a write-off. Now, neither child has a bike that is usable. This was lifted up in prayer and left in the Lord's hands.
Bev and Jerry work hard to ensure that their two sons are always with either their father or their mother or with both parents. This has meant juggling work schedules, and great financial sacrifice. Today, I prayerfully bring before you this request. The Lord has impressed upon me the amount of $300.00 for two new bikes, which will be a first for both boys. $30.00 of this is to be tithed by the boys.
I now leave this work in the Lord's hands...He shall do the rest...please join me in lifting this work to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving that He has impressed this upon my heart and that He has enabled me to obey.
We are God's workmanship, opening with Him, an alabaster jar of expensive perfume such as was poured out on our Lord, to witness the words of Malachi to two young ambassadors in chains for the Lord.
'See if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room enough for it.'
Malachi 3:10Your sister in Christ, Penny Olive
The response amazes me to this day. God's timing is perfect, and He works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.
Two of the ladies who responded were retiring the same day they received this message.
One man received a pay back on a loan of $100.00, forgotten and long overdue. The person insisted on giving him an extra $50.00. The same day this message was received, the cheque was in the mail.
I shared with a friend of mine who was just beginning to walk with the Lord, and she immediately wanted to participate.
One wondrous woman sent $100.00 with her love, saying that she was happy to do her part in blessing this family with the Lord, and that she was the most blessed person on this earth.
Obedience throws open the floodgates of heaven.
In faith, Bev and Jerry bought the boys their bikes...teaching them about tithing, answered prayer, and obedience.
Within 7 days, we received $300.00 in blessings.
Excerpt taken from:
The Unquenchable Fire and Streams of Living Water, a journey in faith
Chapter 12. Alabaster Jars, The Miracle of the Bikes
Book 1 in the series
