There Might Be Something Out There  

Pocket Full of Quarters Journey 2015
There Might Be Something Out There



Written In:
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady


The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

"Peek-a-boo." We all turned around. There kneeling at the stroller was a woman playing peek-a-boo with the baby of the family I had just met. The woman had long grey hair and the rugged look of someone who spends most of her life outdoors. The baby was delighted as he put his hands to his eyes and played back.

I already knew the family were Christians and we had been talking about how to effectively have Gospel Conversations. I looked down at the new arrival and saw she was carrying a portable dog's water bowl filled with water.

"Where's your dog?" I asked.

"Not here!" she said angrily as she stood up. "I bring water here every day because people walk around with their dogs in the hot sun and don't bother to give them water. I can't believe people treat their dogs that way!"

I was glad I'd left Shiloh back where I was staying. Otherwise, this would have been a very short conversation.

"I'm a dog person too," I said. "Do you live close to here?" She did.

While the family watched, I began a Gospel conversation. I discovered that Meg cared as much about the earth as she did about dogs. She had worked as a volunteer with foster children teaching them about taking care of the planet. She did not go to church and didn't believe there was a God. She had no idea what happened in the afterlife. I spoke the life changing Gospel scriptures to her that included the fact that we've all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and that the wages of sin was death. I quoted that the gift of God was eternal life and that all who call on the name of Jesus would be saved. I invited her to meet Jesus. I wasn't surprised when she flatly refused.

"You said you worked with foster children," I said, changing the subject. "My husband and I have been foster parents. Do you have children?"

"I couldn't have children," she said sadly. "We adopted two older children."

"I could only have 1 child," I told her. "Two of my 3 children were adopted. I adopted one of them as a 6 year old." We spent a few minutes bonding over the trials of adopting older children.

"I was a foster child," she said. "I was in 7 different homes. It was horrible. I was abused. That's why I volunteer with foster children."

"That must have been hard," I told her. "I'm so sorry that happened to you. Bob and I volunteered in high school and we saw the problems with foster children. That is why we became foster parents."

She froze, looked down, and stood still for a couple of minutes. I waited and watched as she processed whatever memory was troubling her.

"I just remembered something," she finally whispered. "I told you I didn't believe there was a God. I think there might be something out there. When I was 5, I was raped by 2 older boys. When they finished raping me, they strangled me. I couldn't breathe. I was scared and all of a sudden I felt someone holding me. I thought it was God. I was surrounded by the most beautiful light and I knew I was safe. Maybe there is something out there."

I had so many questions. I wanted to know what had saved her. How long was she out before she started breathing again? What had happened to the boys? I didn't ask any of my questions. They weren't important. The Gospel had penetrated her heart and she was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

"There is something out there," I said quietly. "You met God that day. God loves you. He loved you so much that He sent His son Jesus so that you could have eternal life with Him. All who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. Can I lead you in a prayer to call on the name of Jesus?"

"Please," she whispered.

"May I touch you?" I asked.

"Yes." I put my hand on her shoulder and led her in a prayer confessing belief in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. She admitted she was a sinner and asked for forgiveness. Finally, she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior.

"We've all sinned!" she said excitedly as soon as we finished praying.

"Yes," I agreed wondering where this was going.

"I've sinned too!" Her entire face lit up and relaxed. Her features changed from harsh to beautiful. "I have no business getting mad at people for not taking care of their dogs because I've sinned too. I don't need to judge them."

"Yes, Meg. We all have sinned. There is something out there and you've obviously just called on Him. That insight came straight from the Holy Spirit."

I looked around and the Christian family was slowing leaving, pushing their stroller. I was amazed that the baby had sat still that long. The husband and wife turned, looked back at me, and smiled.


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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Cheryle Touchton at 904-614-3585.

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