May 25, God's design in detours.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3, 17. Have you ever wondered what God is doing

while you are looking in the wrong place for something you lost and needed very badly?

He knows exactly where it is, and yet he is letting you look in the wrong place.

I once needed a quote for a new edition of my book, Desiring God.

I knew I had read it in Richard Vernbrand.

I thought it was in his devotional book, Reaching Toward the Heights.

I could almost see it on the right hand side of the facing pages,

but I couldn't find it. But while I was looking, I was riveted on his devotional for November 30th.

As I read it, I said, this is why the Lord let me keep looking for my quote in the wrong place.

Here was a story that illustrated perfectly that nothing is wasted, that we do in the name of Jesus.

Nothing, not even looking for a quote in the wrong place.

Here's what I read. In a home for retarded children,

Catherine was nurtured 20 years. The child had been mentally handicapped from the beginning,

and had never spoken a word, but only vegetated. She either gazed quietly at the walls,

or made distorted movements, to eat, to drink, to sleep,

were her whole life. She seemed not to participate at all in what happened around her.

A leg had to be amputated. The staff wished Cathie well and hoped that the Lord would soon

take her to himself. One day, the doctor called the director to come quickly.

Catherine was dying. When both entered the room, they could not believe their senses.

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