The door was locked, but the bread baker opened it for me to come in and purchase some bread for special guests. In turn, I shared the Lord with Him, and our family is praying that he opens the door of his heart and welcomes in Jesus, the Bread of Life. (If you haven’t read the post about this pre-dawn God appointment and would like to, click here: “Bread of Life – Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Style!”)

Two Thursdays ago, our cherubs and I returned to the bread shop to give the baker some gifts: The “Love and Respect” book and workbook for he and his wife from Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs, and a “Jesus Calling” devotional by Sarah Young for his wife from me. I have never met his wife and didn’t know her name until I dropped off the gift for her, but I sense that she has been praying for her husband to turn his heart to the Lord. We were humbly blessed when the Lord put it on our hearts to give these gifts founded in Truth. We have the humble privilege of watering the seeds already planted. The door of the baker’s heart might be locked, but Jesus is knocking and He wants to come in! And look what was the first thing the Lord gave when He went through that locked door: PEACE!

This year, I have felt an urgency in my heart to pray for family and friends who don’t know the Lord or who are not abiding in Him. I have asked the Lord that, even if the doors of their hearts are locked, He will knock loudly and unceasingly and that they will open wide. I am fervently asking the Lord for their salvation. I have prayed for others to come into their lives and share the Gospel with them, too. Jim and I have shared it for years, yet I sense the Lord will use others to water and bring forth His harvest. I am so thankful for the others He will use. I am praying He surrounds those for whom we are praying with saints who speak His truth in love.

What a sweet, sweet blessing it was for me to bring the baker these gifts. God gave us the privilege of watering seeds in the baker’s life, just as I am praying for Him to have others water seeds we have planted for years in the lives of those whom we love. May they open wide the doors of their hearts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of salvation. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

He is our hope. The doors may be locked, but Jesus can still come in! This has been my prayer this year. And here, just as God often does, He gave me a real-life illustration (through the bread baker) of how He is opening locked doors! May it be so!

I’ll keep you up-to-date on the baker and his wife. Please be praying for unsaved family and friends.

And to my friend, Gina, who I didn’t even know reads this blog, thank you for the war veteran ministry information you sent me in the mail to give to the baker. We are going back to the bread store this week and will give him your gift! Thank you for responding to God’s nudge on your heart and for reaching out in His love to the baker! God is using you to water and encourage! You blessed my heart, friend.

“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.” Acts 5:19

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10