At the end of a previous message I promised to write on how God Gives Teddy Bears to those whom He Loves. This does not mean that if you have not gotten a Teddy Bear that God does not Love you. As I mentioned in some earlier messages I work part-time for an advertising specialty company. We sell business cards, pens, T-shirts, ball caps, and now Teddy Bears.

One of the suppliers who we sell for sent out a letter informing us that they were providing a line of stuffed animals and that the shirts on these animals could have any wording printed on them that we wanted. To allow us to see their product they offered to send us one free and we could choose the wording even on this one.

I knew that I was going to make a trip to Virginia and would be spending time with some friends I have there. I know how much this one friend, Jenny, Loves Teddy Bears, and I was led to get this one for her. I told my boss of this desire and he said, “sure, that would be fine.” I asked him if he would type the order for me. He said, “sure, what do you want the bear’s T-shirt to say?” As I began to speak I heard from God to put on it “Can’t Bear To Be Without Jesus.”

My boss said he would make out the order. Two weeks ago, on a Thursday, the bear arrived and was it ever cute! Everyone who saw it wanted to keep the bear. Even the men, when they saw it, thought of their wife or daughter and they wanted it too. I had to keep telling them it was not for sale. “No, this belongs to my friend Jenny out in Virginia. Maybe I can get more but this one is not for sale.”

That Saturday I went to Ava to spend the weekend and go to church down there. On Monday Brother Gary Stigall and I left to minister in an area jail. There was a female inmate who was to be sentenced that day and she had asked that we be there in the courtroom to give her moral support. As we drove down there Brother Gary shared with me that this inmate had a birthday the next day and that it would be neat to buy a small cake to give her for her birthday. I agreed that this was a neat idea but knew that we had to get permission first.

When we got to the courthouse we found that the sentencing had been put off so we went to the jail and asked permission to see the inmates. We were told that we could visit the female and as we went into the room we met two other female visitors from St. Louis who had arrived to be with their friend for this day of sentencing and her birthday. The five of us had church for a long while.

We had not taken any books or messages into the jail because we thought we would only be in the courtroom. I heard our Lord Speak to me telling me to go to the car and get typed messages and magazines to leave at the jail when we left. I told everyone that I was going to the car go get material and left the room. I asked the jailer if we could go to the store and buy a cake to leave with our sister for her birthday. I was told “NO.” I thanked the deputy and went to the car.

When I got there I opened the back door to get some magazines and what did I see but the bear sitting there. As soon as I saw it God spoke to my heart and Said, “Give this bear to this sister for her birthday.” I said, “No God!” This bear is for my friend Jenny. Don’t You remember?” God Spoke one more time and said, “Obey!” I said, “yes, Father, I will obey.” What I was really thinking was that God was testing me to see if I would obey, that I didn’t have to worry about giving up the bear. Since the deputy would not allow us to get a cake, I was certain that he would not allow us to take a bear to her either.

I took the bear and all the other stuff back to the jail. I was where our sister could not see or hear me and I held the bear out and asked the same man if I could give this bear to our sister for her birthday. He again looked at me as if to say, “when will you ever learn?” He said “NO.” I thanked him and told him that I really had not wanted to part with the bear anyway because I had gotten it for a special friend out in Virginia named Jenny, but that God had told me to give it to this inmate sister.

I sat the bear where I would not forget it as I was leaving the jail and started back to the visitor’s room when the deputy asked me to let him look at the bear. I handed it to him and as he read these words on the T-shirt, “Can’t Bear to Be Without Jesus,” a tear formed in his eye and he said, “why don’t you give this bear to this female inmate for her birthday?”

Again I thought, “This is Jenny’s bear!” “Yes, Lord, I will obey.” When I walked into the room and handed it to our sister and told her Happy Birthday her tears of joy, her shouting, make me both happy and sad. Then I looked at Brother Gary and he was full of tears and the other two sisters from St. Louis were also crying tears of joy. We finished there and started back. I did not mention it to Gary but I wondered if I had time to order and receive another bear before my trip to Virginia. I knew in my heart that I would not have time to do this.

I had gotten it out of my mind. The next morning when I went into the office my boss asked me, “Bill, you know that cute bear we got for your friend?” I said, “yes,” not planning to tell him what had happened. He said, “that bear was so cute that I have ordered 24 more of them. They should be here in two weeks.” WOW!

“But without faith it is impossible to please God and they that come to God must believe that God Is and that God Is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). God Is a Faithful Rewarder when we obey Him. The bears have arrived before I leave for Virginia and many people are being blessed with them. Praise Our Lord God, He who Created you and me for His Purpose. O Lord, Help us to find out what this Purpose is and Lord Help us to LOVE and OBEY You always, Amen and Amen.

Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.

Thanks to Bill Dorman chaplain@bdadvertising.com