Janice Johnson a 33 year old secretary in Hoboken, New Jersey
sat up from her table and began to drink her cup of orange juice as she nibbled
on her chocolate chip cookie that was given to her by the volunteers at the
local blood bank. Miss Johnson had just given her first pint of blood and was
feeling a little queasy as the nurse removed the needle from her arm. The nurse
asked "How you doing Miss Johnson, feeling a little dizzy child? Don't you
worry it is only natural to feel that way after the first time you have donated
blood. This is a really nice thing you have done here. Who knows whose life you
are going to save one day. Thanks so much maim. Please come back again. You can
sit there on the table until you are ready to go home. If you need anything I
will be here to help and comfort you." Janice smiled and was surprised at
the hospitality that was given to her. Sure she was donating blood but wasn’t a
kidney or anything, she thought to herself. But to have someone thank her for
such a menial act, kind of took her by surprise. That night as she got home
from a long day Janice sat on her favorite chair in her living room. She turned
on the television for one of her favorite programs. As she was scanning the
channels she came across a young preacher who was talking about the saving
power of the blood of Jesus. Since she had given a little of her own that day
she deemed it ironic of what the man was preaching and decided to watch a
little bit more and view a bit longer than normal for her. As the preacher
preached on he said something that would change her life forever. It went
something like this. "You will get many gifts in life. You will get
birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and wedding gifts. But the greatest gift you
will ever get is the precious blood of Jesus. That day at the cross at Calvary
Jesus gave his life so that you could be saved and have a way to the Father in
Heaven. And he donated his blood so that you would have a way to be forgiven
for and washed clean of your sins. Without his great sacrifice you and I would
die in our sin and never be able to go to heaven. But here is the catch my
friend, many of you will reject this gift and turn away and think it is by your
own good deeds that you will see the kingdom
of God. Do not be deceived
my friends it is only by receiving this precious gift that you can be forgiven
for your sins in God's eyes." Janice, her eyes and ears focused on the television
and the preachers words sat there in awe of what the young man had been saying.
She shut the TV off and headed into her bedroom and went to sleep. His words
seemingly embedded in her mind but now also her heart. That morning she got up
and headed into work as she had done so many times before. As she entered the
number 421 bus she sat down at her usual place. Her cell phone than rang. It
was the nurse at the blood bank asking her if she could come in to discuss
something very important and if she could come immediately. Janice knew
something was not right so instead of heading into her office she took the next
stop at the blood bank. As she made her way back to the nurses office as she
did the day before she overhead two nurses talking." Who is going to tell
her that she has cancer? I am not, the lady came in here yesterday to help
others and now she is going to get this news. You tell her because I can't deal
with this kind of stuff, Janice heard one of the RN's say. Janice clearing her
throat as the two turned towards her. That's okay no one has to say anymore. I
heard what had to be heard. I will make an appointment for tomorrow with my
doctor to see exactly what is going on, and thank you ladies for being so kind
and caring. Janice then headed back to the bus stop and went home. Crying and
sleeping the rest of the day. That night as she was about to go to bed she
turned on the television. This time intending to find that preacher she had listened
to the night before. To her encouragement she caught the last five minutes of
his sermon. " I want to apologize to all of you last night, he said, because last night I didn't give an alter
call. I didn’t provide you an opportunity to respond to the precious and
powerful truth that I had presented. So for you here and for those of you at
home who haven't received Christ as your personal savior and accepted his blood
for the remission of sins please pray this prayer with me.' Lord Jesus I am a
sinner. I confess my sin past, present and future. I believe you were crucified
and rose from the dead on the third day. I take what you did on the cross as atonement
for my sin. I ask you to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life from
this moment on. Thank you for saving me, thank you for your precious blood that
was spilled at Calvary. I accept your gift of
salvation. In Jesus name I pray."Janice repeated back what the preacher had said. She sat there all by
herself her hands upon her face as tears fell from her eyes. She was now a
daughter of GOD. The next year of her life was a rough one. She spent many
hours in treatment, many hours in her Bible. She now had something that she
never had before, a relationship with God. As she lay on her death bed 14
months from the day she decided to give her own blood. She looked up and to her
surprise she saw the RN that was so nice to her that day at the blood bank. “Hi”
Janice said. The RN turned slowly. "Oh child I didn't even recognize that
it was you. Are you feeling alright? Is there anything I can do for you to ease
your pain." Janice replied struggling to get her words out. “That day in
the blood bank you said something to me that has always stayed with me. You
said that by donating blood that day I wouldn't know whose life I might be helping
to save, and little did I know that it would be my own." Janice explaining
about how ironic was too that the preacher was speaking about the blood of
Jesus that exact night she gave blood. "I watched that sermon that night
because of what I did that day. Funny isn't it? I gave my life to the Lord
shortly there after when I first found out I was sick. The past 14 months have
been filled with great joy and truth even through all the pain. I want to thank
you for being so kind even today." Child, the nurse replied gently. I have
been saved for 22 years. And I realize that God works in ways that we don't
often understand. Do you think that day when I first met you that it was an
accident? And that day you watched that preacher because of the title of his
sermon, "Donating Blood' was on the bottom of the screen. Do you think
this was lucky or coincidence? Or even that I am here today again to help you
and be kind? There is no luck, no coincidence when it comes to God. He is all knowing
my child." That day at the center was the beginning of your spiritual life
and your soul being saved. Little did we know that God was working on you for
eternal life, as you were donating life saving blood for someone’s physical
life." Janice stated, with tears rolling down her face, “I love Jesus. I
love the truth he has given my life. I love my Bible. For 33 years I couldn’t
even pick one up. Now I can't even put it down, it is my friend who keeps me
warm in the middle of a cold night."" Would you like me to read from God's word to you right now child?
Would that make you feel better?” the RN asked. " Yes” said Janice “ I
would like that very much.” She added “I will see you again one day and on that
day in Heaven I will give you a big hug when we say hello again. Ok?"The RN smiled as she began to read the
scriptures and Janice fell asleep for the last time in her earthly life. When
they came to remove her body one of the other nurses asked the RN if she knew
what the last words of this dear woman were. The nurse replied “she said, I
will see you again one day in Heaven, and I will give you a big hug." “What
does that mean?” the hospital assistant asked. “Come child”, said the RN “lets
you and I talk, I have a story that Janice would want me to share with
you." Blessings to you all, our friends ~ Keith n Al
That night as she got home
from a long day Janice sat on her favorite chair in her living room. She turned
on the television for one of her favorite programs. As she was scanning the
channels she came across a young preacher who was talking about the saving
power of the blood of Jesus. Since she had given a little of her own that day
she deemed it ironic of what the man was preaching and decided to watch a
little bit more and view a bit longer than normal for her. As the preacher
preached on he said something that would change her life forever. It went
something like this. "You will get many gifts in life. You will get
birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and wedding gifts. But the greatest gift you
will ever get is the precious blood of Jesus. That day at the cross at Calvary
Jesus gave his life so that you could be saved and have a way to the Father in
Heaven. And he donated his blood so that you would have a way to be forgiven
for and washed clean of your sins. Without his great sacrifice you and I would
die in our sin and never be able to go to heaven. But here is the catch my
friend, many of you will reject this gift and turn away and think it is by your
own good deeds that you will see the