Who gets the last word?
The sun sets.
Car 1. Wham! Glass shatters. Quick, grab the purse. In and out.
Car 2. Wham! Glass shatters. Another purse—get it and go.
Car 3. Wham! Glass shatters. It looks like an iPad. Take it and get out of here.
They’re gone. We’re still inside. We’ve been learning “Last Word” for our upcoming Easter services. Tenors, sing the lead. Altos, this isn’t too high for you. Sopranos, you’ve got it there.
Verse 1
The storm rises from the deep
And rages around me
But I will remember
When doubt wars within my heart
The battle almost lost
I will remember
Finished. Out we go. I crank my car. But from the corner of my eye, I see shiny. I look to my right. My passenger-side window is jagged around the edges—the rest is a curtain of glass sparkling in the seat beside me.
I immediately look on the floorboard for my purse.
Of course. It’s missing.
I turn off the car. I’m not finished here.
Verse 2
Your voice that calmed the violent sea
Speaks courage over me
So I will remember
The words that wake the sun to rise
Are breaking through my night
And I will remember
Dump the purses. Where’s the wallet? Pull out the cash. Don’t worry with the change. Bills, bills.
The other purse now. Hurry. How much cash?
The iPad. Unzip the cover. Is it new?
A Bible??? It’s only a Bible? Are you kidding me?
It starts to rain. . . .
~ * ~ * ~
. . . but the sun rises.
Bridge
Your word stands through the ages
Your voice shatters the darkness
In You we are more than conquerors
You speak and strongholds surrender
Your name overcomes the enemy
In You we are more than conquerors
The phone rings in the morning. “I’ve found a Bible in my driveway with your name.” Sherry drives over, relieved, elated. The words will go home with her.
Sherry walks this neighborhood because maybe there’s more. This is where they had been.
Four dumpsters are ahead. She only notices one. She dives in. And success! She recovers Sheila’s purse. And my purse.
Returned to me are my photos, my calendar, my favorite pen. Even my credit cards, my driver’s license, and most importantly, my library card.
Almost everything except no cash. No problem.
The mystery remaining is why was the Bible tossed in a driveway by itself instead of in a dumpster with the purses?
Chorus
You have the last word
It is finished
You have the last word
It is finished
My fear is silenced in Your love
My hope is endless
His voice still speaks.
His Son still shatters darkness.
And I will remember.
* * *
[If you can’t see the video “Last Word,” watch here]
Have you ever had your purse or wallet stolen? What happened? Any mysteries still unsolved? Let’s talk in the comments.
Sorry you lost cash, Lisa, but I’m sure glad you got everything else back. And yes, how strange they didn’t throw the Bible in the trash but on a driveway. Yes! God has the last word! It is finished! Amen!
I count it as a miracle to have gotten everything back but the cash. I had asked the policeman about the likelihood of recovering my purse; he was definitely pessimistic about it. But yes, God has the final word! 🙂
What a good friend Sherry is to search the dumpster for her friends’ purses! Talk about going the extra mile! So glad that most of the purse’s contents were returned to you. My daughter-in-law’s purse was stolen from a car. We had the ability to track her phone and could see where the guy was, and my husband called her phone – and the guy actually answered. Jim told him he was tracking him. Eventually the police were called and he was arrested, but I don’t think her things were returned: I know her phone wasn’t. Maybe he was trying to ditch the evidence. But it was an ordeal, yet I am thankful for God’s comfort and protection even when our things are violated.
Yes, Sherry definitely went above and beyond. She’s my hero now. I’m not sure I would have wanted to look through a dumpster for even my own purse. ha.
That’s crazy that the thief answered your d-i-l’s phone. Wow. Lots of nerve. Or lack of sense? That’s too bad she didn’t get her stuff back. I was SO thankful I had my phone with me instead of in my purse. Take my money but don’t take my phone or computer. 🙂
Perhaps they tossed the “fake iPad” on the way to the dumpsters, then check over the purses at leisure.
Sorry you were hit. I’m glad you weren’t holding the purse when they decided they’d like it. That can be scary.
They will chuckle about that Bible. They’ll remember it.
David
Yes, I’m absolutely glad I wasn’t with the purse when they wanted it. Not sure how willingly I would have given it up because I rarely ever buy a new purse, and this one was only a few weeks old (after a LONG few years with my last purse). ha. (I’m not a shopper.) I do hope they’ll remember about the Bible. They’ve been some very prayed-over thieves.
God got the last word here for sure, Lisa. How scary that moment when you noticed the broken glass must have been. I’m so glad you got your purse. My haunch is that even thieves have some respect for God’s word, too much to throw it in the trash. That’s what I want to think. 🙂
Visiting from #TellHisStory
I suspect (and hope!) the same thing, Betsy: that they had some measure of conscience that wouldn’t let them trash the Bible so directly as the purses. ? That’s what I want to think too. 🙂 And pray about.
Lisa,
I’m so sorry this happened to you…and I’m so glad you got the rest of your stuff back but for the cash…and funny, how God’s Word was left in a different place…maybe they read it a bit? And yes, so very grateful God gives us the grace to overcome…what great song lyrics 🙂
Yes, I thought the song lyrics were just too “coincidental” not to note. I particularly pay close attention to the last two in the chorus: “My fear is silenced in Your love / My hope is endless” – two concepts I need to keep believing deeper.
I love your focus on God getting the last word in this mess. He certainly did. I’m so glad you got your stuff back. It’s great they didn’t use your credit cards. What an awesome friend who went dumpster diving for you :).
Yes, I told Sherry that if I had to get my purse stolen, I’m glad it was stolen with her. 🙂 Because of it, I was able to hear even more beautiful testimonies from her about things God has done in her life.
Oh man… do I know that feeling. I’ve had just about everything stolen from my trucks; cassettes, CD’s, CD players, gym bags, several guns, (I live in AZ remember?) and even the entire trucks a few times. Talk about feeling violated.
I’ve never had a Bible stolen. Funny, even folks doing bad things may not have been able to bring themselves to dump God’s word in a trash. That’s something to ponder.
Your attitude and perspective is encouraging… I’m taking “Lisa Notes”…
Not sure even my detective Sherry could track down all those things you’ve had stolen, Floyd. 😉 At least our thieves were just into the cash. (Although Jeff did actually say out loud that it’s too bad they didn’t steal the whole car.)
I once had kids (I’m sure of it) break into my house and steal a few odds and ends, including a jar of loose change. I felt very violated too, just knowing they’d been wandering through looking at my stuff. A few days later though, it all appeared back on my front porch, including the jar of change. I guess Mama found out and made them return it all. And if Mama doesn’t now, Father will take care of things later.
Such a scary thing to have someone take your stuff from your car. You feel so violated. My car was broken into in our driveway a few years ago. As upset as I was, I had to laugh at the Christian CD’s that were scattered around the floor board. They must have been mad there was nothing they wanted!
I am glad it was your stuff they took and nothing more!
Then they missed out on some good music and encouragement, I’m sure! 🙂 My thieves were probably disappointed also with the offerings in my purse. I’m not sure what it says about me that they didn’t think anything else was worth taking except for the cash. ha.
That must have been a shock to the system. But if it had been me and it was my scriptures or my money i could get back, i would want my scriptures.
Definitely. I’m so very glad Sherry got her Bible back. It was one she had marked and studied through. She also had important notes tucked in it–all returned, praise God.
…there are some things that are not replaceable.