By Randy Ricard nimbusair@rmisp.com

PROVERBS 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will guide your path"

We were working a very short handed shift on day watch. Just me and one other officer. The radio crackled and my dispatcher directed me to go to a local motel, where there was a very upset victim who had $500.00 dollars stolen from him the night before by co-workers and he was there to exact revenge and retrieve his money. He had not wanted police intervention but his wife was worried that something might go wrong, so she called for our assistance. Just the kind of call that can go terribly wrong. My back-up officer was already tied up with his own call, so it meant going in solo. "Lord", I prayed, "You alone know the heart and intent of the man who has been wronged. Please touch his heart with your compassionate and forgiving hand and stay his anger. And if the suspect did in fact take his money, I ask you now to touch his heart also and compel him to place that money in my hand that I may give it back to the victim and we would have a peacful resolution to this problem." With that, I pressed on the accelerator and my cruiser raced toward the motel.

Upon arrival, I first saw a very large man (6' 5" 300+ pounds) pacing back and forth in front of room 142. I got out of my car and approached him. It was quite obvious that this man was on the verge of exploding and equally as obvious that he would be a force to be reckoned with, VIOLENTLY. He quickly pointed to room 142 and said that the suspect was in that room and that he was going in. I asked him if he would let me make contact with him and trust me to resolve the problem. He was hesitant at first, but suddenly I saw in his eye the Lord's hand beginning to touch him. "Please stay by your car until I come back out", I asked him and with that he sat on the hood of his car, depressing the shock absorbers to the max.

Receiving no answer from room 142 and armed with enough information about the suspect that I could inquire at the desk to verify that 142 was indeed the correct room, I made that inquiry leaving the victim by his car and trusting that the Lord would keep His hand on him while I was gone. "You want room 241," the desk clerk said, "upstairs and down the hall." Directly above the room that the victim thought that he was in. By this time I was finally joined by my back-up (an Officer that does not walk with our Savior). We approached the room and knocked. A lean and muscular young man answered the door. "May we come in and talk with you?" I asked. After a short hesitation he allowed us into the room. "I will come directly to the point. There is an angry man downstairs waiting to discuss a matter of $500.00 dollars with you. You worked with him all night and you know as well as I his size and can only imagine his capabilities. He has every reason to believe that you took his money and he is more than willing to come in here and find it himself. But I am here to tell you that his only desire is to have his money back. It is his rent and food money for the month. He has no more. If you will place the money in my hand, right now, I will return it to him and he will not press charges.

The atmosphere to say the least was tense. The suspect's eyes and mine were locked on each other for that timeless few seconds, when his eyes broke contact with mine and quickly swept the desk top. I too quickly scanned the desktop. The suspect was looking at his wallet. "Son" I said without hesitation, "the money is in your wallet. Take it out and place it in my hand right now and we will call this matter closed." The suspect picked up his wallet and pulled 5 new $100 bills out and placed them in my hand. Impressing upon the suspect that it was probably time to leave my town, he was packing his bags as my partner and I left the room.

Downstairs, the victim was still sitting on the hood of his car. I approached him, the money hidden in my hand. As he stood, I opened my hand and began to count out his money, placing each bill firmly in the palm of his hand. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" I asked him as the last bill was placed in his hand. Tears began to well up in his eyes, "I was praying that I would get my money back" he replied. "Then you have just seen how Jesus answers prayers, in fact he just answered three prayers. I too prayed that you would get your money back. I also asked him to keep everyone calm and to give me a peaceful resolution to this matter. And earlier today I asked the Lord Jesus to bring me just one person that I could tell about Him today, and guess what? You're it."

We spoke of Jesus love for him for a few minutes with his wife listening as well. I then told him that I felt that the Lord was impressing on me to tell him one more thing. "Jesus tells us that we must forgive those that do us wrong, and He would want you to forgive this man." The victim continued to cry.

As I bid he and his wife farewell and turned for my cruiser, my partner said "That was excellent police work Sarge." "Jim," I replied, "That was excellent police work only in that Jesus Christ gives us the power and strength to make it excellent. What you just saw my friend is the power of prayer and the grace of Jesus." And with that Jim got back in his car and drove away. Silent. Wondering. The Lord I believe working in his life as well.

Sharing this episode with one of my Chaplains a few days later, I found that the victim and his wife are Jehova's Witnesses and of course don't believe in Jesus at all. He also told me that a member of his church has been witnessing to them for quite some time. It amazes me how the Lord will use each of us for His purpose, all in differing ways and differing times but for one common goal. To share the good news of salvation that can only come through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Don't miss the opportunities to share our Savior and His message. Be bold and confident knowing that He is with you always. Remember that there is great rejoicing in Heaven when just one is saved.

God Bless you all........keep your head down......and keep your powder dry.

Until He comes for us..........Your brother in Christ.......

Sergeant Randy Ricard, Riverton Police Dept. Riverton Wy