Debbie Macomber - Gods Guest List: Welcoming Those Who Influence Our Lives

BECAUSE I WRITE fiction and my God-given talent is that of a storyteller, I never expected to write nonfiction. To be fair, Ive contemplated penning a book about writing a time or two but quickly dismissed the idea. The marketplace was flooded with instruction manuals on the topic, and I couldnt see adding to that flood.

Then in 2006 I was approached by my dear friend Wendy Lawton, who suggested I had something other than my writing experiences to share with readers. Wendy is a powerfully persuasive individual, and before I knew it, my first nonfiction title was published. Thus began my foray into the genre of nonfiction. To my utter surprise and delight, I discovered I enjoyed sharing my thoughts and ideas with others.

My prayer is that youll enjoy reading Gods Guest List and that it will help you recognize the ones He has sent into your life. I hope you will look at these individuals with fresh eyes and realize how each has shaped you into who you are today.

As always, no book is the product of the author alone. This project idea came from a speech I gave years ago. Wendy Lawton saw it as far more than a simple talk and believed in its potential. As both my dear friend and my agent, she insisted I dig deep. I dug, Wendy, I dug. Thank you for your vision, your confidence, and your faith in me. Cindy Lambert is an extraordinary editor who took my words and polished them to a bright sheen. Youre wonderful. Jonathon Merkh, publisher at Howard Books, is amazing, along with his entire team. I feel blessed to have all of you in my life, guiding me. I know each one of you is part of Gods guest list for me.

Lastly, I am so very grateful for the opportunity to share my guest list with you, my readers. May this book inspire, encourage, and challenge you.

Debbie Macomber

Therefore I am sending you
prophets and wise men and teachers.

MATTHEW 23:34

Published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com

Gods Guest List 2010 Debbie Macomber

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Howard Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

In association with the literary agency of Wendy Lawton at Books and Such, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Macomber, Debbie.

Gods guest list : welcoming those who influence our lives / Debbie Macomber.

p.cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

1. Influence (Psychology)Religious aspectsChristianity. 2. Macomber, Debbie. I. Title.

BV4597.53.I52M33 2010

248.4dc22 2010025567

ISBN 978-1-4391-0896-3

ISBN 978-1-4391-9004-3 (ebook)

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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This work reflects the authors present recollections of her experiences over a
period of years. Certain names and identifying characteristics have been changed.

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Scripture quotations not otherwise marked are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked kjv are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked nlt are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked The Message are from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

To my family,
my husband, Wayne,
and children,
Jody, Jenny, Ted, and Dale.
How very blessed I am
to have you
in my life.

PRESENTS, PEOPLE, AND ONE MORE LIST

An Unfinished Guest List

THERES A STORY that goes something like this:

A woman arrived at the gates of heaven to be met by St. Peter.

You may first want to join the others at the throne, he said to her, and then greet those you loved on earth. But when you are ready, Ill take you on a tour of heaven.

When the time came for her tour, she could hardly take it all in. It reminded her a little of her earthly home, but she could see that earth had only been a pale shadow of what she was seeing now. They explored every nook and cranny of heavenwaterfalls, fields of flowers, exquisite buildings, and streets of gold.

As the tour drew to an end, she noticed one massive door they had not yet explored. A gold padlock secured it. Whats in that room? she asked.

You dont want to see that room, St. Peter said, steering her away from it. Its only a storeroom.

But I do. May I see inside? I want to see every bit of heaven.

St. Peter didnt answer. Instead he took a large key out of his pocket, put it in the lock, and turned it. The tumblers clicked and the padlock opened. He took the lock off and opened the door. The woman had to blink several times to take it all in. Inside the cavernous room were stacks and stacks of gifts, wrapped in all the colors of the rainbow and tied with all the colors of heaven.

She clapped her hands with delight. Is this where you store presents for everyone in heaven?

No. These gifts are not for heaven, they were meant for earth.

What do you mean were? She walked through the stacks and came to a pile marked with her name. Look, these gifts are for me. She fingered the paper and ribbons. May I open them?

No. You dont need them now. St. Peter put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her toward the door.

But if I dont need them now, does that mean I needed them on earth? She couldnt take her eyes off the pile. To think she would never get to enjoy all those beautifully wrapped gifts.

He nodded his head. Yes, you needed them on earth.

She looked around the room, realizing that there must have been millions of gifts. Maybe more, since she couldnt see an end to the room. Why werent my gifts sent to me on earth? As she looked closer, she could read names on all the gifts. Not just my gifts; why havent any of these gifts been sent?

St. Peter sighed. You dont understand. Every one of them was sent. Moving his arm in an arc that encompassed the whole room, he said, All of these and more. These are the ones that were returned unopened. He moved her toward the door. Many people on earth dont recognize Gods gifts and fail to open them.

I love giftsboth giving and receiving. When I first heard this story, I wondered if there was any truth to the parable. Had God sent gifts to me that I hadnt opened? When I get to heaven, I dont want to discover that I failed to recognize the gifts God sent into my life. I dont want to miss a single one.