Me and the Lord on the Bus

By Linda Montez

Winter roads were unusually icy in San Antonio, and schools
had already cancelled classes more than once. Linda Montez
decided to take the bus to work. She soon realized the bus
was more than a mode of transportation. For her, it was an avenue
for ministry.

Linda tells 30 stories about the people she met on the bus, the situations she
encountered, and the insights she gained. Through times of joy,
fear, prayer, laughter, and also the quietly contemplative, she eagerly
anticipated her next new acquaintance. The Lord used what was very
ordinary to bring extraordinary blessings.

Serving the Lord requires that we do not limit Him. No particular
college degree necessary. No need to wait for an official mission trip.
And certainly that we do not rule out possibilities because theyre
outside the box. Like something so ordinary as riding a city bus.
For Linda, riding the bus brought unmatched thrill
and amazement.

Whether you read this book all at once or as a daily devotional,
may you be encouraged to look for God in your daily living. May
you see Him orchestrate people and circumstances.

May we all show up ready to the Lords call and watch Him work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 9, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453538395

Linda Montez

Linda Montez loves the Lord. By His grace, she is His child and forever grateful for His forgiveness. In recent years, the Lord has been growing aspects of music for Linda and her husband Paul. They have been blessed to play and sing in churches, coffeehouses, hospitals, jails, and also support ministries for families who are struggling and sometimes homeless.

Book preview

Chapter 1 - BusMap_New- a.jpg

1 

The TGIF Shirt

Recent afternoons in Travis Park had become synonymous with sweat and fatigue. Any shade was a welcome sight, and I spotted a wooden canopy that would block me from the glaring sun.

Bus patrons crowded the sidewalks, and voices jumbled in the air.

As I sorted through my bags, I looked up, only to find the unexpected. It was as if Moses parted the waters all over again. The sidewalks cleared. A pair of tennis shoes parted to the left. Some sandals parted to the right. And boots and flip-flops and high heels followed suit. Straight ahead, all commotion halted. A young girl stood in front of me.

Her T-shirt spoke for her. Tall, skinny, bright letters that read, Thank God I’m Forgiven.

That’s a good shirt, I offered. The words spilled without hesitation.

I’m from Cleveland. My mom sent me some money, and I need to get to a Western Union. The man at the Greyhound station had dispatched her to a grocery store for the money transfer. Short on time, she needed a city bus to drive her a few miles to the store. She felt lost on our streets and additionally pressured by time.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she inched a little closer. I’m here for Teen Challenge.

Oh yeah, I continued. Where’s your office located?

"Oh, I don’t work there. I’m in the program," she answered.

Traversing the streets of San Antonio seemed much less daunting to me than entering a new program to stare a drug problem in the face. But at that moment, for this young girl named Lana, the fear of an unfamiliar city prevailed.

She pressed, The man told me the 92 would come here and take me to an HEB grocery store. But I have only an hour and a half before my Greyhound bus leaves.

I tried to picture the location of this particular HEB, but to no avail. And I couldn’t think of any other grocery store nearby.

Bless her heart. I queried, May I pray for you?

She accepted.

She walked toward me and sat on my shaded bench. As I began to pray, her tears grew into resounding cries. Tears welled in my eyes in sympathy, yet I continued, "Lord, we come to You because You created us. You still create. I ask You to create the circumstances that will allow Lana to return home. Help her locate the money in time to make the bus to Cleveland. Calm her heart. Provide for her. Let her walk in Your