{I have put this article together based on what I’ve seen on Facebook posts. Feel free to go to Debbie’s profile and read her other posts about her husband’s obedience.)
What is obedience? It is simply doing as you are told to do. When we were younger and a parent or other adult loved us enough to tell us to look both ways before crossing a street and we obeyed, we helped keep ourselves safe from on-coming traffic. If someone told us “Don’t touch the skillet. It is hot,” our choosing to obey kept us from getting a nasty burn. Here is a story of a different kind of obeying. This obedience might not make sense to some of us, but it is a good example anyway.
As I scrolled through Facebook Monday morning, I saw the post below from Debbie Cate. I had to do some investigating because I didn’t know who she was. My snooping skills helped me determine that she was a student of mine from LeFlore High School, Debbie Dighton. I’ve not seen any previous posts from her and honestly don’t even remember sending or accepting a friend request. She has been married to Stanley Cate from Talihina for 19 years. I don’t know Stan, but through Debbie’s posts, I’m learning more about him. I’m giving you this background information to let you know how God works through even Facebook to unite His people.
“So this is my husband Stanley Cate. He is headed to Minneapolis. He informed me yesterday early evening that the Lord laid it on his heart to go and he doesn’t know why except to spread God’s word. He only took one change of clothes a few cans of ham n some water bottles. He has his phone and a charger and I put life 360 on our phones so we can see where he’s at. And of course, he took his Bible. He wouldn’t let me tell anyone he’s leaving until after he left. So if you see him please drop him some water or a sandwich…. Stan has always had a calling on his life. Please don’t ask to many questions because I don’t have any answers. The only answer I have is God told him too. So please pray for him and pray for a safe journey. He will be checking in with people on his YouTube channel scripture man Stan. Pray for me and his mom (Carolyn Collie) also. I am doing my best to trust in the Lord. Thank you guys. YouTube link: https://youtube.com/channel/UC6FwmcW3Rnh35ujxuZayxqg “.
Stan has been on the road three days and has made his way to Sallisaw. He wanted to go to church last night in Sallisaw and “just happened” to choose the one that was starting a revival meeting last night.
This is Debbie’s post from Tuesday: “So tomorrow night Stan will be in Sallisaw with his cross and guess what!! Another guy named Stanley who also Carries a cross is having revival!! God knows what he’s doing!!”
For those who think this is a coincidence, others of us see God’s hand at work. Stan Cate didn’t just happen to decide to walk to Minneapolis in July and just happen to be at a church where another man named Stanley just happened to be on the same night. Oh, Stanley also is a cross carrier. We can see God at work planning ahead, knowing where Stan will be and guiding him on his way. I didn’t just happen to see Debbie’s post on Facebook. God planned for me to see Debbie’s post even before she made it.
Stan has mapped his trip and plans to take highway 59 all the way to Minneapolis. According to my Google Map, from Hartford, Arkansas, to Minneapolis, Minnesota is 775 miles and takes 253 hours on foot. Check my mental math, but that is over ten days of walking, not counting resting, sleeping, stopping to talk to people who stop to talk to him, etc. Stan’s commitment of obedience is great. How many of you would make that commitment? How many would commit to obey even a smaller request?
Here is another of Debbie’s posts. “A few people are asking for his cashapp to help support him on this journey, but he is not asking for this himself. Anything donated will be used to help him with lodging at night and food throughout the day. $ScriptureMan.”
For updates on Stan’s journey of obedience, follow his YouTube channel found at Scripture Man Stan. If you are a believer in Christ, pray for Stan’s safety. The last week of July certainly brings physical challenges to anyone outside for extended periods of time and Stan will definitely be outside a lot. He has accepted rides from strangers here locally and most likely will as he moves further away. Pray for God’s protection from those who would do him harm. Pray for Stan’s family while he is away from home.
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