Prayer Investigator: Babbie Mason's Divine Appointment at Sam's Club

In this episode of the Prayer Investigator, host Linda Evans Shepherd welcomes Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Babbie Mason. Babbie shares amazing stories of how her simple prayer to share her faith beyond the stage transformed everyday encounters into divine appointments. From spontaneous blessings at a Sam's Club to heartfelt moments in a department store, Babbie reveals how sensitivity, kindness, and compassion create opportunities to bless others. Through these stories, Babbie emphasizes the importance of being the light and salt of the earth, as instructed by Jesus. Tune in to hear Babbie's touching experiences and be inspired to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

00:00 Introduction to the Guest

00:49 Babbie Mason's Prayer Journey

02:29 A Divine Encounter at Sam's Club

07:45 The Power of Sensitivity, Kindness, and Compassion

17:49 Encouraging Words and Final Thoughts

20:52 Closing Remarks and Resources

Linda Evans Shepherd is an international speaker and a best-selling author of 38 books including Praying Through the Hard Times. She is the CEO and founder of Right to the Heart Ministries which includes the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Arise Esther Movement, Leading Hearts Magazine, and the Arise Daily Devotionals.
Important Links:
Linda's Prayer Books: https://www.gottopray.com/linda-s-pra...

Get Linda's Blessing Gift Here: https://blessing.pages.ontraport.net/...

Peace Blueprint: ...

Transcript

[00:00:00] My guest today is a Grammy award-winning singer songwriter who prayed that God would allow her to share her faith with strangers. What happened next is amazing. Stay tuned. Welcome to the Prayer Investigator. I'm Linda Evans Shepherd. My guest today is Babbie Mason. She's a two-time Grammy Award-winning artist, nominated for two Dove Awards.

A recipient of the Christian Music Hall of Fame has been nominated for an Emmy, and she is amazing. She and her husband Charles, live on a farm in Georgia. Welcome to the show, Babbie. I'm so happy to be with you, Linda. It's good to see you. It's so good to see you too, and I cannot wait to hear about your stories today.

Now, I understand that you actually prayed and asked God to help you share your faith. Tell me what happened. I did, Linda, [00:01:00] I've been a Christian for a long time, mostly all of my life. I'm a preacher's kid, born and raised in a wonderful family and a great church. So church is my life. I have known the Lord even before I made my profession of faith at eight years of age.

So I'm on my 50th year of walking with the Lord. I called that year, my year of Jubilee. I prayed, and that was a few years ago now. So I'm well past that, that landmark year in my life. On my 50th year of walking with the Lord, I prayed a very special prayer. I asked God to give me more opportunities to share my faith even when I wasn't on stage.

'cause I get to share my, my faith on stage as a singer, as a concert artist, as a women's conference speaker. And I just wanted to ask God just to, you know, the older I, I'm getting, I, I just want to be more, um, intentional. About sharing my faith. So I ask God to give me more opportunities so [00:02:00] I could do that.

And Linda, I'll have you know that the Lord has taken that prayer and he has run with it. I'll just say, careful when you pray, pray a prayer like that. 'cause God will take you up on it. And he has taken me up on it and he is still taking me up on it. So much so that I'm writing a book about it right now called Shine Your Light.

I'll tell you a story. Can I share a story with you about, about what he did? Almost immediately after I prayed that prayer, we would love to hear a story like that. I prayed that prayer, Linda, and almost immediately the Lord began to work in my life. Now, here's the thing about the Lord, at least in my life, he doesn't always give me the preparation when he is going to do stuff.

It just happens in normal every day, coming and going. So my husband and I were on our way to Birmingham, Alabama. We live in Georgia. I have a friend who had produced a movie over in Birmingham and she invited us to the premiere of the movie. [00:03:00] And shortly before getting to the, uh, venue where the movie was going to be shown, I got an idea to my husband.

I said. I need to stop and get our friend some flowers or a card or something to congratulate her on her efforts. But we were already in the Birmingham area. I don't shop over there. I didn't know where any stores were to be found. But right off of the next exit almost, I saw the lights of a Sam's Club way up on a hill.

Now, I don't shop there. I've never been hardly in there, but I said they gotta have flowers in the Sam's Club. So we pulled off, we went to the parking lot. I dashed in. I got a clerk. They had beautiful flowers. I got a bouquet of flowers and a card. And she said, as I was standing in the line waiting to check out, she said, now you're gonna need your Sam's Membership Club card.

Well, I don't shop there, so I don't have a card, but there was a lady who was standing behind me. She overheard our conversation and she said to me, a stranger I didn't know. The woman never met her before. She said, Hey, you can [00:04:00] use my Sam's membership club card and get the discount. I said to her, well, thank you my friend.

God bless you. There was a guy ahead of me with a big card of groceries, and so we had a little time to interact. I said to her, thank you, my friend. God bless you. I'm gonna take you up on that. She put her hand on her hip and she said to me, girl, I need a blessing. I. She said, I've got my grandkids. They've just moved in with me and they are about to eat me outta a house in hope.

She said, she said, I have a 13-year-old grandson and he keeps me on my knees. Well, Linda, I'm an encourager, and so I just said to my friend, this lady that I had just met, I said, well, you know what, my friend, I pray then that God will open up the windows of his heaven and shower down. So many blessings on you and your grandkids.

You won't have room enough to receive them all. Well, Linda, that dear lady. Took those words that were coming outta my mouth and she ran with it. She just put her hands up in the air right there in the checkout line of the Sam's Club and she said, [00:05:00] thank you, God. I received that blessing. Thank you, God. I need that blessing.

Well, I got in on a good thing and I just began to praise God with her. I said, yes, God, open up the windows of heaven for my friend and shower down. So many blessings upon her grandkids. She doesn't have room enough to receive 'em all. Well, as she and I were just enjoying the presence of the Lord, you know, no big thing.

Just two friends, just enjoying the presence of the Lord right there in the checkout line. Well, there was a young girl who was behind her and she was just kinda watching this discourse between my new best friend and me, and she got my attention and she said, excuse me ma'am, but can I speak with you for a moment?

So I tiptoed around my new best friend who was still worshiping God right there in the checkout line of the Sam's Club, and I went to the end of the line. I said, what can I do for you, precious one she said. If you don't mind, will you bless me too? Oh, I knew God was up to something and it was good. You see, Linda, there is a moment when [00:06:00] you sense that God walks into your situation where you sense.

It's that crucial moment where you realize, Hey, God is, God is in this. And it was that moment when she said, can I speak to you for a moment? Will you bless me too? I realized God was in that moment. I said to her, precious one, the Lord loves you. I didn't know what I was gonna say. I just opened up my mouth and the words fell out.

I said, precious one, God loves you. He has a plan for your life. Do you believe that? Linda, big alligator tears just began to stream down her face as she acknowledged. Yes, she knew. She knows that God loves her and has a plan for her life. I wrapped that grill in my arms. I prayed a sweet prayer for her in her right ear.

It was my turn to check out. I paid for my items. I waved a farewell to my new best friends who were standing there in the checkout line, and I went to the exit. Where there is a clerk who checks your purchase items against your receipt. So I turned to leave. He stopped me and he said, ma'am, [00:07:00] excuse me, but before you go, if you don't mind, will you bless me too?

Oh. I pronounced to him the blessing from numbers chapter six verses 24 through 26. The Lord bless you and keep you my friend. The Lord make his face to shine up on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. I said, do you receive that my brother? He says, yes.

I received it and I went back to the car, Linda, just knowing right then and there that we had had an encounter with the Lord and do you know Linda? There have been so many, I mean, countless, countless, countless times where the Lord has walked into just everyday circumstances. When I'm pumping my gas, when I'm shopping at a little department store near my house.

But I think the key is sensitivity. I. And kindness and compassion. I love that. Sensitivity, kindness, and compassion. And, you know, I think that is missing so often in today's [00:08:00] lifestyle to stop and to even see the people around you. Sometimes we're so busy, we just grab our coffee and go, right? We, we are so busy that sometimes we, we miss these opportunities.

But here's the key, Linda, here's the key. The Bible tells us in the book of Matthew, chapter five, verse 14, what does he say to us? You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth. This is every believer's mandate. These are instructions from Jesus to every believer. These are instructions to you, Linda, to me, Abby, and to every viewer who is watching this conversation.

Who, and you are a believer in Christ Jesus, and there are no conditions to the great commission. You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth. I did a, a little study on [00:09:00] salt and salt seasons. Yes, but it also preserves, ever heard the term that Linda Evans Shepherd Girl, she is the salt of the earth, meaning you are the foundation of the world.

You're what makes the world look good. You are the elite of people because you're trustworthy and foundational and levelheaded and hardworking with great integrity. You a salt of the earth. And that's what Jesus told those people in that sermon that day in Matthew chapter five. And that's what he's telling Gabby Mason.

That's what he, he's telling Linda Evans Shepherd. And that is what he's telling everyone who is watching this conversation, who loves Jesus today? And you know, I think it kind of works like this. We open our hearts to the love of God. He pours his love into us, and then we shine as we pour that love into the people around us.

Whether we are in a restaurant, a coffee shop, pump pumping gas, there are hurting people. Everywhere. [00:10:00] Is that not true? Yes, Linda Evan Shepherd. It is so true. And do you know that it is reciprocal because? I, I find that three things always happen when I get to share my faith with others. And when I say share my faith, it doesn't always mean that I'm pulling out my Bible or that I'm quoting a scripture verse, although there have been times when I have met people who were in distress or who I saw that were despondent, and I ask if I could pray for them.

There have been several occasions when that has happened, but here's the thing, Linda, is that God. Directs our steps, as you say, and when he does, when I get to share my faith in some kind of way, three things always happen. First of all, I received so much joy, like when I met the lady in the Sam's Club, when I met the lady, the two ladies in the checkout line, and the gentleman at the exit.

I, I, I was so elated. I received so much joy from that occasion. Secondly, [00:11:00] the people who I encountered were blessed, tremendously blessed. Three. Jesus got the glory. It always happens. I get the joy. People get the blessing. God gets the glory. It's like a threefold court, like a braid. It always happens, and I will just kind of send out a challenge to those who are watching to just, just try that, sell some kindness.

Do a kind deed. Say a simple prayer, add someone to your prayer list. So a kind word, do something that's kind for somebody and you watch those three things happen. You'll get the joy, somebody will get the blessing and God will get the glory. It's like living your life in a full-time Treasure hunt. Yes.

What do you say to that? I'll answer your question with this story. So one day I ran over to the little shopping store near my house. And sometimes I just go in there, not for a big shopping spree, but just to kind of [00:12:00] clear my head. You know, sometimes you just need some open space to just kind of debrief, and so I go in there and I'll buy a little bag of chocolate covered almonds, or I'll buy some lavender scented hand soap or just a little something to encourage myself, catch a little breath of fresh air.

See some pretty things. And, you know, maybe pay 1995. Not a whole lot, but contribute to my economy and my county and then, uh, and leave. One day I went in there, Linda and I got my cart. I was ready to head over to the soap. When right behind me was a little senior citizen. This dear lady was just as spry as they come.

She's probably in her mid seventies, probably close to 80 years old, but she was quo. I mean, she was decked out from head to toe. She had on a really smart looking plaid. Skirt and jacket that matched in a coordinating blouse with a pretty scarf and a nice broach. You know, [00:13:00] people don't dress a whole lot like that anymore.

You know, this was a beautiful woolen coordinating suit with a pretty blouse, a scarf, and a broach, and a hat that she had just kind of broke down over her left eye, and matching brown leather shoes and a handbag to match. She walked into that store and I could not. I'm the kind of person I love greeting strangers and encouraging people just kind of spontaneously.

And so I said to her, excuse me, ma'am, but may I just say how chic and how fashionable you look today. Well, that dear lady caught my breath as she strutted her stuff like a model on a New York one runway. She walked about 10 steps ahead of me and she turned on her heels and she strutted her stuff back to me and I acted.

I got in on the game and I acted like I was the paparazzi and I said, work it girl. Work it girl. The camera loves you. You know? We just had two total strangers just having a blast in the lobby of this little department store. [00:14:00] And we laughed. And we laughed. And then as she caught her breath, Linda, she said some words that still prick my heart.

See, this is what sensitivity, kindness, and compassion will do. We talked about those three words, sensitivity, kindness, and compassion. And what those three things do is they soften the heart, they open the heart up so that people become. They become vulnerable. But in a cool kind of way, I noticed that people always wanna share their pain.

They're always looking for somebody to just give them a listening ear for a moment. And here's the thing, it doesn't take very long, one or two minutes of your day to make a difference in somebody else's day. And when I said I complimented on her outfit, she strutted her stuff and then she came back to me.

And this is what she said, Linda, she said, you know, six months ago. My husband passed and she said, and now I live alone and my [00:15:00] house is very quiet. And she said, my husband used to compliment me on how nice I looked every day. He complimented me on my outfits, and now that he is gone, she said, there's no one there to compliment me anymore.

She said, your compliment is the first compliment I've had in six months. Wow. And just to the fact that first of all, that she would open up her heart so readily, but that I would be the one that she opened her heart to, just blew me away that I would be the one that would receive that little bit of vulnerability.

And I, I expressed my sympathies and I said, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. And then I expressed. Some empathy and I said, do you mind if I pray for you? And here's the thing, Linda. I have done that on a number of occasions and not one single solitary time. Has anyone ever said, no, [00:16:00] don't pray for me.

They have always said yes. As a matter of fact, it's yes with beckoning. Yes, please pray for me is typically the response. I, I, listen, I didn't pull out my Bible. I didn't quote a whole bunch of scriptures. I didn't beat her over the head with the four spiritual laws or anything like that. No disrespect to any of that kindness, sensitivity, kindness, and compassion.

I just took her gently by the hand and quietly prayed a prayer for her right there in the lobby of the store, and just a two or three or four sentences thanking God, first of all, that we were able to meet. Asking God to be her companion and provider, thanking him for being her friend and giving her sweet blessing in Jesus name.

Amen. That dear lady reached out to me like the girl in the checkout line of the Sam's Club. She said, do you mind if I hug you? No, precious one. She grabbed onto me like I was her long lost sister. And then after I embrace, she went her way and I [00:17:00] went mine. And here again, those three things. My heart was so full of joy.

She got a tremendous blessing that would just help her to just make it a few steps further that day because her heart was so broken and so in such deep despair and grief, and I know God got the glory from that encounter. So he is definitely answering that prayer that I prayed now over 10 years ago, and he just keeps on.

And now I, as you said, a moment ago. I'm, I'm sensitive when I leave home and I kind of pray, Lord, you know, wherever I, my steps, take me today. Will you help me to be, you know, to keep my ears and my eyes open? And very, very often he will allow a simple circumstance, you know, to come my way to be a blessing to someone in need.

Well, I know that there are people watching right now who are hoping, wishing, wanting to be prayed for so that they too can have these treasure hunt encounters of joy. Could you lead us in [00:18:00] prayer? I will. I will be glad to lead us in prayer. And before I lead us in prayer, I'm just going to challenge that person.

Here again, there are, you know, no conditions to the Great Commission. I heard someone say, you're either a missionary or you are a mission project. So, you know, your, your, your instruction, your mandate, your command from Jesus is to go into the world and make disciples. And there, you know, it's not just for preachers or for.

Sunday school teachers or evangelists is for all of us to share our faith in some kind of way. So I wanna give you just a little challenge today to make yourself available to pray a simple prayer. God, use me wherever I go to let my light so shine before men that they may see my good works. Glorify my father who is in heaven.

And when you pray that prayer, I'm pretty sure God is going to answer that prayer by putting you in the situations and circumstances. And [00:19:00] sometimes they're, they're unexpected. Sometimes it may not come like you think they're going to come. So just be ready, be sensitive, be kind, be full of compassion, and watch how God is going to use you.

So yes, let's pray right now. Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful time of fellowship that Linda and I are enjoying. And for our friends who are watching today, I pray a very special prayer. God, my first prayer is a prayer of blessing that wherever we go, whatever steps we take, uh, first beginning with our family, um, our neighbors, those on our street, on our, in our block, on our city, in our state, our region.

You said that you would use us at home and abroad to shine your light. So father, I pray that our hearts would be willing and that our hearts would be available and that you will open up our hands. Maybe some people are not comfortable with speaking to [00:20:00] others, but they can use their hands. They can write note cards, they can bake cookies, they can pick flowers, they can babysit children.

They can do whatever it is that you put in their hands to do with obedience. I pray, God, that you will answer that prayer that is being prayed. Lord, use me. Use me to let my light shine for you that I might make a difference in the world in which I live in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. And I'm gonna add a quick prayer to that.

I'm gonna say, dear Lord, open our minds. Open our hearts. Open our mouths so that we can speak your encouragement and pray for those that you put in our path. That was a wonderful prayer. And do you have any last words to encourage us? I do, Linda, thank you for asking me to do that. [00:21:00] I do want to encourage our viewers and our listeners to visit my official website, which is Babbie.com.

First name only, Babbie, and they're on the website. You'll see a little triangular button that's spinning around. Click on that little button and that launches. Mason Radio. I'm a singer songwriter and I've been recording for almost 40 years, so I have lots and lots and lots of music, and you can hear my music.

You can hear the stories behind my music. You can hear your favorite worship music by other artists. You can hear brand new music, wonderful programs by Dr. Charles Stanley, Tony Evans, Priscilla Shire, max Lucado, Kay Arthur, your, a lot of your favorite authors and evangelists and Bible study teachers is on 24 hours a day, and you'll be very encouraged when you listen.

And also, I'll encourage you to visit YouTube or other online platforms where you can [00:22:00] either listen to or purchase music because. I've written a lot of songs about prayer, standing in the gap. Pray, pray on, show Me How to Love, love like that, and so many other songs about prayer. You can check all of those songs out on YouTube.

You just put my name in the search bar there on YouTube and all of my songs will come up. So hopefully you can check all of that out on YouTube. I love that because you are one of the most anointed singers I have ever heard, and our viewers and listeners will be so blessed to sing along with you and listening to Babbie Mason Radio, which by the way, I highly recommend are just going to YouTube and listening to you sing.

Thank you so much for joining us today, and thank you for allowing me to be with you. Thank you so much for joining today's show, and if you enjoyed it, would you share, [00:23:00] like, or subscribe, and I have a free gift for you? Just go to my prayer gift.com and download a beautiful prayer, a blessing that you can pray, play and print.

And remember this, God loves you and he wants you to talk to him. See you next time.