According to His Purpose and Other Short Stories (Vol. 5)

This is the fifth volume in the Christmas Carol Kauffman short stories series. Within the pages of this book, you will find nine more of these precious gems.

Excerpt from the book

Was it Edwin's lot to have nothing but misfortune and disappointment today? It seemed like an evil game in which fate was to be determined. What had he done to deserve such horrible reverses? His entire earnings of the past three months were in that stolen billfold. He had planned to stop at a good restaurant with Laura Lou on the way home. He had planned to treat her to the best. Only a few minutes before, he had testified to the jitney driver that he was going to believe—no matter what happened. Depressed, he walked slowly to a lawn chair beside the filling station and sat down to study.

"You don't mind if I sit here a while do you, sir?"

"I never allow loafers, but I guess you can rest a bit."

Edwin put his face in his hands. "Dear God in heaven," he prayed silently, "in Jesus' name, help me to know what to do. I don't want to sin now by doubting Thy word. If it's not good for now, it's not what I claimed it to be. You know, dear Lord, that Romans 8:28 has been my motto and it's got to still be! I do believe it. I dare not doubt, even though the devil wants me to. God bless that mean fellow who stole my billfold. I am one—one of Thy called ones according to Thy mysterious purpose, so deal with me, dear Father in Heaven, according to Thy will!"

About the series

Between 1928 and 1960, the Youth's Christian Companion published more than 100 short stories written by Christmas Carol Kauffman. Rescued from oblivian by her youngest daughter Marcia, these stories have been brought back to life to delight, enlighten, and inspire a whole new generation.

About the author

Born in 1901, Christmas Carol Kauffman is known for her short and book-length stories of faith, courage, and devotion. Her first book, Lucy Winchester, was published by Herald Press in 1945. Throughout the next two decades, she authored seven additional books. All of her books continue to be published today.

Praise for the author

"There is not another writer in the Mennonite Church that can produce material of the type and the way, which you produce it. It is distinctively your project, and some other person, who may write very well, simply cannot write just as you do. That makes your service, therefore, distinctive in minstering in the Lird's kingdom."—C. F. Yake, Administrator, Youth's Christian Companion, May 1948

"I believe that God has given you a talent and He has given you a message that our young people in the Mennonite Church need to have. . . . We would be happy to have your name appear in [the] 'Who's Who for 1955.'"—Urie A. Bender, Editor-elect, Youth's Christian Companion, September 1954

"After reading just one of her stories, the reader is captured by her simple yet powerful prosaic style. It seems as if Carol had the gift to craft words at the first passing... as they flowed from her mind to the pencil. Rarely did she edit or alter these stories but just wrote as the words came. It was as if the words came from elsewhere and she was but the earthbound conduit of heaven's dew distilling upon her fertile and innocent mind."—Reader