Sermon Illustrations on Providence — page 2

May be A reason

Many years ago an old man had one son and a horse. One day the horse broke loose from the corral and went off into the hills. "Your horse got out? What bad luck!" said one of his neighbors. "Why do you say that?" asked the old man. "How do you know it's bad luck?" Sure enough, the next night the horse came back to his corral for feeding and watering, leading twelve wild horses with him. Once the horses were all in the son locked the gate and they now had 13 horses when before they had only one. The neighbors heard the good news and rushed to say, "What good luck you have!" "How do you know it's good luck?" said the old man. Later, the man's son was trying to ride one of the wild horses. It threw him and he fell off and broke his leg. The neighbors were back saying, "What bad luck!" "How do you know it's bad luck?" asked the old man. A few days later an army officer came through and drafted every able-bodied young man, taking them off to war never to return again. But the young man was saved because of his broken leg.

Queen Victoria's train

TRAIN STOPS JUST IN TIME

The British express train raced through the night, its powerful headlamp spearing the black darkness ahead. The train was carrying Queen Victoria. Suddenly the engineer saw a startling sight. Revealed in the beam of the engine's headlights was a weird figure in a black cloak standing in the middle of the tracks and waving its arms. The engineer grabbed for the brakes and brought the train to a grinding halt. He and his fellow trainsmen climbed out to see what had stopped them. But they could find no trace of the strange figure. On a hunch, he walked a few yards further up the tracks. Suddenly he stopped and stared into the fog in horror. The bridge had been washed out in the middle and had toppled into a swollen stream. If he had not heeded the ghostly figure, the train would have plunged into the stream. While the bridge and the tracks were being repaired, the crew made a more intensive search for the strange flagman. But not until they got to London did they solve the mystery. At the base of the engine's head lamp, the engineer discovered a huge dead moth. He looked at it a moment, then on impulse wet its wings and pasted it to the glass of the lamp. Climbing back into his cab, he switched on the lamp and saw the "flagman" in the beam. He knew the answer now: the moth had flown into the beam, seconds before the train was due to reach the washed-out bridge. In the fog, it appeared to be a phantom figure, waving its arms. When Queen Victoria was told of the strange happening she said, "I'm sure it was no accident. It was God's way of protecting us." From Paul Lee Tan's Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times, (Rockville, MD: Assurance Publishers, 1984), pp. 129-130.

Two Traveling Angels

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied… ”Things aren't always what they seem”.

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel “how could you've let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him,” he accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die.” “Things aren't always what they seem,” the older angel replied.

“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem.”

Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

*

Not all bad.

Bob Benson, a Christian author, says we have trouble labeling our experiences. A friend of his had a heart attack and almost died. Months later Benson asked him, "W.T., how did you like your heart attack?" "It scared me to death, almost!" "Would you like to do it again?" "No!" "Would you recommend it?" "Definitely not!" "Does your life mean more to you now than it did before?" "Well, yes...." "You and Nell have always had a beautiful marriage, but now are you closer than ever?" "Yes." "How about your new

granddaughter?" "Yes, did I show you her picture?" "Do you have a new compassion for people? ... A deeper understanding and sympathy?" "Yes." "Do you know the Lord in a richer, deeper fellowship than you had ever realized possible?" "Yes." "How'd you like your heart attack?" Silence was his answer.

Value of

"My God, I've never thanked Thee for my thorns. I have thanked Thee a 1,000 x for my roses, but not once for my thorns. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross: but I have never thot of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross: teach me the value of my thorn. Shew me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Shew me that my tears have made my rainbow."

The Big Picture

(Editor’s Note: The mosaic mentioned in this article can be viewed at: http://photomosaic.com/images/LIFE544x663.jpg)

Rob Silvers brought a new art form to Life -- the 60th anniversary edition of the magazine, to be exact.

While a grad student at MIT’s Media Lab, Silvers developed what he now calls “photomosaics”. In 1986, he used his own specially-designed computer program to fit together a collage of 60 Life covers to form a larger image of Marilyn Monroe. Though the original pictures of the covers were reduced to one centimetre wide, they were not altered in any way. Silvers and his computer merely arranged them by tone, brightness and texture to form the overall effect.

With each of his portraits of famous people, Silvers tries to use “tiles” or smaller pictures that represent the subject’s life. His rendering of Abraham Lincoln is made entirely of Civil War photographs; the one of Madonna -- “The Material Girl” -- is composed of material goods; and the portrait of billionaire Bill Gates is a mosaic of money from around the world.

If the artist sought to define you with a collage of dominant images from your life, what would be on those tiles? Or, looking at things from the other viewpoint, if he took a collection of photographs from your day-to-day situation, what larger image would they reveal? What defines you? And would you want your photomosaic on display for all to see?

For many of us, those are troubling questions when we take the time to answer with honesty and objectivity. But they’re even more troubling when we remember most people have already formed a Big Picture of us, based on the character, conduct and conversation they’ve witnessed in our lives.

The good news is, those pictures aren’t permanent. The life images recorded with every passing day are part of the record, but new ones are added all the time. Our God is a master Artist who can arrange them any way He sees fit. When we give Him access to every aspect of our sinful selves, He can take even the dark tones and ugly textures, set them amid the brilliance of his Son’s ever-increasing influence upon us and puzzle together an image of breath-taking beauty.

That’s because every living mosaic wrought by our Creator is a Self-portrait. When we yield the contents of our hearts and lives, He changes us through the mighty working of his Spirit. Over time, He takes a multitude of kind words, caring gestures and transformational worship moments and arrays them into a splendid reflection of Himself.

Ironically, Rob Silvers’ classic magazine cover is a fitting metaphor for our modern existence. The various issues of life, when reduced and put into proper context, reveal something much bigger than themselves. Each of us will determine what that something is, for ourselves and the people who watch us.

We in the church are right to encourage others to see things against the sweep of eternity and look for the spiritual dimension that puts life in perspective. But let’s remember that having them see the Big Picture is not as important as what Big Picture they see.

________

By Rick Gamble, published in Cross Current, Brantford, ON, Canada. Publish at will.

RM-Bible (4/6/99)

The Gentle Shepherd

The Shepherd loved His little lamb,

And gave it His tender care...

And followed it with His loving eyes

As it wandered here and there.

And as He sat by His grazing flock

Who so meekly His voice obeyed,

He pondered sadly His little lamb

As again and again it strayed.

The little lamb had a loving heart,

And adored His Shepherd, true,

But would turn aside and seek his own way

As lambs will so often do.

With His gentle voice the Shepherd called,

To His loved and straying lamb,

"Come back, little one, for you are not safe

Unless you are where I am."

But still the lamb would soon forget

And unthinkingly wander away,

And not really noticing what he did,

From the Shepherd's side would stray.

Until one day, the Shepherd kind

Took His rod in His gentle hand,

And what He then did seemed so cruel

That the lamb could not understand.

For with one sharp and well-aimed blow

Down the rod so swiftly came

That it broke the leg of the little lamb

And left it crippled, and lame.

Then the little lamb, with a cry of pain,

Fell down upon his knees...

And looked up at his Shepherd, as though to say,

"Won't you explain this, please?"

Then he saw the love in the Shepherd's eyes

As the tears ran down His face,

As He tenderly set the broken bone,

And bound it back in it's place.

Now he was utterly helpless,

He could not even stand!

He must trust himself completely

To his Shepherd's loving hand.

Then day by day, 'till the lamb was healed

From the flock he was kept apart...

And carried about in the Shepherd's arms,

And cradled near to His heart

And the Shepherd would whisper gentle words

Into his now listening ear...

Thus he heard sweet words of love

That the other sheep could not hear.

He felt the warmth of the Shepherd's arms

And the beat of His faithful heart...

Until it came a blessing to seem,

By his weakness to be set apart.

Every need of the little lamb

By his Shepherd so fully was met

That through his brokenness he learned

What he never again would forget.

And as the broken bone was healed,

And once more became whole and strong...

Wherever the Shepherd's path would lead,

The lamb would follow along.

Thus at the Shepherd's side he walked

So closely, day by day,

For once a lamb has a broken leg

It will never again go astray.

For the cords of love had bound it so

In its hour of weakness and need...

That it had no desire to wander away,

When once again it was freed.

Could it be you are broken today,

And you cannot understand

The painful blow of the Shepherd's rod

Nor believe it came from His hand?

He only seeks, by this painful thing,

For a time to call you apart...

To cradle you close in His loving arms,

And draw you near to His heart.

So look up into your Shepherd's eyes,

And earnestly seek His face...

And prove in the hour of your weakness and need

The sufficiency of His love and grace.

For as you are borne in His loving arms,

And carried there, day by day...

He will bind you so close with the cords of love

That never again will you stray!

- author unknown -

(untitled)

One Tree Died

"I need oil," said an ancient monk; so he planted an olive sapling.

"Lord," he prayed, "it needs rain that its tender roots may drink and swell.

Send gentle showers." And the Lord sent gentle showers. "Lord," prayed the

monk, "my tree needs sun. Send sun, I pray Thee." And the sun shone,

gilding the dripping clouds. "Now frost, my Lord, to brace

its tissues," cried the monk. And behold, the little tree stood

sparkling with frost, but at evening it died.

Then the monk sought the cell of a brother monk, and told his strange

experience. "I, too, planted a little tree," he said, "and see! It

thrives well. But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows

better what

it needs than a man like me."

"I laid no condition. I fixed not ways or means. 'Lord, send what it

needs,' I prayed, 'storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. Thou hast

made it and Thou dost know.' "

(untitled)

Someone has observed, "He who carries a lantern on a dark road at night sees only one step ahead. When he takes that step, the lamp moves forward and another step is made plain. He finally reaches his destination in safety without once walking in darkness. All the way is lighted, but only a single step at a time. This is the method of God's guidance."

(untitled)

Washington's Miraculous Deliverance

The account of George Washington at the "Battle at the Monongahela" was

included in student textbooks in America until 1934. During the French &

Indian War, George Washington fought alongside of the British General Edward

Braddock. On July 9, 1755, the British were on the way to Fort Duquesne,

when the French surprised them in an ambush attack.

The British, who were not accustomed to fighting unless in an open field,

were being annihilated. Washington rode back and forth across the battle

delivering General Braddock's orders. As the battle raged, every other

officer on horseback, except Washington, was shot down, until even General

Braddock was killed, at which point the troops fled in confusion. After the

battle, on July 18, 1755, Washington wrote to his brother, John A.

Washington:

But by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected

beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through

my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death

was leveling my companions on every side of me!

Fifteen year later, Washington and Dr. Craik, a close friend of his from

his youth, were traveling through those same woods near the Ohio river and

Great Kanawha river. They were met by an old Indian chief, who addressed

Washington through an interpreter:

I am a chief and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters

of the great lakes and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and

weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on

the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forests

that I first beheld this chief (Washington).

I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is

not of the red-coat tribe -- he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors

fight as we do --himself alone exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and

he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to

miss -- 'twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded you.

Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we

immediately ceased to fire at you. I am old and soon shall be gathered to

the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go,

there is something bids me speak in the voice of prophecy:

Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man (pointing at Washington), and

guides his destinies -- he will become the chief of nations, and a people

yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay

homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can

never die in battle.

The famous Indian warrior, who was in that battle, said:

Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair

fires at him with my rifle, and after all could not bring him to the ground!

Taken from America's God & Country Encyclopedia, p 636-637

(untitled)

CREATIVE ADVERSITY

In 1832, French engineer Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps was traveling on the

Mediterranean Sea. One of the passengers on the ship he was on came down

with a contagious disease and the ship was quarantined. Lesseps became very

frustrated. To help kill time he read the memoirs of Charles le Pere who had

considered the feasibility of building a canal from the Mediterranean to the

Red Sea. In 1869 the Suez Canal was completed. It was constructed following

the design by and under the leadership of de Lesseps.

It was during that quarantine thirty-seven years earlier that the plan for

the Suez Canal was germinated and conceived by de Lesseps. The entire world

has reaped the benefit ever since.

(untitled)

A Perfect Mistake

Mothers father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was

building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some

rphanage in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to

find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his

earlier actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of

his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed

shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children.

He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the

thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he

drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time

and money to your work, an now this."

Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in

the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him

in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church

in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their

faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I

must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists

had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my

glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no

way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I

experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer

about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers,

they found a pair of glasses lying on top.

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then,

still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I

tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for

me! I want to thank you for being a part of that."

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the

missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they

thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.

But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an

ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an

extraordinary way.

Seven Facts About Angels, God's Providence, and You

Job 5:8

Introduction: There is much that we cannot know about Angels and God’s Providence because: a) it has to do with unseen influences upon the mind, and b) God has not revealed every secret thing to us. There are some things about God Himself that cannot be discovered because they are “past finding out”. See Job 5:8-15; 9:10; Rom.11:33; Deut.29:29. However, there are some things that God has let us know about angels and His providential care for us. Let us consider SEVEN FACTS:

1. ANGEL INFLUENCES HAVE UNKNOWINGLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH POLITICAL DECISION MAKING.

A. The battle between good and evil angels seem to play out into rising and falling of political or governing officials.

B. It was revealed to Daniel that an angel was delayed for 21 days in coming to him because of “the prince of the kingdom of Persia”. Dan.10:12-14

a. One very impressive and sobering point is that the angel told Daniel that his Heart, humility, and his PRAYER had a lot to do with how things were playing out in the heavenly realm and on the coming political scene.

b. Prayer works “above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. (Eph.3:20). Isn’t it amazing how much power is in our hands when we pray?

c. Fervent prayer of a righteous man AVAILS MUCH. Jas.5:16. Prayers effect angels and God. In turn, God and angels go to work in ways past finding out, yet effecting the affairs of mankind.

2. OPPOSING FORCES ARE DOING BATTLE IN “THE AIR”. Eph.2:2

A. Satan is the PRINCE of the power of the air.

B. He has something to do with “working” in the sons of disobedience.

C. The exact methodology of how he comes to influence the mind or to tempt us or to bring thorns and trials into our lives is not spelled out. He has man “devices”, and he can hurl “fiery darts” at us.

D. The book of Revelation is largely a word-picture of how the forces behind the political scene represent a battle. Notice that God’s angels have something to do with winning on the political front through their influence in “the air”. Rev.16:17-19.

a. The angel poured out his bowl into the air and things started happening on the earth.

b. The evil city became divided. Notice, Satan had done his job in turning the city evil. But, the angel of God sent destruction (perhaps through an army) upon the city.

3. WE PARTICIPATE IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE FORCES OF GOOD AND EVIL. Eph.6:10-13

A. We “wrestle” against “the rulers” of the dark.

B. We “wrestle” against “spiritual hosts” of wickedness.

C. We can “resist the devil” and he will “flee”, OR we can keep compromising with him and sooner or later, we will find that Satan has established his “throne” in our town. Rev.2:13

D. By being “salt that has lost its savor”, we become useless in places where we need to be making a difference. Our influence for good must be sustained at all times and in all places.

4. THE DARK SIDE WAS GIVEN A MOMENT OF APPARENT VICTORY.

A. When the Jews were ready to execute Jesus, Jesus said it was their “hour” and the power of darkness. Lk.22:53

B. Just before Jesus was to be crucified, He described it as a time when “the ruler of this world is coming”. John 14:30

C. The Jews were not aware that they were tools in the hand of Satan. Nor, did they realize that the “power of darkness” was at work through them.

D. Peter probably did not realize that Satan had “sifted him as wheat” or that behind the scenes Satan had “asked for” Peter. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that we just do not know about.

5. GOD WOULD TURN SATAN’S MOMENT INTO AGONIZING DEFEAT.

A. Jesus’ death and resurrection would cause the fall of Satan. His ability to stand before God as our “accuser” was defeated when our sins were paid by the blood of The Lamb. This cast him to the ground. John 12:31-33 B. The picture of Satan’s effort, the angelic war, and the defeat of the dragon is played out in the heavenly realm in Rev.12. See vs.7-9

a. Notice the fighting among the good and evil angels.

b. Notice how the defeat played out to the victory of the saints on earth.

6. THE WORLD IS UNDER THE POWER OF SATAN UNTIL WE OPEN EYES WITH THE GOSPEL.

A. See Acts 26:17-18.

a. Notice that Paul would be protected from the Jews. Yet, the Jews would not realize that it was God who was protecting Paul from them.

b. Notice also that the gospel is a powerful tool that can “open” the eyes of Gentiles.

c. Thus, the forces of darkness can be defeated by Christians.

B. 2 Cor.4:4 - Yet, some people can be so blinded by Satan that they cannot see the meaning and light of the gospel.

C. Col.1:13 - But, others would be delivered from the power of darkness.

D. It is amazing how much power is placed in our hands to help in the defeat of the dark angelic forces of Satan.

a. Not only do angels fight against Satan and his angels, but God has ground troops in us as well.

b. The more people we can share the gospel with, the smaller Satan’s influence will be. Want to slow down the evil of divorce, adultery, fornication, abortion, drug abuse, etc.? The gospel will slow down the spread of evil.

c. We must be convinced that the best thing we can do for our country and for our community is to spread the gospel. Hold up the cross constantly.

d. When Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hand and the rod of God, God’s people were winners in the battle. Likewise, as long as we hold up the hands of those who hold up the gospel, we will be guaranteed winners over the power of Satan.

7. GOD HAS PROVIDED YOU THIS MOMENT TO LEAVE THE FIELD OF ETERNAL LOSERS.

A. You live and have your being right now, because God gives it to you.

B. You may be here today to hear the gospel for the last time. This may be your last moment to start making a difference in the battle. Esther 4:14

C. The winners are all in fellowship with Jesus Christ. 1 Cor.15:57-58

D. Only those who have been born again through faith in Jesus will be the winners and watch the ultimate defeat of Satan as he is cast into OUTER darkness. 1 John 5:4

a. You will join in the eternal misery of Satan and his angels if you persist in stubbornness and disobedience to the gospel.

b. Victory is through the exercise of faith in Jesus, not through the mere admission of His existence or of His greatness.

c. Faith must lead through the new birth. John 3:3-5

CONCLUSION: There are many unseen forces at work. Angels are fighting for us. God is the sure winner. Which team do you want to be on? There would be lots of joy in heaven if you turned from sin today and was buried with Christ in baptism. Will the power of darkness continue to hold you in the losers realm? Will darkness yet persuade you to keep waiting? Who knows but what now is your final moment? Wouldn’t it be sad for Jesus to have died in vain for you? Please come to Him now.

Terry W. Benton

*

Paraphrase of Psalm 23

THE TWENTY THIRD PSALM

(an Indian version)

The GREAT FATHER above a SHEPHERD CHIEF is.

I am His and with Him I want not.

He throws out to me a rope

and the name of the rope is love

and He draws me to where the grass is green

and the water is not dangerous,

and I eat and lie down and am satisfied.

Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down

but He lifts me up again and draws me into a good road.

His name is WONDERFUL.

Sometime, it may be very soon, it may be a long long time,

He will draw me into a valley.

It is dark there, but I'll be afraid not,

for it is between those mountains

that the SHEPHERD CHIEF will meet me

and the hunger that I have in my heart all through life

will be satisfied.

Sometimes he makes the love rope into a whip,

but afterwards He gives me a staff to lean upon.

He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods.

He puts His hand upon my head and all the `tired' is gone.

My cup He fills till it runs over.

What I tell is true.

I lie not.

These roads that are `away ahead' will stay with me

through this life and after;

and afterwards I will go to live in the Great Lodge

and sit down with the SHEPHERD CHIEF forever.

- George Hunt

(Kiowa)

(untitled)

Isaiah 42:6

HAND IN HAND

Hand in hand, my Lord and I will walk

through the storm.

He'll comfort me through the thunder.

He'll protect me from the rain.

He'll not let me be touched by the lightening.

When I get to the other side I'll know

my Lord as He knows me.

His strength will be my strength.

His faith my faith.

His will my will.

Hand in hand my Lord and I will walk.

\reference{Isa 42:6}{Isaiah 42:6} "I, the LORD, have called You in

righteousness, and will hold

Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the

people, as a light to the Gentiles, (NKJ)

- Pam Hossack

8/89

(untitled)

In 1874 in Swana Quarter,

NC a group of people wanted a certain piece of

ground on which to build a church. But no matter how hard they

persuaded, and negotiated, the owner would not sell. Finally they had to settle for

another piece of ground where they built their church. Two years later, there

was a great storm... the area flooded... and as the raging waters neared

the church, they lifted the building off it's foundation and it began to

float away. After the storm was over the people of the area were amazed that

on this

day, Sept. 16, 1876, God had providentially done what man was unable

to do. He moved the church across town and sat the church square on the piece

of property the church members had originally bargained for. The owner

of the land could not deny the hand of God in the matter and gave the people

the piece of property they so badly wanted. The church has been renamed

"The Church of Providence," and can be seen by those who visit the town.

A Voice That Saved From Death

Peter Marshall was a popular preacher of the 1940's and 1950's, pastoring the historic Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. During his boyhood in Scotland, Peter visited a friend who lived some distance away. As boys often do, he lost track of time and stayed too late. Dusk came and Peter started for home. To save time, he took a short-cut across the moors. darkness fell. Lost and terrified, Peter began to run.

Suddenly he thought he heard a voice call his name, "Peter!" He ran on. Again the voice called, "Peter!" Turning to see who was calling as he ran, he stumbled and fell in the darkness. Reaching out to raise himself, Peter touched nothing but air. Groping fingers examined the ground. Suddenly he knew where he was ... at the edge of an old stone quarry. A few more steps and he would have fallen to his death. Peter Marshall always felt God had saved his life by called out to him!

Motivated To Climb Higher

I have read of a shepherd who tended his flock among the hills. After a time, the herbage was nipped off close and the shepherd was anxious to get the sheep up higher on to a piece of tableland on which there was some good grazing. The approach was steep and the poor things did not seem able or willing to mount. After trying for a long time to get them up, he hit upon a happy expedient. Seizing a lamb he carried it up the steep place, and then threw it on to the tableland. It soon stood at the edge above calling for the old sheep. Need I say that not many minutes passed before the mother was up with the lamb?

__________

Charles Leach

Food When Needed

A consecrated Jewish believer, Dr. Max Reich, gave this

testimony: "When my wife and I were first married, we felt

called to full-time Christian service, God blessed our ministry

and many people accepted the Lord. Although our income was

small and we had few worldly possessions, our hearts were full

of joy. One day, however, my wife said, "Max, there's nothing

to eat for dinner!' I didn't reply at first but stood listening

to the birds singing in the trees. Suddenly these words from a

well-known Gospel song flashed through my mind: 'His eye is on

the sparrow, and I know He watches me.' Immediately I said, 'If

our Heavenly Father feeds the birds, surely He'll take care of

us!' Just then a lady knocked at the door. After introducing

herself she said, 'My husband was a hopeless alcoholic. Every

time he got his check he'd spend most of it to get drunk, so the

children and I were often hungry. Recently he heard you preach

the Gospel, and the Lord worked a miracle in his heart. Now

he's a changed man! For the first time in years he brought home

a full week's pay, and I was able to get a good supply of

groceries. I thought as I was cooking, part of this food really

belongs to Brother Reich. I was going to bring you some later,

but I felt compelled to do it immediately. Here's half of the

chicken I fried and some biscuits fresh from the oven!' 'We were

so happy,' said Dr. Reich, that we sang, 'Praise God from whom

all blessings flow!' To this moment the Lord has never failed

to give us our daily bread."

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

William Cowper, like many of us, was subject to moments of deep melancholy. One night in such a mood he called a cabby and directed him to drive to the banks of the Thames River. The city of London was blanketed with an impenetrable fog, which was, however, no thicker than the despair in the poet's own soul. For more than an hour the cab driver groped his way along the streets and yet did not find the river. His passenger grew more and more impatient until at last he leaped from the cab, determined to find his watery grave unassisted. Groping through the fog, he was astonished when he found himself at his own doorstep. Going to his room he penned the words of that beautiful hymn: “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.”

-- Gospel Herald

God-Fearing Response To A Merciful Providence

On February 26, 1844 occurred one of the major disasters in the

history of our navy. The Princeton the most powerful warship of that

day commanded by Captain Stockton was taking members of Congress and

government officials down the Potomac. On board were the president of

the United States and the secretaries of state and navy. For the

entertainment of the guests, the great gun on the Princeton called

"The Peacemaker" was fired. At the second discharge, the gun burst,

killing the secretary of state, the secretary of the navy, and a

number of others.

Just before the gun was fired, Senator Thomas Benton of Missouri

was standing near it, when a friend laid a hand on his shoulder.

Benton turned away to speak with him, when, much to his annoyance, the

secretary of the navy, Gilmore, elbowed his way into his place. At

that moment, the gun was fired and Gilmore was killed.

That singular providence had a great impression upon Benton. He was

a man of bitter feuds and quarrels and recently had had a fierce

quarrel with Daniel Webster. But after his escape from death on the

Princeton, Benton sought reconciliation with Webster. He said to him,

"It seemed to me, Mr. Webster, as if that touch on my shoulder was the

hand of the Almighty stretched down there drawing me away from what

otherwise would have been instantaneous death. That one circumstance

has changed the whole current of my thought and life. I feel that I am

a different man; and I want in the first place to be at peace with all

those with whom I have been so sharply at variance." Benton responded

in reverent fear to that "touch of God" on his shoulder. God has many

ways of touching your shoulder, many ministries by which he speaks to

your heart; and when he does, then is the time to act. Resist not that

touch. --McCartney

He Was Right

Isaiah 45:22

In England a returned missionary to Russia was a guest in the

Congregational minister's home. Visiting there at the time was the

minister's grandson. One night after evening worship the missionary,

who had been "taken" with the lad, asked him to point out the chamber

where he slept. Early in the morning he called him, and as they sat

together in the garden he told him of the love of Christ. A few days

later, as they were concluding family worship, the missionary took the

boy on his knee and said to those assembled, "I am convinced that this

boy will preach the gospel. I am convinced that he will be a great

preacher of the gospel, and that he will stand one day in the pulpit

of Rowland Hill." Then he said to the boy, as he gave him a shilling,

"I want you to promise that when that day comes and you stand in

Rowland Hill's pulpit, you will give out the hymn, 'God Works in a

Mysterious Way His Wonders to Perform.'"

Several years passed by; and the minister's grandson, now a lad of

fifteen, was on his way to church in Colchester. A storm came up, and

he turned into the first church he came to, the Primitive Methodist

Chapel in Artillery Street. The regular minister did not appear, and a

layman arose in the pulpit and gave out the text, \reference{Isaiah

45:22}{Isaiah 45:22}: "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of

the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." The boy sitting in

the rear of the dark and almost empty church answered the text and was

saved. That boy was Charles H. Spurgeon, who preached in the great

Metropolitan Tabernacle for thirty years!

How Fletcher Was Divinely Preserved

When Mr. Fletcher was a youth, he and his brother went upon the

Lake of Geneva in a little boat, and rowed forward, till, being out of

sight of land, they knew not what way they were going, nor whether

they were approaching or removing farther from the shore from which

they had set out. The evening now came on, and it was beginning to

grow dark; and as they were proceeding towards the middle of the lake,

in all probability they would have been lost, had it not

providentially happened that, in consequence of some news arriving in

town, the bells began to ring.

They could only just hear them, but were soon convinced that,

instead of rowing to land, as they had intended, they had been

proceeding farther and farther from it. Making now towards the quarter

from which they perceived the sound to come, they found they had just

strength enough left to reach the shore. --Life Of John Fletcher

Hymn and Pill Save Doomed Submarine

The British Press Association reported this strange incident: A British submarine lay disabled on the ocean floor. After two days, hope of raising her was abandoned. The crew on orders of the commanding officer began singing:

"Abide with me! fast falls the eventide,

The darkness deepens - Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!"

The officer explained. to the men that they did not have long to live. There was no hope of outside aid, he said, because the surface searchers did not know the vessel's position. Sedative pills were distributed to the men to quiet their nerves. One sailor was affected more quickly than the others, and he swooned. He fell against a piece of equipment and set in motion the submarine's jammed surfacing mechanism. The submarine went to the surface and made port safely.

________

Gospel Herald

Light Shining Out of Darkness

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs,

And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful, fresh courage take!

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace:

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain:

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.

--William Cowper

No Need Beyond God's Ability To Meet

During Operation Desert Storm we studied war as no generation has

studied war before us--live from the battle front every night. One

thing we learned was the importance of an army's ability to re-supply

its troops. Night after night we watched successful attacks on supply

routes from Iraq to the troops at the front. Soon stories came in of

Iraqi soldiers lacking food and water. Those stories suddenly became

very human as Iraqi soldiers ran to meet coalition troops and Western

news cameras, surrendering gleefully in return for food, water, and

even shoes.

Keeping an army supplied with the necessities is an awesome

responsibility that only the highest authorities would dare assume.

When it comes to the army of believers who make up His church, God is

the supplier of the needs. As we follow Him in spiritual conflict, we

need not fear that we will encounter a need beyond His ability to

meet.

Providence and Conversion

This is an unpublished incident in the life of Hudson Taylor. He

came to the city of Hangchow. The next day with a bag of books over

his shoulder he started an evangelistic tour of the city. Great crowds

followed him about. At night weary, he sat down to rest at a tea house

in the suburbs on the way to his boat in the river. As he sat at the

table, he saw peering at him though the gathering gloom an elderly

Chinese. The man was evidently seeking someone. "Are you a foreigner?"

"Yes, I am an Englishman." "Are there books in that bag on the table?"

"Yes, there are." "Are you a teacher of a foreign religion?" "Yes of

the Jesus religion."

The Chinese then told Taylor that he had been an earnest seeker

after truth for many years but could find no religion which could take

the burden of guilt from his soul. A few nights before, he had had a

vision: a man in white had told him to go to Hangchow that he would

find there a foreigner sitting in an inn with a bag of books on the

table before him. He had visited the inn but had found no such person.

Finally, hearing of this inn in the suburbs he had as a last hope come

thither. He asked Taylor to tell him the truth, whereupon he preached

the gospel and gave him a New Testament. Two days later, Taylor

visited his house and found he had destroyed all his idols and was

rejoicing in Jesus Christ. Taylor left the man adoring God not only

for his power to save, but also for his marvelous and miraculous ways

of leading souls to the messenger and the message of the gospel.

--McCartney

Providence and History

In the first days of September, 1862, the Confederate armies flushed with victory over the armies of McClellan and the armies of Pope at the second Battle of Manassas, crossed the Potomac into Maryland and set out on the first invasion of the North. At Fredericksburg, Lee divided his army, sending sections of it to take the Federal garrisons at Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry and then join the main army at Hagerstown on the way into Pennsylvania. By one of the chances of war, a copy of Lee's orders to his generals was left behind in Fredericksburg wrapped about a package of cigars.

When the Union army came cautiously into Fredericksburg, a Union man put the orders in the hands of McClellan. Lee's brilliant plan of campaign was in the hands of his adversary. The bugles sounded in the blue ranks and at the double quick the Union army marched for the passes of South Mountain to overtake Lee. They drove his army through the passes before he could call back his other divisions, and on September 17, the bloodiest day of the Civil War, defeated it at the fords of the Antietam.

When the baffled army of Lee had crossed the Potomac back into Virginia, Lincoln told his advisers how he had covenanted with God that, if the North was victorious in the struggle in Maryland, he would show his gratitude by freeing the slaves. A careless staff officer wrapped Lee's order about his tobacco, and the plan of the campaign was in the hands of the adversary. Surprise was impossible; defeat certain. The North was freed from invasion, and the Proclamation of Emancipation was issued. All of this was due to one of those strange events which, so insignificant in itself, yet under Him -- “Who sees with equal eye as God of all, a hero perish or a sparrow fall” -- is fateful to decide the issue of nations.

-- McCartney

Providential Mercy Extended To William Cowper

The hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" has been a source of

great comfort and blessing to many of God's people since William

Cowper wrote it in the 18th century. Yet few people know of the

unusual circumstances that led to its composition. William

Cowper was a Christian, but he had sunk to the depths of

despair. One foggy night he called for a horsedrawn carriage

and asked to be taken to the London Bridge on the Thames River.

He was so overcome by depression that he intended to commit

suicide. But after 2 hours of driving through the mist,

Cowper's coachman reluctantly confessed that he was lost.

Disgusted by the delay, Cowper left the carriage and decided to

find the London Bridge on foot. After walking only a short

distance, though, he discovered that he was at his own doorstep!

The carriage had been going in circles.

Immediately he recognized the restraining hand of God in it all.

Convicted by the Spirit, he realized that the way out of his troubles

was to look to God, not to jump into the river. As he cast his burden

on the Savior, his heart was comforted. With gratitude he sat down

and penned these reassuring words: "God moves in a mysterious way His

wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon

the storm. O fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds you so

much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your

head."

Sometime

Sometime, when all life's lessons have been learned,

And sun and stars forevermore have set,

The things which our weak judgments here have spurned,

The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet,

Will flash before us, out of life's dark night,

As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;

And we shall see how all God's plans are right,

And how what seems reproof was love most true.

And we shall see how, while we frown and sigh,

God's plans go on as best for you and me;

How, when we called He heeded not our cry,

Because His wisdom to the end could see.

And e'en as prudent parents disallow

Too much of sweet to craving babyhood,

So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now

Life's sweetest things, because it seemeth good.

And if sometimes, commingled with life's wine,

We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink,

Be sure, a wiser hand than yours or mine

Pours out this potion for our lips to drink.

And if some friend we love is lying low,

Where human kisses cannot reach his face,

Oh, do not blame the loving Father so,

But wear your sorrow with obedient grace!

And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath

Is not the sweetest gift God sends his friend,

And that, sometimes, the sable pall of death

Conceals the fairest bloom his love can send.

If we could push ajar the gates of life,

And stand within, and all God's workings see,

We could interpret all this doubt and strife,

And for each mystery could find a key.

But not today. Then be content, poor heart!

God's plans like lilies pure and white unfold.

We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,

Time will reveal the calyces of gold.

And if, through patient toil, we reach the land

Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,

When we shall clearly know and understand,

I think that we will say, "God knew the best!"

--May Riley Smith

They All Voted To Die

Luke 12:4

In the days of war the Japanese policeman who had absolute power said that within three days everyone in a certain Formosan mountain village must come to the police station and swear that he would not be a Christian, or he would be tied hand and foot, and stones tied to him, and he would be thrown from the high bridge into the rushing river below. The Christians met at midnight to decide what to do. Some said, "We'll have to give it up. We cannot be Christians now. He will surely kill us."

Then a young boy arose. "But don't you remember that Jesus said not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to be afraid of those who kill body and soul? If he kills us, it will only be our bodies. Our souls will go to be with Jesus." They all said, "That's true." When the vote was taken, every hand was raised -- all voted to die. Next day the policeman laughed cruelly, and said, "Tomorrow you die."

Now the policeman liked to fish, and waded out into the river. A rock or tree in the current struck his leg and broke it. While the mountain people were praying, a messenger rushed in, and said, "The man who was to kill you tomorrow has been drowned in the river."

--Child Evangelism

Is Anyone Out There?: the Moral Universe of Film & Television

Ask most Christians what they think is wrong with movies and television shows and they’ll probably cite examples of violence, sexual content, and profanity.

But the problem with a lot of what we watch isn’t only what’s there, it’s also what is not there: namely, the notion that someone is in charge of the universe.

Christians call this idea “providence.” John Calvin defined providence as a “governing activity” rooted in the idea that God is the “Creator and Preserver [of the universe] ... [and] that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for everything he has made....”

Belief in providence went beyond matters of religion. Historically, belief in a governing activity enabled the various plot strands in drama and comedy to come together in a satisfying ending -- an ending that left the audience thinking that the world had order and wasn’t spinning out of control.

As Thomas Hibbs of Boston College points out, we see providence at work in the movies of Frank Capra, for example. Whether the movies had a religious reference, like IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, or didn’t, LIKE MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, the message is the same: some force is at work rewarding good and punishing evil.

But as Hibbs chronicles in his book, SHOWS ABOUT NOTHING, that has changed in the past three decades. Since the early 1970s, much of what we watch is characterized by what Hibbs calls a “demonic anti-providence.” These are films like THE EXORCIST, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and the recent hit, HANNIBAL. You can find something similar in shows like SEINFELD, which advertises itself as a show about nothing.

This goes beyond making television and the movies religion-free zones, or depicting religious believers in negative ways. The world depicted in movies and television is often one where “...ultimate justice is elusive,” and “where we are tempted to see the underlying force as malevolent and punitive.”

As a result, says Hibbs, this worldview sees “violence and ineradicable guilt as the underlying truth about the human condition....” In place of the hero, we have what Hibbs calls the “demonic anti-hero” who -- unlike the hero who knows what is right and seeks to do it -- is bound by no moral code and, in fact, invites the audience to celebrate his liberation from morality.

The demonic anti-hero, and the worldview that produced him, are the product of cultural attitudes towards belief in God. It’s true that most Americans profess to believe in God, but this God is a far cry from the God of Scripture. More than a century of naturalism has eroded our belief that God is providential -- that is, in charge of all events. Likewise, there is little sense that he rewards good and punishes evil. And what we see onscreen not only reflects these beliefs, it reinforces them.

Over the past three decades, the entertainment industry has become the dominant cultural force in our culture. Films and television have little effective competition when it comes to shaping our -- and our children’s -- moral imaginations.

This is why we can’t stop at knowing just whether a film contains nudity or violence. Even films without either one can teach a worldview at odds with historic Christianity. To understand the impact of media on our lives, we have to look at the worldview being depicted. And that starts with asking if, according to the show, anyone is really in charge.

============

Hibbs, Thomas S. SHOWS ABOUT NOTHING: NIHILISM IN POPULAR CULTURE FROM THE EXORCIST TO SEINFELD. Dallas: Spence Publishing, 1999.

or in trade paper:

The Mystery and Beauty of Divine Providence

John 13:7

The famous Thomas Nast, in a public exhibition of his skill, once performed a strange feat with his brushes. Taking a canvas about six feet long by two feet wide, he placed it nearly horizontal upon an easel before his audience and began to sketch rapidly a landscape. In quick succession appeared green meadows with cattle, fields of grain, the farmhouse and surrounding buildings with orchard near; while over all the bright sky with fleecy cloud seemed to pour Heavens benediction upon the scene below. At length no finishing touch was necessary. Still, the artist held his brush as he stepped aside to receive the hearty plaudits of the admiring audience.

When the applause had subsided, Mr Nast stepped back to the canvas as if he had not quite completed the picture. Taking darker colors, he applied them most recklessly to the canvas. Out went the bright sky. “Did you ever see a picture like this?” he asked as he blotted out meadows, fields, orchards, and buildings. Up, down and across, passed the artist’s hand until the landscape was totally obliterated, and nothing but a daub such as a child might make remained.

Then with a more satisfied look he stepped aside laying down his brush as if to say, “It is finished.” But no applause came from the perplexed audience, and Nast then ordered the stage attendants to place a gilded frame around the ruined work of art and to turn it to a vertical position. The mystery was revealed, for before the audience stood a panel picture of a beautiful waterfall, the water plunging over a precipice of dark rock, skirted with trees and verdure. It is needless to say that the audience burst into rounds of applause.

Thus it is that a greater Artist works. We paint our landscapes. How beautiful we make them, with all manner of earthy prosperity with bright skies above. We imagine our sketching to be perfect, but an unseen hand finishes more grandly our crude designs. houses and lots farms and merchandise disappear. Yes, our portraits of loved faces are blotted out. We cry, “Hold! Hold!” but the hand that applies the darker colors moves relentlessly on. We bewail our ruined pictures because we have not the true angle of vision. At last, God turns the canvas and there appears a work, not for a time, but for eternity.

While Mr. Nast was spoiling the landscape to produce the falls, he might have said to the mystified audience: “What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter.” What puzzled the audience was plain to him. In each destructive stroke upon the one picture he saw a creative stroke of the other; and what in the providence of God appears so strange to us is most clear to him Who would save us from being “conformed to this world” and would help us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Reason For It All

There is coming a time when we will understand the meaning and love

of all God's dealings with us, however strange and inexplicable they

may seem now. There is an old Hebrew story which illustrates the fact.

It represents a rabbi as journeying on a donkey through a wild land.

His only companion was a rooster, whose shrill crowing at sunrise

awoke him to his devotions. He came to a certain village at nightfall

and besought shelter, but the inhabitants churlishly refused him.

Outside the village, he found a cave, where he prepared to spend the

night. He lit his lamp to read a chapter, as usual, before retiring;

but a gust of wind blew it out. During the night, a wolf killed his

rooster and a lion devoured his donkey. He passed a sleepless night.

Early in the morning, he returned to the village to see if he could

obtain a horse or a donkey on which to pursue his journey. To his

surprise, he found no one alive in the whole village. A band of

robbers had come during the night and plundered the village and slain

the people.

"Ah!" said the rabbi, "now I understand my annoyances. Had not the

villagers closed their doors against me, I would have died with the

others. If my lamp had not been extinguished, and my animals had not

been killed, the light, or their noise might have revealed my hiding

place to the robbers. Truly God has been good to me." --Topical

Illustrations

The Oxen Knew the Way

Acts 16:6

Barnabas Shaw reached Cape Town in 1816 with his plans matured to plant there the Gospel of the Son of God. But Dutch rule in Africa was hostile to missionary effort and he was forbidden to preach the Gospel on his chosen field, so in bitter disappointment was compelled to turn his steps elsewhere.

He bought a yoke of oxen and a cart, and, putting his goods into it, he and his wife seated themselves therein and headed the lowing kine toward the interior of the country. On the twenty-seventh day of their journey, when they encamped, they discovered a company of Hottentots halting near them. On entering into communication with them they learned that this band of heathen headed by their chief were journeying to Cape Town in search of a missionary to teach them “the Great Word” as they expressed it.

Meeting them just in the nick of time proved such a juncture of Providence as had rarely occurred in the history of missions. -- Gordon

==============

Another version from David Jeremiah by way of PreachingNow newsletter:

Long ago, missionary Barnabas Shaw arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, hoping to preach the gospel. When authorities forbade him from doing so, he purchased an ox cart and started upcountry, giving God the reins, so to speak. The oxen lumbered into the interior, and a month later Shaw met a tribe of Hottentots coming in the opposite direction. They were traveling to Cape Town in search of a missionary to teach them about God’s Word. Shaw spent many years with this tribe, establishing a thriving work that endures to this day.

David Jeremiah writes: “The apostle Paul longed to preach in Rome. When he was arrested in Jerusalem, it appeared his prayers would go unanswered. Yet God, in His own way, sent Paul to Rome, with the Roman government paying the fare.

“If we have a yearning for God’s work, He will open the doors in His own way. If we long to witness, He’ll give us souls in His own time. It might not happen as we expect, but we should always expect the unexpected from Him.”

________

Turning Point Daily Devotional, 8/28/09

The Rest of the Story

Normally all of the good choir people came to church on Wednesday night to practice, and they tended to be early, well before the 7:30 starting time. But one night, March 1, 1950, one by one, two by two, they all had ex cuses for being late. Marilyn, the church pianist, overslept on her after- dinner nap, so she and her mother were late. One girl, a high school sophomore, was having trouble with her homework. That delayed her, so she was late. One cou ple couldn't get their car started. They, and those they were to pick up, ended up being late. All 18 choir mem bers, including the pastor and his wife, were late. All had good excuses. At 7:30, the time the choir rehearsal was to begin, not one soul was in the choir loft. This had never happened before. Now for the rest of the story. That night, the only night in the history of the church that the choir wasn't starting to practice at 7:30, was the night that there was a gas leak in the basement of the West Side Baptist Church. At precisely the time at which the choir would have been singing, the gas leak was ignited by the church furnace and the whole building blew up. Was this just a fluke that no one was injured or killed? Was it just plain luck that made everyone late for choir practice that night? That's what some people would say. But Christians know better. We know that God was watching over the members of West Side Baptist Church that night.

Lincoln & Kennedy

Ponder this Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters. Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. Both wives lost their children while living in the White House. Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. Both were shot in the head. Here is an interesting one... Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy. Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln. Both were assassinated by Southerners. Both were succeeded by Southerners. Both successors were named Johnson. Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908. John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy was born in 1939. Both assassins were known by their three names. Both names comprise fifteen letters. Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse. Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater. Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials. And here's the kicker, A week before Lincoln was shot he was in Monroe, Maryland. A week before Kennedy was shot he was with Marilyn Monroe.

(untitled)

Janet Zorick lost her husband in a terrible fire in a crowded building. She too had been in the fire, but her husband had lifted her over his head and thrown her forward toward the exit. Though badly burned, she escaped. Her husband did not. For months afterward she could not sleep well. She remembered in ghastly detail the sight of people on fire, of husbands who "just kept going when their wives were knocked down," of her own husband's look of horror as he picked her up. She remembers him gasping, "One of us has to get out for the kids." She recalls how she felt when his blackened watch was returned to her, and what a numbing indignity it seemed to her that he was found with only one shoe on. Later, Mrs. Zorick tried to sort through some of the agony of her thoughts. Though she and her husband were both strong, church-going Lutherans, she had, for a time, great difficulty believing in God. How could he have allowed such a tragedy? Finally, though scarred and shaken, her faith came back. Again and again she concluded that she had to believe in God. Else, she concluded, nothing means anything.

Can We Interpret the Experiences of Life?

Job 1:13

The story is told of a man in China who raised horses for a living. When one of his prized stallions ran away, his friends gathered at his home to mourn his great loss. After they had expressed their concern, the man raised this question: “How do I know whether what happened is bad or good?”

A couple days later the runaway horse returned with several strays following close behind. The same acquaintances again came to his house -- this time to celebrate his good fortune. “But how do I know whether it’s good or bad?” the old gentleman asked them. That very afternoon the horse kicked the owner’s son and broke the young man’s leg.

Once more the crowd assembled -- now to express their sorrow over the incident. “But how do I know if this is bad or good?” the father asked again. Well, only a few days later, war broke out. The man’s son, however, was exempted from the military service because of his broken leg.

Yes, you guessed it, the friends again gathered -- but we’ll stop the story there. You can easily see how it could go on and on. This tale points out that from our limited human perspective, it’s impossible to know with certainty how to interpret the experiences of life.

==================

There are many variations of this story, which also appears in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War." Here is one version from the internet:

There’s an old Taoist story that I keep thinking of. Once there was a farmer who had only one horse. One day the horse got loose and ran away. “What bad luck!” his neighbors said. “Well, good, bad, who can say?” said the farmer, who was obviously a bit of a philosopher.

The next day the horse came back - leading several wild horses that it had befriended. “What good luck!” his neighbors said. “Good, bad, who knows?” said the farmer.

The farmer’s son, trying to tame one of the new horses, fell off and broke his leg. “How terrible!” said the farmer’s neighbors. “Perhaps. We’ll see,” said the old man.

A few days later, the army came through looking for young men to conscript, but they couldn’t take the farmer’s son because of his broken leg. “How fortunate!” “Maybe. Good, bad, who knows?”

*

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #2083]

God Provided A Food Card

Ezra 8:23

“You have no idea what this means! We've both been out of work for months!” the pregnant woman said to me as we hauled in the last sack of toys and box of food. Her living room was decorated for Christmas, but the spot under the tree was bare. So were her cupboards.

It all began over a loaf of banana bread delivered by students at thanksgiving. When a note arrived a few days later, our eyes filled with tears.

To the students and staff who left such a sweet Thanksgiving

treat and card -

Tuesday afternoon when I put my 3-year-old down for a nap, she

said, 'Mommy, I'm hungry.’ I truly had next to nothing in my

cupboards and no way to purchase anything. I told her, 'We'll

have something when you wake up,' and lay down with her. When I

woke up, I remembered having heard a knock while we were

sleeping. I checked the front door to find a sweet card and a

loaf of banana bread! What a timely blessing. Please know that

God used you today to bring my little one a snack. Thank you so

much.

The note was posted at school and church, and soon the office was filled with food and gifts, including some gift cards to local food stores. When it got closer to Christmas, some students and I delivered the gifts.

Imagine my horror a few months later to find in my purse a food card handed to me at church. Quickly I drove over to the address on the envelope and knocked on the door. I tried rehearsing several excuses, but when the father opened the door, the look on his face stopped me short. “Is that food card for us?” he asked.

“Yes. I'm so sorry; it was in the bottom of my purse.”

“Honey! You won't believe this!” he whispered to someone else in the room as tears formed in his eyes. Taking the card gingerly in his hands, he said, “We just were at the kitchen table. I looked at my wife and I said, It's tithe or food; which one?’ And she replied, It has to be tithe.’ We just wrote out the tithe check five minutes ago. This food card will get us through the month. Thank you so much.”

__________

Michelle D. Northam, Adventist Review, (c) August 2003, http://www.adventistreview.org/; submitted by Mary Thayne

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #15699]

Winds Delayed the British

Job 38:24

In a major address before the assembly at Connecticut, Ezra Stiles praises the Lord for his help to the colonists:

"To Whom but the Ruler of the Winds shall we ascribe it that the British reinforcements, in the summer of 1777, was delayed on the ocean three months by contrary winds, until it was too late for General Clinton to help at Saratoga: a turning point of the war."

Socks Changed His Life

Romans 8:28

A group of men were carrying on a friendly conversation. One of them remarked that he had learned to be especially careful about small things. "Would you believe," he said, "that a little thing like a pair of socks changed the entire course of my life?"

"I can hardly believe that," replied another man.

"Well, it's true! Once I planned to take a trip with some of my friends on a canal boat, but two days before we intended to leave, I injured my foot while chopping wood. It was only a small cut, but the blue dye in the homemade socks I wore poisoned the wound, and I was compelled to stay at home. While my friends were on their journey, a powerful preacher came to our town to hold revival meetings. Since I didn't have anything else to do, I decided to attend. The message touched me deeply, and as a result, I surrendered my heart to the Lord. Afterward I saw that I needed to change my life in many ways. New desires and purposes took hold of me. I determined also to seek an education, for I trusted that this would enable me to live more usefully for my Lord."

The man who made these comments was none other than the former President of the United States -- James A. Garfield!

Don't treat lightly the "little things" in life. They often gravitate to great and important consequences.

See: Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:27-30

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[Illustration used in sermon found at illustration HolwickID #4701]

God Knew What He Was Doing

Ruth 1:6

Ever wonder if the Lord really knows what you want and need? David Smallbone felt God leading him to promote Christian concerts in his homeland, Australia, where only 5 percent of the people believed in Christ. When too few fans filled his seats during one major tour, however, David took a $250,000 bath in red ink. Creditors repossessed his home, and the father of six looked for work elsewhere. A top artist offered him a job in Nashville, so the Smallbones sold their furniture and other possessions and purchased tickets to the United States.

A few weeks after they arrived, however, David was informed that his position was “no longer available.” He literally could not get out of bed for several days. When he and his wife explained to their children what happened, they all got on their knees and asked God to help them. Interesting things began to happen. God provided bags of groceries, a minivan, and odd jobs. Then the biggest surprise of all — a recording contract for David’s oldest daughter, Rebecca, age 15. She recorded her first album using an old family name, St. James.

Flash forward to today. David promotes his own daughter’s sold-out concerts. Rebecca St. James has become one of the hottest Christian artists in America. Christianity Today magazine has named her one of the top 50 up-and-coming evangelical leaders under age 40. All along — no surprise — God knew what he was doing!

____________

Christian Reader (January/February 2002), pp. 13-14; source: Luis Palau, It’s a God Thing, www.palau.org/godthing

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #2386]

Brainerd's Nut-providing Squirrel

Job 38:41

David Brainerd, missionary to the Indians, on one of his many journeys to visit a tribe was overtaken by a severe storm. He looked for a place of shelter and eventually found one in a hollow log of a very large tree. While there, he prayed for the Indians and also that the Lord would take care of him and his needs.

When mealtime came, he was hungry, but there was nothing to eat. He noticed a squirrel approaching the tree. The squirrel chattered a while. When the little animal disappeared, Brainerd noticed that he had left a few nuts behind. The missionary ate those nuts.

Three days the storm continued, and for three days, Brainerd remained in the log. Each day the squirrel came to deposit some nuts at the entrance. David Brainerd knew that the Lord had sent the squirrel.

Providence of God

Acts 24:2

My Source:

THE MESSENGER

East Tennessee School of Preaching & Missions

October 1998

… … … … … …

Author: James Meadows

======================================

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

The term “providence” occurs but once in the English Bible (Acts 24:2) and on that occasion it does not refer to the providence of God. Yet, it is evident that the doctrine of God’s providence fills the pages of God’s Word.

Providence is God’s care and protection of his creatures, i.e., it is the care of God in the preservation and government of the world through natural means. Providence has to do with God’s care and control of the world through natural law.

The term “providence” comes from Latin _providentia_ (foresight, precaution, providence) and the Greek _pronoia_ (foresight, care, provision; used in Acts 24:2 and Romans 13:14). “Foresight” is fundamental to the meaning of providence and “includes the notion of plans for the future and the actual realization of these plans” (Berkhof, _Systematic Theology_, p. 165ff). “God’s care for the world necessarily involves His divine foresight (omniscience) and His almighty power. God has anticipated our needs and has included in His creation the things required to satisfy our need” (Jerry Gross).

God created heaven and earth. In Acts 14:15 Paul told the people at Lystra to “… turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” God also continues to sustain the creation with the Word of His power. “God … hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power… ” (Hebrews 1:2-3). Peter declared, “But the heavens, and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto the fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7). God’s continued “preservation of the universe is a part of God’s providence and takes place through the natural laws which he has established” (Jerry Gross).

SOME THOUGHTS ON PROVIDENCE

FIRST, the Bible clearly teaches the providence of God, which means his care and guardianship over his people. “I have laid me down and slept. I awaked: for the Lord sustained me” (Psalms 3:5).

SECOND, the Bible doctrine of providence involves three things: (a) It is predicated upon God’s omnipotence. Is God able to override our lives and accomplish its purposes? (cf., Genesis 18:14). (b) It presupposes that God has a special purpose in mind for the saved and his guidance of our affairs is designed to accomplish that purpose. (c) It holds that God can and will be served through the overruling of human affairs.

THIRD, God has acted, and will continue to act, within the confines of his natural law to work out his sovereign will. God providentially delivered the Jews in Esther’s day, but he used a queen’s obstinacy (Esther 1:11-12); a king’s sleepless night (Esther 6:1); Mordecai’s overhearing a plot (Esther 2:21-23); and a wicked man’s persistent arrogance. God worked providentially (no miracle involved) in answering Elijah’s prayer (Js 5:16-18; cf., 1 Kgs 17:1; 18:17-45).

FOURTH, we must take care in relating our experiences as the special leading of God because we might be mistaken.

FIFTH, we can be sure of special providence in the lives of Joseph, Daniel, etc., because there is divine interpretation.

SIXTH, there are things that have happened in all our lives that appear providential, but, without a divine interpreter, the best we can do is say with Mordecai “who knoweth” (Esther 4:14), and with Paul “perhaps” (Philemon 1:15).

SEVENTH, if the Bible teaches that God continually guides us (Isaiah 58:11); that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28); that afterwards he will receive us into glory (Psalms 73:24), why do we need to ferret out the particulars?

“… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6). “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, he it is that goeth with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6). All of these promises ought to be enough providence for anyone.

Providence

Job 42:12

Providence — by Jere E. Frost

The providence of God operates in the shadows as well as the sunshine. He who feels gratitude only when the scenes of life are desirable misunderstands and minimizes the over-arching providence of the Almighty. He needs to take a second look at the historical record and see the process at work.

The mistreatment Joseph suffered from his brothers was wrong. As a matter of historical record it will always have been wrong for them to sell him into slavery. But what they intended for evil, God over-ruled for good. (Genesis 50:20-21) And that is just the point. God was as much with Joseph, and his providence was as active, on the dark days as on the bright ones. Joseph was but a boy-man when the heart-wrenching reverses of his life began. It is absolutely marvelous how they worked to help produce the great man he became.

It is our trust in God, just as it was with Joseph, that makes the difficult circumstances in life bearable. It is faithful service despite trying circumstances that makes the “happy endings’’ possible. Job was not only more blessed after his sore trials than he had been before (Job 42:12-17), but his faith, gratitude and happiness must surely have been greater as well.

Daniel did not deserve to be a slave in Babylon. Nehemiah should have been a free man, not a cupbearer for a Persian monarch. But by providence it turns out they were exactly where they were most needed.

We have no way of knowing just how much we have been the beneficiaries of providence, for usually our view is too limited to see the whole picture.

I recently heard a story of a slave who had won the respect and friendship of his master, in part because he had a bright outlook on life. No matter what happened, faith in God and good cheer always radiated. They became close, and the master determined to set him free.

They planned a distant adventure together. But then the master had the breech of his rifle to explode in his hand. It blew off his thumb. He was anguished physically and emotionally.

The slave said, in his usual manner, “It is good.’’ It enraged the master. He not only did not set him free, but he put him to servile tasks. He deliberately left his close friend and companion behind and went on the adventure alone.

A disaster then struck. Cannibals captured him! They were in the very process of readying the fire to cook him when, suddenly, one of the cannibals pointed to where his thumb should have been and, amidst great excitement, set him free. They had a superstition that a man without one of his thumbs was specially favored and not to be eaten.

Returning home and feeling remorse for the way he had treated his slave-friend, he went directly to him, apologized for the way he had been punished, and then related his frightening experience.

“It is all right,’’ his smiling friend exclaimed, “for it was good.’’

The master bristled a bit at what, to him, was irrational cheer. “Good? — there you go again! How in the world could you say it was good?’’

“Because,’’ his friend replied, “otherwise I would have been with you. I too would have been captured. And I am not missing a thumb.’’

Do not miss the point and imagine for even a moment that evil is ever good. Evil is never good — evil is always evil! The point is, do not underestimate the power and wisdom of the Almighty God, or his love and providential care for those who love and serve him.

Our great need is greater faith — the trust in God to always be thankful and always be faithful, and most particularly when it seems evildoers or adverse circumstances have frustrated our efforts the most.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose’’ (Romans 8:28). “… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me’’ (Hebrews 13:5-6).

— Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, May 17, 1998

Miracles, Providence, and Randomness

Mark 16:20

| My Source:

| Matters of THE Faith, Volume 4, #4, Jan/Mar, 1999

| Author: Darrell Conley

MIRACLES, PROVIDENCE and RANDOMNESS

by Darrell Conley

It is the contention of this article that these three ways are the ways in which God has operated or operates in the world. It is all important in discussing these matters that we define, as much as we can, our terms so we will know what we are talking about. This is often neglected in our Biblical discussions and as a result our statements are not on point.

As it is being used in this article, MIRACLE means a sign or confirmation from God that He has spoken through a particular person or group of persons.

PROVIDENCE, so far as I am able to determine, is the same act of God, but hidden behind His natural law, so that we cannot know when or even if He has acted. We say, as Mordecai said to Esther, "Who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). We pray in faith and leave the answer of our prayer to God. We should always pray, "Thy will be done." This prayer He will always answer.

RANDOMNESS is sheer chance, the sheer accident of natural law. This surely is how God deals with all men most of the time and the very reason for His natural law. It is objective and impartial toward all.

As an illustration let me use a quotation of an article from an incident that is now some years in the past. Some of us remember the tragedy that struck one of the congregations in Garland, Texas. During the Sunday morning worship service, the roof collapsed from the accumulated snow, killing a little girl and injuring several other people. One of the elders of that congregation was quoted in the paper as saying, "It was a miracle more were not killed. God was with us." While sympathizing with those who were suffering and realizing that many people are prone to overstatements, there are several things I find disturbing about that remark.

Was it really a miracle? The disaster, like most disasters, could have been worse. Does this make it a miracle? I can find no place in the Bible where a limited disaster is called a miracle. Was it a miracle when the Sanhedrin didn't stone Philip to death as well as Stephen? All miracles were wonderful and extraordinary occurrences, but not all wonderful and extraordinary occurrences are miracles. If many great and wonderful events are not miracles, how much less this disaster in Garland?

In examining the miracles described in the Bible, we discover that the miracle (as opposed to providence or coincidence) was the DIRECT and OBVIOUS intervention of God into the chain of cause and effect we call natural law. Notice that the words DIRECT and OBVIOUS are in all caps. In a miracle God makes it obvious that He is the One Who has done the thing. As Trench said, "The unresting activity of God, which at other times hides and conceals itself behind the veil of what we term natural laws, does in the miracle unveil itself, it steps out from its concealment, and the hand which works is laid bare" [Richard Trench, NOTES ON THE MIRACLES OF OUR LORD, p. 13]. If in the tragedy at Garland, God obviously intervened, where is the evidence? Why was not the building spared? Why was not the life of the little girl spared? To ascribe such a lame "miracle" to God is strange indeed.

I understand the relief and gratitude at escaping from such disaster and the desire to express one's gratitude to God, but "miracle" is an overstatement. God works much of the time by allowing His natural law to run its course. Is there no such thing in the life of some people as the natural or coincidental? Must we attribute everything either to the providential or to the miraculous activity of God."

We live in a fallen and cursed world--a world of pain and sorrow and death. A world which is designed by God to allow us to make a free choice to serve Him or reject Him. It is a perfect place for soul growth. But it is not a perfect place. Unless we wish to ascribe to the deliberate and direct action of God all of the evil and suffering in the world, we must acknowledge that randomness exists. There are random sufferings and there are random causes for pleasures and lack of suffering. The wicked suffer, but the righteous suffer, too. The righteous sometimes prosper, but the wicked do so as well. We must also recognize that God's Will for this world allows for the free will of man with all of its possibilities for good and evil.

The expression, "God with us," in the context of the tragedy in Garland, is fraught with difficulties. Such a statement can be true in only one of three ways:

|||||--ONE--|||||

It could be true in the sense that God is the ultimate source of everything and thus allows everything that exists to exist, and everything that happens to happen. But we cannot conclude that we should therefore attribute everything that happens to the purposeful action of God. God through His natural law sends sunshine and rain on the just and unjust. However, such is not a sign either to the just or to the unjust that God is with them. Every false religion in the world attributes the random good things its adherents receive as proof that God favors them. The true Christian has no need or excuse to fall into such nonsense. "And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3).

|||||--TWO--|||||

Or it could be true in the sense that what happened was a MIRACLE. But the miracles of the Bible were signs. They were confirmation that certain ones were God's spokesmen. A miracle was therefore the PURPOSEFUL, DIRECT, and OBVIOUS intervention of God into the chain of cause and effect He put into place when He created this world. We call that chain of cause and effect natural law. The miracles of the Bible were the result of extraordinary gifts from God. They were for the purpose of revealing and confirming God's Will. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed" (Mark 16:20). "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will" (Hebrews 2:3-4). They were to cease when God's Word had been completely revealed and confirmed (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). To use the word "miracle" carelessly is to confuse ourselves and others and to compromise the integrity and authority of the Scriptures.

|||||--THREE--|||||

It could be true in the sense of PROVIDENCE. This, like the miracle, is the purposeful intervention of God into the chain of natural law, but unlike the miracle it is not DIRECT or OBVIOUS and, thus, is not a sign. Providence is hidden behind the veil of cause and effect. When God acts providentially, we cannot know at what point in the chain of cause and effect God has intervened, or in any particular instance if God has intervened. If we could know these things, it would not be providence, but a miracle--a sign.

There are those in this 20th and 21st century, when science is almost universally worshiped, where man is ridiculously proud of his knowledge and his puny control of the material world, and where he is so ignorant of his own ignorance, who claim that they cannot believe in the miracles of the Bible, because they were contrary to the laws of nature. But the miracle was not anti-natural. It was super-natural. It was the intervention of a higher law and a higher power, perhaps the same power that is hidden in the exercise of the providence of God today.

We today believe in God, His Word, and His power. It is "alive and active," (Hebrews 4:12).

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DRL NOTE: I think brother Conley has written a very understandable and powerful explanation of these matters. I would encourage you to study the article carefully. If you would like to subscribe to this free publication in which this article was found, you may write to: Matters of THE Faith | E. Alameda church of Christ | 13605 E. Alameda Avenue | Aurora, CO 80012-1302.

This Is My Gift For You

Ezra 8:23

It had been an ordinary, busy day. I had attended classes at the seminary in France in the morning and had just spent my afternoon working at the Calvin Center in Geneva. For some reason, I left the Centre a little late, and I knew I wouldn't make it back to the seminary in time for dinner. I would have to stop somewhere in Geneva to get something to eat.

As I set out to find a restaurant, however, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was something very wrong with this plan. It was a few minutes before it dawned on me: I had spent my last Swiss francs just that morning on gas! At the next stoplight, I pulled out my wallet to double check. Sure enough, it was empty! I pushed my wallet back into my pocket with just a little more force than necessary. What good was a wallet anyway, if there wasn't any money in it?

I reluctantly turned my car down the road that led to the French/Swiss border. I would simply have to go hungry tonight! But for some reason, when I passed Migros, a popular chain of grocery stores in Switzerland, I turned into the parking lot.

I didn't understand my actions. After all, there was no way they would sell me food without any money, and being a student, I didn't have a credit card. But some force stronger than me seemed to be dictating that I be there. I quietly bowed my head: “Lord, I don't know what to do. The cafeteria is closed. I'm hungry and I don't have any money. Please help me! Thanks for providing for me. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.”

Again being pulled by a force that I couldn't seem to resist, I got out of my car and went into the grocery store. Boy, was that pure torture. Just looking at food made my stomachache and my mouth water! I could only stand it for a few minutes, then I turned and bolted back to my car. As I neared my parking spot, however, I noticed something laying on the pavement. To my amazement, it was a bill for 5 Swiss Francs! I picked it up, looking around it see who it might belong to, but the parking lot was empty. Immediately, I heard a peaceful inner voice:

“This is my gift for you.”

Those 5 Swiss Francs were just enough for a nice meal, and I was able to return to my dorm room completely satisfied.

________

Source: Illustrator, http://www.answers2prayer.org

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #1749]

This is Good

Romans 8:28

The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, “This is good!”

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, “This is good!”

To which the king replied, “No, this is not good!” and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.

“You were right,” he said, “it was good that my thumb was blown off.” And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. “And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”

“No,” his friend replied, “This is good!”

“What do you mean, ’This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?”

“If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you.”

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love him and live our lives according to his precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit. Hold on...God is faithful!

--Source unknown.

Romans 8:28

Bad Breaks

Romans 8:28

A boy in Decatur, Illinois, was deeply interested in photography. He answered an ad in a magazine, ordering a book on photography. The publisher made a mistake and sent him instead a book about magic and ventriloquism, and he began practicing the art of throwing his voice. He created a wooden dummy to whom, at one time, millions of people listened on Sunday evenings -- Charlie McCarthy. Edgar Bergen had turned a mistake into a fabulous career. James Whistler, the renowned artist, wanted more than anything to be a soldier. He even entered West Point as a cadet. But he failed in a chemistry examination. Later he joked about the one wrong answer that had meant the difference between passing and failing. He said, "if silicon had been a gas, I would have been a major general instead of an artist."

Commenting on these 2 examples, Eric Butterworth noted, "in your own frustrating experience you can and should take a good look at a bad break. There may well be in your frustration the means of making it fruitful!

See: Romans 8:28-32; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 1:12-14

154 Sermon Illustrations on Providence