It was Easter Sunday morning in Feldkirch, Austria. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack the strategic town. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender.
The townspeople had gathered in the local church for the Easter service. The pastor rose and said, “Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us.”
The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
The lesson in this historical account is that when we praise the Lord he confounds our enemy. Let’s keep the praise coming; it may be our salvation!
Tags: Easter, Napoleon, trust, worship
We now have two cats, a male and a female. Both have been fixed. The male is still young and playful. The female is older and very docile. They’re still testing their territory with each other.
Both cats know they can trust us. We’re the ones who feed and water them. But, they don’t trust strangers. When a strange car drives up, they’ll both run out the back door and find a hiding place. But when they see its either Anita or I, they come out of hiding and want our attention.
They both know who owns them. They can tell by our provision. Do you know who owns you? Do you trust who owns you? Think about this today.
Tags: faith, hiding, ownership, trust
We all have scariest moments that emboss an unforgettable picture in our minds. Halloween is noted for scary moments. What’s yours?
When I was in my middle twenties I was a brand new Christian and drove a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. I was driving north one day on State Road 1 in Steuben County. I heard the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit remind me to fasten my safety belt, but I enjoyed the freedom too much to respond. Seconds later, as I was driving into a curve, I realized that I was left of center as another car approached. I quickly over-corrected and swerved off the road into the ditch. Seeing a pole in front of me, I steered into the cornfield, still loose from the spring planting. Sliding sideways in the loose soil, the car tipped over and rolled like a ball several times. Seeing what was about to happen, I reached upwards with both hands against the ceiling of the car and pressed myself into the seat. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” I cried out.
When the dust had settled, the car was resting on its side, all windows broken out. I hurriedly crawled out of the front window opening in case there might be a fire. I learned right then and there to listen to that still small voice. Later Anita, who I had just starting seeing, came over to pick pieces of glass out of my back, but nothing was broken.
I think that was my scariest moment. It came when I was out of control and vulnerable. I didn’t have time to think about it, but I knew there was nothing I could do but hang on for the ride. Fear grips us when we have lost control and step into the unknown where we have to trust. The Bible says God has not given us a spirit of fear.
What was your scariest moment and what lessons have you learned?
Tags: accident, fear, Halloween, scary, trust
Back in the early 1990s our church was packed in two worship services, landlocked with no parking, and making plans to build. We had obtained the present site but had exhausted our building fund to do so. We needed to progress with building plans but did not have enough money. To progress meant that we had to go into considerable debt with the local bank. Some were ready to trust God, others thought we should not begin until we had the money raised. They had an ongoing debt with their personal home, but thought it was scriptural for the church to do so (double standard). We had a dilemma.
So I did my best at envisioning the church to trust God. When we took the official approval vote, it was 146-3 in favor. The three were all older retired members who had earlier sacrificed deeply to pay for the previous building. They didn’t want to get stuck paying for this new one. Those three each made a significant faith pledge on the new project, however.
It amazed everyone what happened immediately when we finished the construction. Attendance doubled almost immediately. Our offerings increased with the attendance and we had the debt retired in just a couple of years. We learned that when God’s people take a leap of faith, God is there to catch us. And I don’t think God has changed. Trust Him in your crisis and take that leap of faith.
Tags: debt, faith, trust
Three turtles went on a Sunday afternoon picnic. One carried the basket of food, one carried a jug of turtle-ade, and the third turtle didn’t carry anything. They got everything set up and then felt raindrops. The two turtles agreed that the one who carried nothing should go back and get the umbrella.
The third turtle said, “No, because you’ll eat all the turtle food and drink all the turtle-ade, and I won’t have any.” Finally he agreed to go back for the umbrella. One hour, two hours, three hours went by, and then one day, one week, and two weeks passed. One of rthe turtles said, “Well, I guess we can eat the turtle food and drink the turtle-ade because he’s not coming back.” Then they heard something over in the bushes say, “If you do, I won’t go.”
Some of us are like the third turtle. We’re afraid that if we jump out there and do something, we might miss the picnic. The truth is, we’ll miss the picnic by not trusting God and doing our part.
Tags: fear, patience, picnic, trust
Several years ago I transplanted a first year sapling hickory tree from the woods behind my house to our property. I’ve got little growth on it because deer keep biting the top off, or it dries up in dry weather, etc. So, this year I have it shielded in a 6″ corrugated tile and have treated it with liquid fertilizer weekly.
A couple of weeks ago I checked on it and noticed that it had begun to grow, but the leaves had dried up. I got discouraged and gave up on the tree. I quit watering it and fertilizing it, and stopped checking on it.
I peeked down in the tube later, and lo and behold, that thing has sprung to life and has grown a foot! I’m really pleased to see such progress. What made the difference? All I can figure is I left it alone.
Although we need to stay involved in other Christian’s lives, sometimes the best medicine is to leave them alone to fix their own problems. God will teach them just as He has taught us. If we get out of the way. What’s that old saying? ‘Let go and let God.’
Tags: growth, tree, trust
When we were raising our children, one of the comments that we would often heard was, “Not Fair!” It seemed whatever we did as parents didn’t seem fair. Our children were different ages, had different temperaments, and in were in different circumstances, yet they all wanted us to treat them fairly. If they didn’t get what they wanted when they wanted it, they thought it was “Nor Fair”!
So many situations in life shout, “Not fair!” I observe Christian couples who struggle to have children while others are blessed with children and ignore or abuse them. I look at families whose children are all alive and well, and others who have a disabled child. I see friends who long to serve God but can’t because of health issues. “Not fair.”
I then must remember that we are not the judges of fairness. God is sovereign and does things the way He chooses according to His plans and purposes, not ours. The question isn’t about fairness. In the end, it’s about trust in a faithful God who knows what He is doing.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Life is not always fair, but God is always faithful.
Tags: fair, justice, trust