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.

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?

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.

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.

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.’

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.

As people gathered, the high-wire artist began his act. First, he carried a long pole across the wire. He then exchanged it for a chair. He went back out to the center of the wire, placed the chair on it, and sat down. Then he got up and went across the wire and exchanged the chair for a wheelbarrow, taking it back across the wire. When he got to the platform he asked one of his young assistants, “Do you believe I can take this wheelbarrow across that wire without falling?”

The young fellow answered, “Of course. I just saw you do it.”"OK,” the man said, “get in.”

It is one thing to say we believe something and another thing to have faith that acts on our belief. We can believe mentally without believing with our faith.

Our final challenge in this Trials of Our Faith series is to Get In.

For starters, the leaders had seen the failed system fail. They were ready for some stability. You see, the Church of Christ believed in a congregational government, meaning a democracy where everyone had an equal say. They also did not believe in a membership. Therefore, when problems came up, they called a congregational meeting to vote on it, and whoever brought the most friends and neighbors won! People showed up who had never attended before.

That’s wrong and they all knew it. The only logical fix was to establish a membership roster to identify who the legitimate voters would be. And By-Laws simply spelled out how we would do business in our church. It was common sense stuff and everyone agreed.

Every church should have a membership roster kept updated and workable By-Laws that close loopholes that give Satan a foothold to destroy what God wants to do. Because I had already proven myself by being a faithful lay person in the same church for eight years, the elders trusted me and approved every change I suggested. But I had to earn that right.

Of course, the church had already been through a split, eliminating those who didn’t want the change, and the remaining people were weary of the backbiting. That set up the possibility for the changes that allowed our church to grow over the next two decades. Only a handfull of people remain who can remember those agonizing days back in 1980, but I am eternally grateful for their trust and support.

Now that the catheter is out I’m aware of some dull pain I still have in my abdomen. I’m moving slowly, but can pretty well do the things I did before the surgery. The difficulty I had in sitting is now gone since the catheter has been out. I did my morning stretches for my back today for the first time since surgery, and that felt great.

I shared at the men’s breakfast this morning the statement that God made in Exodus 15:26 where He declared, “I am the Lord that heals you.” That was in the context of the Lord showing Israel what to do to heal the bitter waters of Marah. God’s healing requires us listening to His advice and doing it. If we don’t take our problems to Him, He can’t advise us. So, take your difficulties to Him, and expect Him to direct your steps. What are you trusting the Lord to help you with?

The truth is, in my case, my faith is great.  I am very optimistic and that’s why I chose to go public with my personal journey with this cancer battle.  Faith overcomes the world and all its bondages and problems.  My faith is great, my spirit is on fire for God, and all is well with my soul.  Its my body that has a problem.

I have never been afraid of or confessed cancer in my life.  As a matter of fact, I was shocked when I first learned of it.  But my faith is in God, not what He will or won’t do.  I simply trust Him, because He’s never let me down since I first trusted in Him in April 1971.  And no one better try to tell me I have cancer because I don’t have enough faith!  Those are fighting words.

What do you believe about faith?