THUNDERSTORM CAUSES ACCIDENT

The thunderstorm was what caused it!

I was driving alone late at night on an interstate. I noticed lightning ahead. I gave it little thought, except to wonder if I would have to drive into a storm. But, thankfully, the storm was moving fast and was soon gone before I could reach it, but the highway was wet so I slowed the car.

Suddenly, I felt the car hit deep water on the highway. My tires were shooting water everywhere, even covering my windshield. Worse, the deep water was causing my tires to lose traction.

The words, “Help me, Lord,” were on my lips as I realized a feeling of total helplessness. I knew I had absolutely no control of the car. I tried desperately to keep the car moving straight ahead, but it was sliding and weaving all over the highway. I pumped the brakes, slowing the car even more, but I was not able to stop it.

In a moment of panic, I saw that my car was going off the highway. With the car almost, but not quite, stopped, I went off into a water filled ditch. The car finally stopped with only the front of the car in the water. Immediately water began seeping in, quickly covering my legs. As I got out of the car and waded out of the water, another motorist came and helped me get to a telephone to call a wrecker.

Looking back, my main impression of the incident was a feeling of helplessness. I like to be in control—as we all do—but there was no control that night!

Life is often like my experience on the flooded highway. Things happen to us unexpectedly and suddenly. Darkness hides our future, and we are unable to see the water on our pathway. Unforeseen circumstances may cause us to lose control of our lives.

What can we do? God speaks to us about this in Proverbs 3:5-6; "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

FOLLOWING GOD'S DIRECTION

Years ago, I found myself without an income. I had labored for eight years as a minister of music and education in a church, only to be judged by some in that church as too old to minister effectively. After all, I was fifty-nine years old!

Because of the attitude of some of the members, I was left with no income. Fortunately, I had housing. My mother's small house in my hometown was available to us, so we made the move, not knowing how God would provide for us.

It seemed to me something like the experience of Abraham, who was instructed by God to "a place where I will show you." And like Abraham, God provided all that we needed. Within two months my wife and I were both gainfully employed, and our grandson, whom we were raising, was happy with new friends.

To add to all this, within two months a local church had called me to be a bi-vocational minister of music—even at my "advanced age." And, this has been one of the most rewarding ministries of my life. In fact, I am at this point still ministering to this great church twenty years later. Age? They say, no problem.

"By faith Abraham obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews 11:8

Water of Life

The hot, dry weather we often experience in west Texas reminds me of when I lived in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Alamogordo is nestled near a beautiful mountain range but in the edge of a desert. This barren desert is the home of magnificent sunsets, colorful cacti and exotic wild life. Although it is beautiful in its own way, the one dominating factor in this environment is the absence of water.

But go north from Alamogordo, still in the desert, and soon you will be in the little city of Tularosa, where green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees are abuandant. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.

Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert. We may feel as dry and parched as this year's hot, dry west Texas wind.

Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14 (KJV)\

Fear 0f Flying

Today I will share a great story I was told recently:

There was a religious woman who had to do a lot of traveling for her business. Flying made her very nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her.

One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to what he was doing.

After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?"

The woman replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible."

He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"

She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that; it is in the Bible."

He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?"

The woman said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him."

"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.

"Then you can ask him," replied the woman.

Separating Grain from Chaff

It was a windy day in west Texas—just the kind of day my parents needed. I was only a small boy, but I remember the smell of grain, and the harsh thrust of hot wind on my face.

I was fascinated to see how my parents separated the grain from the husks. Placing grain and husks in a large canvas sheet, together they tossed the entire contents lightly into the air. As they did so, the unwanted chaff caught in the brisk wind and blew away. The grain, being heavier, fell back again into the sheet to be utilized as something of value.

This boyhood experience brings to mind the analogy in Psalm 1:4: “The ungodly…are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

A person without God is subject to destruction by the winds of adversity. But stability of purpose is found only in a true relationship with God.

A CHRISTMAS GIFT

When I was twelve, my greatest desire was to own a bicycle. But times were hard and I felt it was impossible for my parents to provide such a gift for me. But still I hoped.

The days leading up to Christmas were for me, days of desire mingled with days of despair. I thought it couldn’t happen. But on Christmas morning, when I came into the living room, there beside the Christmas tree stood the most beautiful bicycle I had ever seen. I know my parents sacrificed to provide this gift, given in love.

God gives us gifts every day. But He sacrificed to bring His greatest gift of all, His Son Jesus. Jesus was God’s Christmas gift to all who will believe.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11 (KJV)

FEAR OF THE DARK

As a teenager, I worked for a short time as a dishwasher in a small café. It was summer and I was staying with my sister and her family. My shift ended at ten P.M. Usually my sister would drive me home.

Sometimes she was unable to come for me and I would walk home. The darkness did not bother me. But as I neared her home, I would begin to be afraid. The closer I got, the more apprehension I felt, until I would be literally running to the door.

This fear I felt as a teenager reminds me of how we sometimes feel as we face the struggles of life. There are times when our fears overwhelm us. That’s when we must run to safety—the safety of God’s protection.

It’s good to realize He is with us, always.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

Water

A barren desert lies between two splendid mountain ranges in southern New Mexico. This desolate area is the home of magnificent sunsets, colorful cacti and exotic wild life. Although it is beautiful in its own way, the one dominating factor in this environment is the absence of water.

But in the midst of this desert lies the little city of Tularosa with its green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.

Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert.

Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14 (KJV)

WELCOMING CHANGE

Years ago, I walked into the office one day and saw our church secretary at her desk holding her finger on a button on her telephone. She was talking to someone, so I went on to my office, wondering what was going on. Later, she confided in me. “I tell you that new telephone with two phone lines is driving me crazy. The problem is having to hold the hold button when I get a second call.”

I quickly explained she didn’t have to keep holding the hold button, just press it once. She was skeptical, but agreed to try it. Later she said, “That’s wonderful. Having to hold down that hold button while talking was really hurting my finger.”

Sometimes we just don’t understand new things. There have been many changes in our churches in recent years. But change is not always bad. In fact, becoming a Christian is the greatest change of all.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

WALKING WITH GOD

When I was in college a friend told me that when she walked on campus she always stayed on one side of the sidewalk. She said she did this to leave room for God to walk beside her. She also said, during those walks she often talked to God and felt His presence.

We often hear sermons and devotionals about walking with God. This is an expression picturing our ceaseless relationship with the Lord. Walking with God is much more than attending worship or Bible study each week. It is more than an occasional prayer when we are distressed.

Walking with God may mean different things to different people, but surely it is living in the consciousness of God through prayer, Bible reading, and by simply recognizing His presence moment by moment.

The Bible speaks often of those who walked with God. We can do it, too.

Noah was a just man . . . and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9 (KJV)