lightning

Pastor Inaciu da Kosta got up early in the morning for a long walk on the island of East Timor.

He had to travel 30 miles (50 kilometers) from his home in the town of Lospalos and up a mountain to the village of Luro, where he needed to speak with a missionary in the village.

Inaciu ate a breakfast of rice and leafy green vegetables prepared by his wife. Then he packed his Bible and umbrella. Rain fell often and unexpectedly on this tropical island north of Australia, so it was a good idea to carry an umbrella. Inaciu didn’t own a car or a motorcycle, so he went by foot.

Inaciu stopped at the homes of several church members along the road, where he prayed and read the Bible with them. Not many Adventists lived in East Timor, so he didn’t have many places to stop. But the visits did slow him down, so he was only about two-thirds of the way to the village when night fell.

Inaciu looked at the star-lit sky and wondered what to do. He still had to walk 15 miles (25 kilometers) through a thick jungle and up a mountain to reach the village. He was hungry because he hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. He also hadn’t brought a flashlight.

Then it started to rain. Inaciu opened his umbrella and said to himself, “If I go back home, I’ll have to walk 15 miles, and if I go forward, I’ll also have to walk 15 miles.”

Inaciu prayed for God to guide him. After praying, he realized that if he returned home, he’d have to make the same long trip again in the morning. He decided to press ahead to the village.

The rain fell lightly at first. But as Inaciu made his way up the mountain, it began to pour. Lightning flashed, and thunder crashed. After walking about 6 miles (9 kilometers), Inaciu found himself deep in the jungle. Amid the pounding rain and angry thunder, he heard the roar of something else. He listened carefully. It was the sound of a rushing river. But he could not see anything in the dark. Fear swept over him. He said to himself, “My family doesn’t know the route that I am taking to the village. If I fall into the river, it could sweep me to the ocean and I could drown.”

He prayed, “God, if You are willing, please help me get to the village.”

Inaciu stood still for about five minutes, wondering what to do. Then bright lightning flashed, and he caught a glimpse of the wide river ahead. Inaciu prayed again. “God, if You are willing, please help me get to the village,” he said. “Make the lightning last longer.”

A moment later, lightning streaked across the night sky, and Inaciu saw the river clearly before him. To his surprise, the lightning didn’t flicker out but kept on shining like the sun, making the jungle as bright as day.

He saw a number of logs — fallen trees — lying scattered in the river. He ran down to the water’s edge and jumped from log to the next until he crossed the river. When he reached the other side, the lightning disappeared with an enormous boom of thunder. The lightning had illuminated the river for two whole minutes.

Three hours later, at midnight, he arrived in the village thanking God for the miracle of the safe trip. -andrew macchesney

bar

My son is a diver and works occasionally for Caribbean Treasure Hunters, diving off the ship the New World Legacy. He has handled numerous bars of silver as the result of his dives and is therefore familiar with silver bars that have been in water for hundreds of years.

He was recently working in a condominium complex in Florida. The apartment he was working in was just off the lobby on the first floor, a high traffic area. On the first day, my son noticed an 'ugly metal bar' sitting on the floor of the condominium, holding open the front door of the condominium. He did not pay much attention to it, as did the numerous other pedestrians passing through the lobby area. On thesecond day, he had to move the bar in order to get some equipment in. He noticed that it was encrusted with material that is normally found only on metal objects that had been submerged in salt water for a considerable period of time. He also realized that the bar was not decayed. He thought to himself, surely this is not a bar of silver...it is too valuable to be sitting here as a door stop. So he looked at the bar carefully and discovered 'stampings' on the bar, indicating that it had been destined for Spain, and indeed it was a bar of silver.

Most people saw the bar as an ugly lead door stop, but my son saw something more. The person who owns it knows its value, but also knows that the average person has absolutely no idea of its worth...they never take the time nor the initiative to discover what the ugly bar really is. My son knows, and is incensed because such an historically valuable item is so taken for granted and being so abused.

Is this not the same as most of us do to Christ?

"But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (I Cor. 1:23-24)

-alan smith

nothingness

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) . 

Do you find yourself in a place of nothingness? There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of isolation and waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It is as if God has placed a wall around us. No new opportunities - simply inactivity. 

During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is a place of nothingness designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something" while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God." You know the signs that you have been brought into this place when He has removed many things from your life and you can't seem to change anything. Perhaps you are unemployed. Perhaps you are laid up with an illness. 

Many people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot see what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others. 

Has God brought you to a place of nothingness? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, your nothingness will be turned into something you will value for the rest of your life.

-os hillman

jars

he preacher placed two identical jars on the table next to the pulpit. He quoted 1 Samuel 16:7 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart"

These jars came from the same factory, were made of the same materials, and can hold the same amount. But they are different, he explained.

Then he upset one and it oozed out honey. He turned over the other, and vinegar spilled out. "When a jar is upset, whatever is in it comes out.

Until the jars were upset, they looked alike. The difference was within, and could not be seen. When they were upset, their contents were revealed.

Until we are upset we put on a good front. But when we are upset, we reveal our innermost thoughts and attitudes, for "out of theabundance of the heart his mouth speaks". ( Luke 6:45)

What if someone tipped you over today?  What would flow out?   Would you reveal the "honey" of grace and patience, or the "vinegar" of anger and sarcasm ???   "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1Peter 4:8)   

Have a terrific day knowing that the one who upsets you may be just looking for some honey.

-author unknown

swapping

An African proverb says, "Only a fool tests the depth of the water with
  both feet." Without realizing it, many of us do exactly that, vainly
  hoping to gain a better life.

  It was a hot summer day. Jason, a visitor from the city, wanted to take a
  cool swim in the river.  "Are there any alligators in this river?" he
  asked a local man who was fishing from the river bank. "No, not a single
  one," assured the fisherman.

  Jason was still disturbed. There seemed to be some gray forms beneath the
  water's surface, moving in circles. So he asked the fisherman, "If there
  are no alligators here, what are those gray forms I see? Are you sure
  there are no alligators?"

  "Certainly," replied the fisherman, "There are no alligators down there.
  Those gray forms you see are sharks that have chased the alligators away."

  How Does This Apply to Our Lives?

  The fisherman was right. Alligators were not a threat to Jason. But the
  fisherman didn't warn Jason about the sharks. If Jason had gone swimming,
  he would have faced a danger that was just as bad, if not worse. Because
  the sharks were waiting for another meal.

  We also face danger as we seek better and happier lives. For example,
  television programs and advertisements depict the "good life" in ways that
  are carefully designed to gain our attention, our time, and our money. But
  after watching just a few minutes of news, the long-term results of
  blindly following the world's approach to life can sadden and even depress
  you.

  Many of us rely on advice about life from those who know only part of our
  needs as people. Or we seek relief from pressures and problems by turning
  to material possessions and ways to have fun. Either route is like
  swapping alligators for sharks. The real, underlying issues in our lives
  are neglected, and therefore grow worse, while we end up with
  disappointment, more possessions and less money.

  It's really a matter of where to place your trust. Turn to the one
  dependable Source that has your best interests at heart. That one Source
  is God Himself, the Creator of all that exists Who loved you enough to
  sacrifice His son just for you. God also loved you enough to provide His
  Word, the Bible, to guide you and help you through the good times, and
  through the bad times.

  So test your actions, your opinions and your decisions by God's Word.
  Reliable advice about the alligators, the sharks and the water awaits
  anyone who looks to heaven.

  "O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." (Psalm 84:12)
   -rich mclawhorn

being

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were
  harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his
  disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord
  of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
  Matthew 9:36-38

  Jesus saw that the people were helpless. . . His heart went out to them
  and as a result, He took action! Hundreds of thousands of people needed
  to know the Savior, so He sent His followers to go out to the people
  and share about the Kingdom of God. Jesus' disciples were "His feet"
  going out to share the Good News, "His hands" ministering and healing
  the people, and "His mouth" telling others about Him. They may have
  been few in number, but they had a radical impact on the world!

  Today, we are called to be "Jesus' feet" going out into the world to
  share the Good News that God loves men, women, and children. . . and
  He wants to have a relationship with them. We are called to be "Jesus
  hands" ministering, serving and spiritually healing those who are
  hurting. And we are called to be "Jesus' mouth", having a ready answer
  on the tip of our tongue as to why we have hope for the future.

  Who around you needs a relationship with God? Are you being God's feet
  and going to them? Are you being His hands and reaching out, listening,
  empathizing with them, and developing a relationship? And are you
  being Jesus' mouth, sharing the most important message of all time. .
  that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for the sins of all men and
  women?

  We may be few in number, but we can have a radical impact now and in
  eternity!
-marji kruger

cup

  There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful
  stores. This was their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques
  and pottery and especially teacups.   One day in this beautiful shop they
  saw a beautiful teacup. They said "May we see that? We've never seen one
  quite so beautiful."

  As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't
  understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time
  when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted
  me over and over and I yelled out, let me alone," but he only smiled, 'Not
  yet.'

  "Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I
  was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I
  screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'

  "Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he
  wanted to burn me, and I yelled, and I knocked at the door. I could see
  him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head,
  'Not yet.'

  "Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool.
  'There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over.
  The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I
  cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'

  "Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This
  was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I
  screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening
  nodding his head, saying, 'Not yet.'

  "Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to
  give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the
  shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.'
  And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful.
  I'm beautiful.' "

  'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and
  patted, but if I just left you, you'd have dried up. I know it made you
  dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have
  crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but
  if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were
  bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that,
  you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your
  life, and if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't
  survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you
  are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with
  you."
-unknown author

mistake

My mother's father worked as a carpenter.  On this particular day, he was
  building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages
  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 had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his
  pocket unnoticed and fallen in 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 $50 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, and now this."

  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 Saturday at my grandfather's small church in
  Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithful-
  ness 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 co-workers 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.

  There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking Him! Perhaps
  it is something we ought to try more often, "Thank you God for not
  allowing my car to start this morning." He may have been saving your
  life from a car accident.  May God bless your day today.  Look for
  the perfect mistakes.

  "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)

taste

The Doctor and the Apple

 It is said that at the University of Chicago Divinity School each year
 they have what is called "Baptist Day." On this day each one is to bring a
 lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day",
 the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the
 theological education center.

 The story is that one year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich. Dr. Tillich
 spoke for two and one-half hours "proving" that the resurrection of Jesus
 was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He
 concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical
 resurrection, the religious tradition of the church was groundless,
 emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen
 Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He
 then asked if there were any questions.

 After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of
 short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium.

 "Doctor Tillich, I got one question," he said as all eyes turned toward
 him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began
 eating it. "Tillich"... CRUNCH, MUNCH... "My question is a simple
 question," CRUNCH, MUNCH. "Now, I ain't never read them books you read..."
 CRUNCH, MUNCH "...and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original
 Greek"... CRUNCH, MUNCH..." I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and
 Heidegger"... CRUNCH, MUNCH... He finished the apple. "All I wanna know
 is:  This apple I just ate... was it bitter or sweet?"

 Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly
 fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted
 your apple."

 The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled
 paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you
 tasted my Jesus."

 The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium
 erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and
 promptly left the platform.

 Have you tasted Jesus?

 "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge
 in Him." Psalm 34:8