Angels Unaware

This week was a very difficult week for me.  On Monday the Sermons4Kids web site went down.  I contacted our web host and was told that our site was bringing down their server and that they had no choice but to disable our web site.  They provided a suggested solution and we tried it.  They enabled our web site and I thought all was well.  A short time later, the site was down again.  Time after time we tried various fixes, but to no avail.  To say that I was discouraged would be an understatement of epic proportions!  At one point, I actually said to my wife, "I just feel like giving up."

Wednesday evening, my wife and I had just returned from our church's mid-week prayer meeting when the doorbell rang.  My wife answered the door and after a couple of minutes, she called out to me, "It's about Sermons 4 Kids." I went to the door to find a woman who was there with her sister.  She told me that she was from Mexico and that they used our materials in her church.  She was in our city visiting her sister, who also uses Sermons4Kids materials, and they wanted to meet me.  We had a wonderful visit and before they left I gave them some of our Spanish language CDs.  They gave me a big hug and said "¡ Me gusta!"

After the women had gone, my wife said, "You know, I believe God sent those women here to encourage you."  My first reaction was, "Well, it isn't working!"  But you know, it did work.  I was encouraged and the next day I decided that I would move our web site to a new web host.  The move went very smoothly and by Friday the web site was up and running and is still up today.

In looking back over the events of this difficult week, I reflect on the visit of the two women and a passage of Scripture comes to mind.  "Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:1-2)  I have no doubt that these two women were angels sent from God to encourage me in this difficult time.

Thank you LORD!

Bethany Hamilton ~ Soul Surfer

On September 15, 2012, I posted a blog entitled "Feet of Clay" about a sermon that I had written in which Lance Armstrong was used as an example of a "Miraculous Turn Around." At that time, it had not been proven to my satisfaction, that Lance Armstrong had actually cheated in winning his many cycling titles.  It now seems certain that he was indeed guilty of cheating by using performance enhancing drugs.  This is very disappointing.  Lance Armstrong could have served as a shining example of how through hard work and perseverance one can rise above seemingly insurmountable adversity.

With the Lance Armstrong story being in the headlines all over the world, I had two choices.  I could delete the sermon from the web site, or I could rewrite the sermon.  I chose the second option.  For several days I searched my memory and scoured the web in an attempt to come up with an idea.  I just couldn't seem to find the right story to serve as an example of a miraculous turn around.  Then I stumbled onto the web site of Bethany Hamilton.  I was familiar with her story and had even seen the movie "Soul Surfer." It was the answer for which I had been searching.

If you are not familiar with the Bethany Hamilton story, I encourage you to visit her web site and I also recommend that you watch the movie "Soul Surfer."   It is available on Netflix and probably any other source for video sales and rentals.  While on her web site, don't miss the "Connect with God" page where she expresses her own faith in God and puts forth the plan of salvation.

Later this year, I plan to use the sermon "A Miraculous Turn Around" as our Sermon of the Week.  If you want to check it out now, be my guest.

Things I Don't Understand

There are many things that I do not understand. Here are just a few of those things:

CDs: I don't understand CDs. When I look at them, I can't see any songs in there, but when I put one in my CD player, I hear beautiful music. I don't understand it, but I know it works!

I don't understand how He did it, but God put a song in my heart. In times when I am sad, there is a song to comfort me; and when I am happy, there is a song to praise Him. I don't know how He did it, but God put a song in my heart!

Telephones: I don't understand how I can pick up a telephone and talk to someone hundreds or thousands of miles away and they can talk to me. Oh, I know about telephone lines, fiber optics, and cell phone towers, but I still don't understand how it works -- but I know it does!

I don't understand how I can talk to God in Heaven and He can talk to me. I can tell Him what is on my mind and he listens patiently -- then He speaks to my heart and gives me the assurance that I need. I don't understand prayer, but I know it works.

Medicine: I don't understand how medicine works. When I take a pill, how does it know where to go and what to do when it gets there? I don't know how it works, but I know it does!

I don't understand how God can heal the deepest hurt and pain in our lives. He knows exactly what we need in every situation. I don't know how He does it, but He does!

Calculators: I don't understand how I can push some buttons on a calculator and it will give me the correct answer to any problem. I don't understand it, but if I push the right buttons, I get the right answer every time!

I don't understand how God has the right answer to all of the problems of my life. I don't understand it, but I know He does!

Flashlights: I know this seems pretty simple, but I don't understand flashlights. I know there is a bulb and batteries and a switch to turn it off and on, but I still don't understand why it works -- but I know it does!

I don't understand how, but I know that in the darkest days of my life, God is my light. I don't know how He does it, but He lights every path I take!

Remote Controls: I don't understand how I can sit in my easy chair and control my TV or DVR from all the way across the room. I can change channels, adjust the volume, pause, fast-forward, or rewind. I don't understand it, but I am in complete control!

I don't understand how God can sit on His throne in Heaven and control everything here on earth. I certainly don't understand the events that have happened this week! I don't understand why someone would go into a school and kill innocent people -- people that he didn't even know. I don't understand it, but I know that even in this terrible situation, God is in control!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Thank you, God, that I don't have to understand your ways. I only have to trust you know that you are in control.