Sometimes I have to remind myself of the magnitude of God’s love. I think if most of us were honest about it, we would admit that we don’t always grasp the Father’s love. We don’t get it because it is not only on television and in our lust-ridden society that love has lost its sanctity, but also in our churches and spiritual thinking where the great story of God’s love has become glamorized and trivialized.
Moreover, Paul expresses the scale at which we compare to understanding God’s love for us when he says, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all God’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ our Lord” (Eph. 3:17-18).Read More »
When I was a small boy, my family took a summer vacation to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. Although the beach and commercial district was nothing near its present size, it was still a busy area—especially for a lost kid. Somehow I got separated from my family and before I knew it, I was walking alone on quiet side streets unable to get back to all the beach and water I knew were so near.Read More »
This summer I cleared away years of brush in my sister’s backyard. It was good physical work and there were many lessons I learned about myself and God. From this time I want to share with you a special moment that encouraged me.
The yard is large and forested and gently slopes toward a dry creek bed. After cutting my way to the very back, working along the bank, I encountered a thriving underground yellow jacket nest in the side of the hill, which concerned me. I have heard stories of adults and children being severely injured and killed by the wasps as a result of ground vibrations unnerving the colony. I was working with a garden rake and a heavy cutter mattock razing everything above- and belowground.
Being slightly perfectionist with my work, the nest complicated things. I wanted the entire hill cleared just like the rest I had done. I got close and took a long look: the wasps busily entered and exited the burrow at several openings paying me little attention.
Later, still tinkering around the nest, I sensed that I had crossed the line and provoked them. Their behavior changed and a few started flying at me, pelleting my clothing. I was in work gear, so I knew I couldn’t be stung. But one wily little feller surprised me, managing to get beneath my glove and sting me on the bottom of my wrist. It was my fault, although he had to die for it.
I had spent too much time on the nest. Since it was near quitting time, I let the sting be the last word on the matter. I’d deal with it the next day.
I went out the next morning and immediately checked the nest. To my astonishment, an animal had come along sometime in the interim and bored out the entire colony! Nothing was left of it. A few wasps would come around looking for it, but there was only a hole there now.
I couldn’t believe it. I had no doubt that it was a gift from the Lord. He knew how concerned I was about it and providentially sent that animal along to do its natural thing to help me out.
It is little things like this that reassure me of the Lord’s great care for us and regard to answer before we’ve called for help.
A 'Mike' for Christ 