One of the most famous stories of history is the story of the sinking of the Titanic.
Many of you know that the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on the night of April 14, 1912 and sank just over two-and-a-half hours later. It wasn't the visible part of the iceberg that sunk the ship, it was the hidden part beneath the surface that ripped into the hull and caused her sink.
It is the hidden things in life that often give us the greatest spiritual problems.
Hummm? Let's see...problems with ants, roaches, roof replaced, basement leaks, back porch roof leaks, air conditioner broke, car in serious need of repair, lawn mower and weed-whacker broke, back and ankle problems, serious yard maintenance, and gutter problems. I'm sure I've forgotten something...oh, yes hit by lightning.
God's provision. We were given a lawn mower, youth from church and a few adults took care of the yard and fixed the gutter and some others said they will help me fix the leaking basement. I bought a nice electric weed-whacker, roof repair was paid for by insurance, had AC fixed to the tune of $300.00 (God will provide), back, ankle, back porch roof, and car repair -- God will provide. We must walk by faith. It's all we have and that's enough. Oh yes, thanks to Borax and sweeteners, bugs are zapped. Maybe insurance will rid the tree, yes, waiting on the check! I can only pray for the rest.
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Last Sunday night....zap bang! Around 6:50 PM a huge bolt of lightning hit the big oak tree in our back yard. Ripped off bark and wood splinters sending them even into my neighbors yard. Bolt went into the ground putting a hole in the ground. I was just shutting down my computer and we were heading for dinner. All electronics seem OK. The bolt went into the ground putting a hole in the ground which oozed white foam - boiling tree sap.
Reminds me of Job. Not sure yet -- why us? At this time only God knows. He has a reason for everything that happens in our lives. The tree is only about 15 ft. from our back porch with some limbs hanging over it. What's interesting is that it was only one bolt for the whole storm and it was on us. Freaky!!
Thank you Lord! I know you still love me, but at times, life sure is a struggle.
Oh yea, I forgot...dental and eye-wear needs.
I couldn’t help but to ask myself the question, “Were there Christians on the Titanic?” I would most certainly believe so.
We all face certain trying circumstances in life. Many which don't make any sense at all, but God will see us through them. Have you thanked God today for your trials? He intends to draw us closer to Him and encourage us to be mindful that whatever comes our way, has been filtered through His loving hands first. To quote someone else..God has perfect timing, never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a lot of faith. But it's always worth the wait. Read Psalm 91:5-16 and Psalm 107:20-31. Moody read these passages to people who were with him on a sinking ship a few decades before the Titanic disaster. "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name." Ps. 91:14 Moody and the others made it safely to harbor, but not without some trying circumstances.
Amazing "coincidences" that contributed to the Titanic tragedy: Numerous details, anyone of which, if it had happened differently, would have prevented the ship from sinking or prevented the loss of so many lives.
- The ship's sailing had been postponed for three weeks. Had she sailed any other time, the iceberg would not have been there.
- If the ship had traveled one mile per hour faster or slower, the iceberg would have been in a different position.
- The iceberg was "blue," the most difficult kind to see.
- The night was moonless -- no light to show the iceberg.
- The night was windless. Wind would have made waves to splash on the iceberg making it more visible.
- Men in the crow's nest had no lookout glasses. They were on the ship, but had been misplaced.
- Even so, the crew saw the iceberg in time to begin turning. If the crew had seen the iceberg 10 seconds sooner, the ship would have missed it.
- If the crew had seen the iceberg ten seconds later, they would have hit it head on, causing damage which would not have sunk the ship. The ship sank because it grazed the berg, slicing open a long section of its side.
- The ship could carry over 3000 people, but had lifeboats for only 1178 (this was all that laws then required). Even so, only 700 people actually got in the lifeboats.
- Perhaps the greatest cause of interest is that people believed it to be "unsinkable."
The great lesson for us is 1 Corinthians 10:12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. Pride, overconfidence and greed combined together led to the Titanic disaster.
Not sure yet -- why us? At this time only God knows. He has a reason for everything in our lives.
All things work together for good. There is no temptation, but such is common to man, but God is faithful who will not allow us to be tempted (tested) beyond that which we are able to handle, but will with the testing provide a way of escape that we will be able to handle it.
“God has perfect timing, never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a lot of faith. But it’s always worth the wait.” - author unknown.
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