A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (October 16, 2018)
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. (James 1:2, AMPC)
It has been amazing to me to watch what has happened in the aftermath of this hurricane. Some see only the downside. They see the hurt, the loss, the lack, the price gouging, the delays, and on and on. Then again, some see a totally different side. They see neighbors helping neighbors. They see a community coming together and forgetting the things that separate us.
I want to deal with a few of those good things today that have happened to us personally after Hurricane Michael swept through our hometown of Albany, GA.
1. A neighbor friend and fishing buddy of mine went to Alabama to pick up a generator and on the way back learned that the power to his personal home had been restored. He knew that our power was still out so he brought the generator to our home and let us use it until our power was restored.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).
2. I was trying to clean up our front yard (which will take weeks) and I had one big pine limb that was so heavy I could not physically move it. A man stopped by that had a chainsaw and cut that big limb into several pieces so I could move it. This man was from Atlanta, GA (175 miles north of us) and he said he saw the devastation on the news and he felt like he should drive down and help wherever he could.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them (Proverbs 3:27, NLT).
3. I was still working in my front yard today (I’m not even thinking about dealing with the backyard yet) and an older gentleman came driving by in an old red pickup truck. He saw me sweating away in my front yard and he pulled into my driveway. He had a big cooler in the back of his old truck. He reached in and brought me a cold bottle of water. He told me that he had recently had major surgery so he could not do much but he could do this so he was riding around giving out cold water to those that looked like they needed it.
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward (Mark 9:41).
In yesterday’s devotion we shared about the parable of the birds (Matthew 6:25-34) where Jesus talked about taking care of the birds and that we were much more precious than the birds. We talked about watching and hearing the birds just singing away the next morning after the storm like they had no worry in the world. I thought about that a lot and here is what I think the birds were thinking. They could have been distraught and worried because many of their nests were destroyed and laying on the ground, but no, they were singing away. I can’t prove this of course, but this is what I think the birds were saying to each other.
Bird #1 – Oh my goodness, look at all that nest building material that is laying all over the ground. There is enough there to build a mansion.
Bird #2 – Yeah, and look at all those strong trees that did not blow down or break. Our new home will be so much safer and so much more secure. Praise the Lord!!!
I know that may sound silly to some of you but that is the way I see it. We can see the dark side of this thing or we can see the bright side. I choose to count it all joy (James 1:2), just like the birds do.
