1. change your life. change your world.
Vol 10 • Issue 10
THE SAFETY
BUBBLE
Perfect protection, perfect peace
Salvation in a Mineshaft
Coincidence or the hand of God?
A Sound Mind
How to be worry free
3. FLIGHT TRACKER
“The eyes of The Lord are in every pLace .” 1
By Abi F. May
This morning my husband He doesn’t take His eye off the
Simon left suddenly to the USA, “screen” even for a moment. “His
after receiving word that his eyes are on the ways of man, and
elderly mother’s health had taken He sees all his steps.”2
a turn for the worse. We couldn’t Three thousand miles across “If I ascend
afford trans-Atlantic airfare for ocean and land. That’s how far
two, so here I am, home alone and Simon has traveled since he left into heaven,
already missing Simon. home. But with God, there is no
I’ve been combating loneliness such distance. He is always right You are there”
by keeping busy, and between here with us. The psalmist David
catching up on housework and wrote, “If I ascend into heaven,
checking email, I came across a You are there. If I take the wings No matter where life takes us,
real-time “flight tracker” on the of the morning, and dwell in the we have an invisible guide who is
Internet. Since then I’ve gone uttermost parts of the sea, even watching, loving, never neglecting
back to that screen every couple of there Your hand shall lead me, and us for a moment, and taking care
hours to follow Simon’s progress Your right hand shall hold me.”3 of us each step of the way.
as his plane passed over the vast The flight tracker is showing I’m considerably cheered up—
expanse of ocean, reached land- his approach to Philadelphia now. and look, my prayers have been
fall, and is now making its way The Lord is always tracking us answered. The plane has landed.
down the eastern coast of North too. Are we heading in the right
America. Even though Simon has direction, walking in the path of Abi F. May is a member of
no idea I am “watching” in this His choosing, the path that leads the Family International in
way, knowing where he is at the to happiness and Him? “You will Europe. 1
moment gives me a curious sense show me the path of life; in Your
of comfort. presence is fullness of joy.”4
A few minutes ago the thought I just checked the screen again. 1
Proverbs 15:3
struck me that this is how God is Simon’s plane is descending. Dear 2
Job 34:21
with us. He’s always watching and Lord, please give them a safe land- 3
Psalm 139:8–10
knows right where we are in our ing. “The Lord shall preserve your 4
Psalm 16:11
flight schedule, and unlike me, going out and your coming in.”5 5
Psalm 121:8
3
4. THE SAFETY
people can try to do to us, because
BUBBLE our great protector has promised
that not a hair of our head can be
By Maria Fontaine He’s laid out in His Word—and touched without His permission.5
by taking the necessary physical We can rely on Him to fulfill all
Our heavenly father offers precautions. When we do those of those promises and more, and
us incredible security and peace things, we have nothing to fear through faith in them we can have
from the evils of this world. and can count on Him to deliver peace of mind, regardless of the
Through His divine care and us from harm. circumstances around us.
intervention, we can live in a “God is our refuge and strength, Sometimes, for one reason or
bubble of protection from the bad a very present help in trouble.”1 more reasons, He lets something
things that go on around us and Greater is He who is in us than get through that bubble of
that could also happen to us if He anything this world can throw protection, but even then “all
wasn’t constantly keeping them at at us.2 His love in our hearts will things work together for good
bay. cast out any fearful thoughts or to those who love God.”6 When
God can protect us from worries, because His Spirit will those seemingly bad things hap-
anything, but only when we give fill us with power, love, and a pen, there is usually a lesson for
Him our cooperation. We do sound mind.3 We are surrounded us, and often it is that we need
that by staying close to Him in and sheltered by Him and His to be more prayerful and more
spirit—by loving Him and doing angelic forces.4 We don’t have to vigilant in the physical realm. If
our best to live by the principles fear anything the devil or bad we’ve never experienced a robbery
4
5. PROTECTION AND POWER
By David Brandt Berg
The safest place in the world for you is close to God and
where He wants you to be. No matter where that is or what’s against
you, He will keep you. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the
righteous run to it and are safe.”7
God has promised to protect His own, but has anything bad ever
happened to you since you’ve accepted Him into your heart and life?
Has the Lord ever let you suffer in some way through an accident,
affliction, or other trouble?
Look at what happened to Job!8 Were all the calamities that befell
him and his family his fault? Was God punishing him for his sins? No.
All of these things happened because the devil asked God if he could
test and tempt Job to see if he could break Job and make him lose his
faith. The Lord let the devil take away all Job’s wealth, then his family,
and finally his health. It was all a test, perpetrated by the devil but
allowed by the Lord in order to show that Job would continue to love
and honor Him in spite of it all. And when Job passed the test, God
blessed him with twice as much as he had lost.9
Don’t worry; God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we
are able to bear.10 He doesn’t let the devil give us more than we can
take, but He does sometimes let the devil test us to see if we’ll depend
or a break-in or a mugging or on Him and His promises in the Word even in difficult circumstances.
some other frightening or life- And once we’ve passed the test, God will deliver us, just like He did
threatening situation, it’s hard to Job.
imagine it happening to us, and All through the Bible the Lord miraculously empowered and pro-
that can lead to a false sense of tected those who turned to Him for help. And the same miracles of
security, which is dangerous. power and protection that occurred back in Bible times can happen
People do desperate things today. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!”11 If Jesus
when they’re at the end of their could do those miracles in His day, then He can still do them today.
rope, and there are also people God is still the God of miracles, and what He’s done before He can do
whose hearts are very evil. We again.
live in dangerous times, but as Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
long as we do our part, we can earth!”12 That’s a lot of power! And if you’ve accepted Jesus into your
count on His unfailing counsel, life and heart, you have access to that power as well. God has not only
forewarning, protection, and promised all this power and protection, but He’s promised it for right
care. We are blessed! 1 now and for you, if you believe! 1
Psalm 46:1
1 5
Matthew 10:29–31 9
See Job 42:10–16
1 John 4:4
2 6
Romans 8:28 10
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:7
3 7
Proverbs 18:10 11
Hebrews13:8
4
Psalm 34:7; 91:11 8
See Job 1:6–19 12
Matthew 28:18
5
6. Path of Destruction
JakarTa, May 13, 1998
Caught in the heart of citywide riots that
had been sparked by anti-government
student demonstrations, God was our
only defense—but He was strong enough!
What could have turned into trauma and
tragedy for us became instead a thrilling
testimony to the power of God.
Our third-story apartment doubled as housing and base of
operations for our volunteer work. In the previous few days we had
left only for emergencies.
“Have you heard the latest?” someone whispered. We kept our
voices low, as we didn’t want to upset the children. “Crowds are
rioting all across the city!”
“Quick!” Lydia peered out the window, being careful to stay out of sight
behind the curtain. “It’s all quiet around here,” she said. “Almost too
one of them quiet.”
“We’re safe here for the time being,” John replied, putting his arm
shouted. around Lydia. “We’ve prayed for our situation, so we know we’re in
the Lord’s hands.” We had been praying about trying to leave the
“Get out of city, but kept feeling that the Lord wanted us to stay put.
“Now seems like a good time to try to talk to some of our neigh-
here! A mob bors,” John said.
Lydia looked out the window again, this time at the men who
is headed this stood guard at the outer gate of our housing complex. Their show
of force might be enough to deter a few would-be looters, but what
way!” could they possibly do if they were set upon by an angry mob?
John and Lydia prayed for the Lord’s protection, and then set off
down the stairs and out of the building. They hurried past the evacu-
ated shops on the ground floor, then over to the front gate of our
complex where a few neighbors mingled and talked with the guards.
6
7. By Ron Bittner
As John and Lydia got closer a streets below, and there was only Phil and Esther ran up to the
loud crash shook the neighbor- one thing that we could do: pray roof to get a better look. There
hood. At the same instant two desperately for the Lord to keep they could see just how wonder-
frightened teenagers came hur- us from harm! fully we had been saved. The
tling around the corner. A couple of us kept our mob had left a path of destruc-
“Quick!” one of them shouted. children occupied with reading tion down the street that led to
“Get out of here! A mob is headed in another room, while the rest of our neighborhood—a cindered,
this way!” us prayed as we never had before! litter-strewn mess of mangled
There were more people behind Time passed. We prayed on. steel and shattered glass. The
the two teenagers—dozens of When the shouting and scream- mob had come straight up our
them on foot and motorbikes or ing below got louder, we stopped street, and then just before it got
in cars—all racing as fast as they our ears and claimed God’s to our apartment, the mob had
could to keep ahead of the rioters. protection over and over. made a U-turn and headed for a
The first young man stopped Psalm 91 was a tremendous nearby supermarket.
and bent over. Resting his hands comfort. “A thousand may fall at For some time after that,
on his knees, he tried to catch his your side, and ten thousand at we could still hear the shouts
breath. “They’re breaking shop your right hand; but it shall not of looters as they emptied the
windows and setting buildings on come near you. … I will say of supermarket of anything they
fire—buildings just like this one!” the Lord, He is my refuge and could carry. Later, 200-foot
he said. “They’re right around the my fortress; my God, in Him I columns of fire illuminated the
corner!” Fear flashed in his eyes will trust. … You shall not be night sky as two nearby depart-
and he sprinted off again. Panic afraid of the terror by night, nor ment stores were looted and
overcame our neighbors, and they of the arrow that flies by day. burned.
took off too. … No evil shall befall you, nor Destruction and terror were
John and Lydia prayed to stay shall any plague come near your all around, but through it all, we
calm. Without saying another dwelling.”1 It seemed like that were kept safe in the hands of
word to each other, they turned, had been written specifically for our loving Savior.
rushed back to our apartment us. The peace of God covered our
building, and bounded up the spirits like a cozy blanket. Ron Bittner is a member of
stairs. Joanna had seen them After what seemed like forever, the Family International in
coming and flung the door open someone got up and went to the Indonesia.1
for them. window. Everything was quiet
It was clear that something and still. Not a soul was in sight.
terrible was happening in the We were safe!
Psalm 91:2,5,7,10
1
7
8. The Secret P lace
A Meditation on Psalm 91
Adapted from David Brandt Berg, by Ronan Keane
psaLM 91:1: he who dweLLs in The verse 4a: he shaLL cover you wiTh
secreT pLace of The MosT high his feaThers, and under his wings
shaLL abide under The shadow of you shaLL Take refuge .
The a LMighTy. The picture is of God keeping us safe, like a hen
Where is the “secret place of the Most High”? spreads her wings over her chicks to protect them.
It is found in intimate fellowship with God. The
phrase “shadow of the Almighty” symbolizes God’s verse 4b: his TruTh shaLL be your
protection. When you’re in close personal fellow- shieLd and buckLer.
ship with God, you’re under His shadow, under His A buckler was a small shield, about the size and
protection. shape of a dinner plate and fastened to the wrist,
That’s a promise, but it comes with one condition: which soldiers used to protect their sword-wielding
you must stay close to Him. You do that by read- hand. A buckler was a lot more maneuverable than
ing His Word and doing your best to follow it, by the full-size shields that most ancient soldiers also
keeping Him and His guiding spiritual principles in carried.
your thoughts. What is the truth of God? Jesus once said in a
prayer to His Father, “Your word is truth.”1 Another
verse 2: i wiLL say of The Lord , “he passage tells us to carry “the shield of faith with
is My refuge and My forTress ; My which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts
god, in hiM i wiLL TrusT.” of the wicked one.”2 Faith in God’s promises is our
In Bible times, stone fortresses provided the best best protection.
protection in times of trouble or war, but God is an
even surer defense. verses 5–6: you shaLL noT be afraid
of The Terror by nighT , nor of The
verse 3: sureLy he shaLL deLiver you arrow ThaT fLies by day, nor of The
froM The snare of The fowLer and pesTiLence ThaT waLks in darkness ,
froM The periLous pesTiLence . nor of The desTrucTion ThaT Lays
A snare is a trap, set for a bird in this case, and the wasTe aT noonday.
devil is the fowler. You have nothing to fear, whether physical or
spiritual, because you have the following promise:
John 17:17
1
2
Ephesians 6:16
8
9. verses 7–8: a Thousand May faLL aT verses 11–13: for he shaLL give
your side , and Ten Thousand aT your his angeLs charge over you , To
righT hand ; buT iT shaLL noT coMe keep you in aLL your ways . in Their
near you . o nLy wiTh your eyes shaLL hands They shaLL bear you up ,
you Look , and see The reward of The LesT you dash your fooT againsT a
wicked . sTone . you shaLL Tread upon The
Even if danger is on every side, God can bring Lion and The cobra , The young Lion
you through it unscathed. and The serpenT you shaLL TraMpLe
underfooT .
verse 9: because you have Made The Thank God for His angels, who watch over you
Lord , who is My refuge, even The continually, including your personal guardian angel,
MosT high, your dweLLing pLace… whose job is you.
If the Lord is your refuge and dwelling place,
where does that put you? In a sense you’re already verse 14, god speaking: “because he
dwelling in heaven, because that’s where God lives has seT his Love upon Me , Therefore
and you’ve made your home with Him. i wiLL deLiver hiM; i wiLL seT hiM
on high , because he has known My
verse 10: no eviL shaLL befaLL
you , naMe .
nor shaLL any pLague coMe near Again, there are conditions attached to His
your dweLLing . promises: God protects those who know and love
But, you may argue, bad things do happen, even Him. Your love, trust, and faith in God and His
to people who pray for God’s protection. They get ability to deliver you are what activate His power on
hurt, seriously ill, and have plenty of other prob- your behalf.
lems. How could the statement “no evil shall befall
you” be true? verses 15–16: “he shaLL caLL upon
Well, consider what is “evil.” When the Lord Me, and i wiLL answer hiM; i wiLL be
lets seemingly bad things happen to His children, wiTh hiM in TroubLe ; i wiLL deLiver
they’re often to teach us something or to strengthen hiM and honor hiM . wiTh Long Life
and build our character. When our wise and loving i wiLL saTisfy hiM, and show hiM My
heavenly Father allows this, He does so for our own saLvaTion .”
good, and it “yields the peaceable fruit of righteous- As we fulfill these conditions, what are the five
ness to those who have been trained by it.”3 If the things the Lord will do for us when we call on Him
purpose and outcome are positive, how can these for help? 1) He will answer us, 2) He will be with us
things be evil? In fact, He also promises that all in trouble, 3) He will deliver us, 4) He will honor
things work together for good to those who love us, and 5) He will show us His salvation. 1
Him.4
3
Hebrews 12:11
4
Romans 8:28
9
10. SALVATION IN A MINESHAFT
By Natalia Prokhatska
Born and raised in a small Ukrainian father under their support pier
mining town during the Soviet era, I grew and his partner on the top of it.
up in an atmosphere of atheism. One day Suddenly my father’s foot
I came across a book titled Not by Bread slipped, he lost his balance, and
Alone. Being an avid reader, I read it in a fell into the black abyss. The
single sitting. The book offered a simple plan safety rope caught him, but for
of salvation, followed by a prayer to receive several minutes he dangled under
Jesus as my personal Savior. The concepts the pier. Shards of coal rained on
of God, faith, and prayer were all foreign to him, cutting his head, face, and
my thinking, but something about the book body.
captivated me. When I repeated the prayer, Finally his partner, who hadn’t
I had a feeling that was both marvelous and heard my father’s cries for help
a bit scary, as though my soul was being over the din of the machinery,
elevated to the ceiling. stopped working to check on
Several years later I left my hometown to him, saw what had happened, and
study at the state university, and there I met helped him up.
members of the Family International who When my father recounted the
led me from A to Z into a life of faith and incident to me later, he said that
service to God and others. his whole life had passed before
The next time I visited my parents, I his eyes as he hung in the dark-
explained how Jesus had changed my life ness. “I felt your prayers holding
and that He could do the same for them. My me tight,” he said, “and that was
mother received it gladly, but my father was when I decided to receive Jesus as
skeptical. I promised to pray for him. my Savior.”
At the start of each workday, my father My father’s favorite old belt?
and the other coalminers descended the He thanks God that someone had
vertical shaft two by two. Part of their safety taken it that day.
gear was a heavy belt that was anchored to
the shaft’s wooden framework by a rope. My Natalia Prokhatska is a member
dad never used that belt, however, as it was of the Family International in
bulky and uncomfortable. Instead he wore Argentina. 1
a lighter one that he trusted would serve the
purpose just as well.
One day someone had taken his light-
weight belt, so he was forced to use the
heavier one. He and his partner went down
the shaft and were soon busy mining, my
10
11. greater works
By Karand Joshi as told to Carina E. Harrop
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do
he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to
My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do.”—Jesus,
John 14:12–13 I wasn’t
I had gone for a drive with friends one evening, when all of a sudden prepared to
our car died on the highway. We couldn’t make out what was wrong
with it, so two of my friends went for help. see a helpless
In the meantime, the rest of us got out of the car and stood around person die,
talking along the side of the road. I happened to glance over the
railing of the overpass where we had come to a stop and saw, just a but I wasn’t a
few meters away, some homeless people camped on the side of the
road. A moment later, one of them, an elderly woman, began choking doctor. What
violently. She couldn’t breathe, and the others, who turned out to
be her family, gathered around her and began doing all they could could I do?
to help her. Nothing worked. “She’s dying! She’s dying!” they cried
frantically.
I froze, not knowing what to do as the scene played out before me.
I wasn’t prepared to see a helpless person die, but I wasn’t a doctor.
What could I do?
Earlier that week I had read from the Bible about Jesus’ power to heal, If you haven’t met the
and there is a verse of Scripture that says, “Jesus Christ is the same Man who has the power
yesterday, today, and forever.”1 All I could think to do was cry out to to heal, protect, and
Jesus to heal her, so I began praying desperately. As soon as I finished grant eternal life, you
praying, I looked at her and there she was, beginning to breathe can right now by invit-
normally. From a hairsbreadth from death, life had been restored to ing Him into your life.
her. Her color came back, and her family wept tears of joy. My hair Simply pray this short
stood on end. I had witnessed a miracle and direct answer to prayer. prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank You
Karand Joshi is an A ctivAted reader in India.1 for coming and dying for
me so I can be forgiven my
sins, experience Your love
and care here and now,
and have the promise of
eternal life in heaven. I
open my heart and invite
1
Hebrews 13:8 You in. Amen.
11
12. a sound mind
by marie péloquin
times.” I guess God knew our more to be afraid of. Just read
inclination to worry and fear. or watch the news and you’ll see
As kids we are afraid of the what I’m talking about—war,
dark, the boogeyman under the crime, terrorism, new strains
bed, and the dentist. of deadly diseases, natural and
A couple of years later we’ve manmade disasters, and of course
learned that the boogeyman the miserable state of the world
doesn’t exist and the dentist economy and the ramifications
knows what he’s doing, so we’re that brings with it.
afraid of bullies at school, being In the Bible, God has an
I am by nature embarrassed in front of our answer for each of those fears:
something of a worry- friends, and making a poor grade “Trouble at work? Nasty
wart. I’m almost constantly on the Tuesday math quiz. coworkers threatening to cause
preoccupied with one worry or A few more years later and trouble for you? Don’t worry! Put
another. we’re afraid of pimples and braces your will on My side and I’ll take
I am also a multitasker. and not being popular enough. care of the problem!”1
I can do just about anything Soon enough we fear that first “Worried about war and terror-
and worry at the same time. For job and worry about the future ism? Don’t fear! Entrust your life
example, this morning I was and what we’ll become. We fear and your family to Me, and I’ll
trying to take my daily quiet failing academically and failing take care of you.”2
time, reading a few pages of in relationships. We fear disap- “Afraid of natural disasters?
devotional material and reflecting pointing family and friends. We Worried about earthquakes,
on it (I say “trying,” because at fear economic failure, we fear tsunamis, or hurricanes? Don’t be!
the same time I was worrying for our children’s happiness and I’ve got you covered. That’s the
about the week’s work ahead of well-being, and we fear sickness best insurance policy you could
me, ongoing health problems, and death. ask for!”3
and an upcoming trip) when this We outgrow fears, but we never “Are you suffering physi-
sentence jumped off of the page: seem to outgrow fearing. cally—perhaps even battling a
“In the Bible, the admonition to It also doesn’t help that these life-threatening sickness? Don’t be
‘fear not’ is used more than 100 days there seems to be more and afraid. I will be with you through
12
13. I realized that
God had a
contingency
plan for
every possible
it all, to comfort you and hold What’s more, it’s His pleasure to
your hand.”4 calamity take care of us! He doesn’t con-
“Have you been wrongly sider us an annoyance when we
accused and therefore worry about come to Him with our fears and
saving your reputation and future? “I see you’ve been worried worries. Rather, like the loving
Don’t. I know the truth, and I’ll about how to provide for your Father He is, He picks us up and
make sure it comes out in the family. It’s been difficult to make gently says, “I understand. Why
end.”5 ends meet, and the bills are piling don’t you leave that fear with Me,
“It can be a scary world out up. Don’t be afraid. The world and let Me handle it for you?”8
there! There’s a lot of bad stuff and all that is in it are Mine, and “God has not given us the spirit
going on. Maybe you live in a it is My pleasure to meet every of fear,” the apostle Paul wrote,
dangerous area and that worries one of your needs. Just ask.”7 “but of power and of love and of a
you sometimes. Don’t be afraid. As I thought about it more, sound mind.”9
If I take care of the birds and the I realized that God had a con-
flowers, what makes you think tingency plan for every possible Marie Péloquin is a member
I won’t take care of you? You’re calamity. For every worry, He of the Family International
worth everything to Me.”6 has a solution at His fingertips. in Mexico. 1
Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and of
1 5
Isaiah 51:7: Listen to Me, you who 9
2 Timothy 1:7: For God has
good courage, do not fear nor be know righteousness, you people in not given us a spirit of fear,
afraid of them; for the Lord your God, whose heart is My law: do not fear the but of power and of love
He is the One who goes with you. He reproach of men, nor be afraid of their and of a sound mind.
will not leave you nor forsake you. insults.
2
Isaiah 54:14: In righteousness you shall 6
Luke 12:7: But the very hairs of your
be established; you shall be far from head are all numbered. Do not fear
oppression, for you shall not fear; and therefore; you are of more value than
from terror, for it shall not come near you. many sparrows.
3
Psalm 46:2: Therefore we will not fear, 7
Luke 12:32: Do not fear, little flock, for it
even though the earth be removed, is your Father's good pleasure to give
and though the mountains be carried you the kingdom.
into the midst of the sea. 1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your care upon
8
4
Psalm 23:4: Yea, though I walk through Him, for He cares for you.
the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil; for You are with me; Your
rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
13
14. A VOICE IN THE NIGHT
By Randy Langston
Pull over at the next gas Red tongues of flame erupted some-
station! Jesus spoke to my mind
very clearly. where in the wreckage, illuminating
“I don’t need gasoline,” I
argued. “Besides, the gas will be what now resembled a battlefield.
cheaper in Stuttgart. I’ll be there
soon.”
Tankstelle, 3 km. The sign makers heading for the Black I stood mouth agape, my
announcing the next highway Forest. I lifted my foot from the senses reeling under the impact
service station flashed by. accelerator, eased the VW van off of what had happened. As the
Pull over at the next gas station! the highway, and coasted to the numbness gradually subsided, I
“But Lord, I’m tired and it’s gas pumps. was struck by a thought that sent
already 3 am. I’ve got to get As I opened the van door, the shock waves through my system
home. If I stop now, I’ll lose chilly night air was pierced by so strong that they caused me to
another 15 minutes and ...” the sound of screeching rubber, jump off the ground. If I had not
Tankstelle, 1 km. followed by the sound of crushing stopped, I would be right in the
Like a father speaking to an metal, more screeching tires, and middle of that carnage!
errant child, Jesus spoke to me more crushing metal. Red tongues As I viewed the blackened,
more firmly. You must stop! of flame erupted somewhere in twisted metal, the words of the
Early the previous morning the wreckage, illuminating what psalmist echoed in my ears. “Yea,
I had driven from Stuttgart to now resembled a battlefield. In though I walk through the valley
Frankfurt, Germany, to attend a a matter of seconds, a dozen of the shadow of death, I will fear
meeting. It had stretched late into vehicles had been mangled and no evil, for You are with me.”1
the evening, and it was almost strewn across the roadway.
midnight before I began the long A gas station attendant alerted Randy Langston (1949–2006)
drive home. I was exhausted! The the police, and fire departments served as a volunteer with
exit sign came into view. Ausfahrt. and paramedic squads rushed the Family International for
I flipped on my turn signal and to the scene. Wailing sirens and 35 years. 1
checked the mirrors. I was already flashing lights announced their
in the slow lane and was on the arrival.
tail end of a line of Dutch holiday Psalm 23:4
1
14
15. The Will Of God
The will of God will never take you
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you, Mir Acles coMe
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
NAtur Ally to God
By David Brandt Berg
The will of God will never take you
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you, We usually think of things that are
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you, beyond our comprehension as super-
Where the army of God cannot protect you, natural or miraculous, but those things
Where the hands of God cannot mold you. aren’t supernatural to God because He
operates in the spiritual realm where
The will of God will never take you everything is “natural” to Him. There
Where the love of God cannot enfold you, is nothing that’s impossible for God.1 A
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you, lot of things God does are beyond our
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears, power and grasp of things and what we
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you. consider natural, so when they happen
we say they are supernatural. But with
The will of God will never take you God nothing is impossible, so nothing is
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears, supernatural to Him.
Where the Word of God cannot feed you, God can do things that are contrary
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you, to what we consider His natural laws.
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you. When someone is healed of an incurable
—Author unknown disease, for example, we call it a miracle
because we’re seeing the evidence or
manifestation of some of God’s laws
FeediNG reAdiNG that link the spiritual and the physical
Our Best Protection realms—laws that we know little about.
To God, on the other hand, it’s simple!
The Bible is full of amazing Delivered! He knows how to undo whatever
stories of how God protected 2 Samuel 22 damage the disease may have done and
His children who looked to thereby creates what to us is a miracle—
Him when things couldn’t The invisible army a supernatural act that is beyond our
have looked worse—stories 2 Kings 6 capabilities.
that can strengthen our faith God is always ready, willing, and
that God will also protect Four in the fire able to work miracles on our behalf—
us. Here are a few that have Daniel 3 miracles of healing, supply, protection,
encouraged millions down or whatever else we may need when
through the ages. A night in the lions’ den we ask Him to in faith and claim the
Daniel 6 promises from His Word. We can’t work
The great escape miracles; we can only pray for Him to
Exodus 14 Assassination plot revealed do them and marvel at His power when
Matthew 2 He does. 1
A giant challenge
1 Samuel 17 Luke 1:37
1
15
16. FroM Jesus WitH loVe
hideaway.
Everyone is worried about the future these days—and it’s no wonder.
The way things are going, everyone has reason to fear what will hap-
pen to them, their family, their city, their country, their world. This
planet has become a frightening and stressful place to live. Sometimes
you wish you could find a hideaway, nail the windows and doors
closed, and keep the world out.
It doesn’t do any good to pretend the problems aren’t there, but you
don’t have to be afraid, because I’m looking out for you. When fears
overwhelm you, hide away in Me. When you find yourself in a dan-
gerous situation, call on Me for help and then rest assured that I will
be there to protect you. When you can’t watch over your loved ones,
commit them to My care. When a national or international crisis
erupts, I will provide a safe haven for you and yours.
And even if the unthinkable happens—if you or your loved ones are
taken from this life—know that a better life awaits on the other side.
Heaven is where all this world’s wrongs are made right.
So you see, although there’s plenty you could worry about, you don’t
have to worry about a thing. I’m taking care of you!
