An unfortunate occurrence at a Georgia church turned into a miraculous blessing and an opportunity to learn an important lesson. Five days before Christmas 2004, thieves broke into the Calvary Baptist Church in Lilburn Georgia and took presents the church planned to deliver to orphans. The church members held a special service in November to "adopt" children who had submitted wish lists for Christmas and had been collecting items to give to the children from abusive or neglectful homes.

The news of the robbery at the church spurred a wave of generosity with people calling from as far away as Canada and California to offer assistance.Organizers of the drive were surprised when they discovered that they had approximately ten times more in donations than had been stolen.The church delivered donations of nearly $24,000 in cash, checks and gift cards to the children's home for Christmas.

Fifteen-year-old Celia Gonzales who has lived at the home on and off for three years says she was shocked to hear someone had stolen the gifts meant for her and her friends, and touched at the benevolence of so many donors. She told a local paper, "It's pretty amazing what people do for us. We're really thankful."

Kenneth Dobbs, president and CEO of the Georgia Baptist Children's Home and Family Ministries, said the organization and the children in their care will blessed forever by the kindness shown to them.Dobbs added, "The evil that occurred, we were unhappy about that. The good that came out of it far exceeded anyone's expectations. It teaches (the children) a good lesson. They themselves will always remember the real meaning of life is to give and help others. I don't think the kids on this campus will ever forget this experience."

—http://charisanow.com, Church's Stolen Orphans Gifts Replenished Tenfold is a 'Christmas Miracle', December 23, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Genesis 50:20 (NASB)"And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."

In the book, The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With Me Yet, Stan Toler says one of the biggest struggles on earth is not fought on the battlefield, but rather in the living room over the television remote control. He writes, “If someone doesn’t like one of the 225 available satellite channels, the war is on! It’s a battle of the wills usually won by the person who had the satellite dish installed (or the one who makes the monthly cable television payments).”

Toler continues,” With the click of a finger, a sad movie with a multimillion dollar budget can be replaced with a low-budget, senseless comedy. Job needed a remote to cope with his situation, which wasn’t exactly a Disney World experience. As Job struggled with the questions of his heart, he longed to change the channel. In fact, he probably wanted to hit the rewind button and bring back his former life.

When Job began to question God, his tongue was in high gear – but his brain was still on a slow charge! ‘Then the lord answered Job out of the storm.’ He said, ‘Who is who darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?’ (Job 38:1-2). Toler translation: ‘You’ve done it again Job. You’ve assumed that I have relinquished control of this situation!’ Job didn’t have a clue as to who was holding the remote. Before we point fingers, let’s remember the times we’ve grabbed the remote and tried to wrest control of a crisis from the hands of the Creator. Why did we do that?”

The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With me Yet, Published by David C. Cook Company, Copy write 2001 Stan Toler, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Job 38:1-2 (CEV) The Lord Speaks From out of a storm, the Lord said to Job:

Why do you talk so much when you know so little?

GOD’S PROVIDENCE

Something didn’t feel quite right to Joyce. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her to get out of Liberia, and to do it now. Kenneth and Joyce were planning to leave the country around the 15th of July in 1990 for a month of well-deserved R&R. Their plans were to see family and to spend some quality time with Joyce’s mother who was suffering with Alzheimer Disease. But for a then unknown reason, Joyce had a premonition that they needed to leave early. Yes, there were places in the surrounding area that were dangerous at this time, but they didn’t give their safety a second thought–the rebels had not advanced on their city, they were 40 or 50 miles away. The danger level had not reached the point where the missionaries in their area felt they needed to evacuate.

Like the climate, the politics in Liberia is hot and humid. In 1980, Master Sergeant Sammuel Doe staged a coup, assassinating President William Tolbert and established a military government. The Doe regime was brutal–executing thirteen officials in public. After some political maneuvering, Doe was elected president in October 1985. A few years later, government officials uncovered a plot to overthrow the government, and imprisoned 10 men for ten years. The next year, in 1989, the rebels began a military offensive to oust Doe from power. The fighting began in the Northeast of the country and slithered toward the capitol city as the rebel forces took one town after another. By July, they’d taken the capitol city and closed down the airport.

Because of the activity of the rebel forces, Kenneth and Joyce knew they couldn’t leave through Monrovia, the nation’s capitol, they would have to find another way out of the country. So Kenneth took their official papers to a government office to get their exit visas. All his paperwork was in order, but the bureaucrat told him to come back the next day to get his visas. An inconvenience, Kenneth thought, but it wasn’t a big deal. He went home and made plans to return the next day. When he returned at the appointed time, they still weren’t ready, but he opted to stay and wait, instead of go home and return later as they suggested. The wait paid off; a couple of hours later, he had all the paperwork in hand to begin their journey back home.

The next morning, the police, the fireman, the military and the emigration officials, the very people who had given him their exit visas had fled the country. Kenneth and Joyce were right behind them, making final preparations to leave. In the capital city, Doe’s troops turned on civilians, massacring 600 refugees that had found sanctuary in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. The danger level had reached the boiling point, and as it turns out, they were just one step in front of the fire. The day they chose to evacuate was the day before the rebel forces entered their city. They were heading for Guinea, a neighboring West African country thirty miles away. I’m sure they gave a huge sigh of relief when they crossed the border, but it was short-lived. The river was flooded in front of them, and when they checked on the border crossing back into Liberia, it was closed. Remember–they didn’t know the severity of the threat level in Liberia. At this time, they didn’t know their city had been attacked, they didn’t know about the massacre in St. Peter’s Church–all they were working on was the prompting of the Holy Spirit to leave. So what would they do? It appears to me that they were one step ahead of falling dominoes, and they should go forward. But how? The bridge was washed out and the river was swollen. They had to feel a bit like Moses did as he stood in front of the Red Sea with sound of approaching thunder from Pharaoh’s army closing in on him.

There wasn’t a bridge, but there was a tree that had fallen across the river, leaving a big log–a way of escape for them. Some locals that were traveling with them put the missionaries’ suitcases on their heads and walked across the log. Then it was Kenneth & Joyce’s turn. If they slipped, they would have fallen into a watery grave. The swollen river formed dangerous rapids beneath their feet. With their feet on dry ground on the other side, they counted their blessings. When they discovered the extent of the danger they were in, they thanked God for his watch care over them and the prayers of His people on their behalf.

Not only did God protect them, but also the local, a Mandingo man that assisted them across the river. The next day when they arrived in Konacree, their destination in Guinea, he found out that all the men in his village had been shot and killed by the advancing forces. They spared the women, but the only man that survived was the one that carried the Missionaries’ luggage across the river.

Joyce says, “All this time we felt at peace. We experienced the peace that passes all understanding. We knew the people at home were praying for us, but we just didn’t realize the impact of prayer, that it can give you peace in the midst of chaos.”

--Soul Shaping: Disciplines that Conform you to the Image of Christ, Chapter 2. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson. For more information on Soul Shaping, go to www.soulshaping.net

Psalm 145:18 (HCSB) “The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity.”

You have heard of butting your head against a block wall. In November, authorities in Viroqua, Wisconsin found a seven-point buck that apparently lost a head-butting contest with a rival buck.

--The Salt Lake Tribune, February 6, 2010 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The only solution we have to overcome is to remember who is in control. God has promised to work all things for our good.

Romans 8:28 (NASB77) “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

An interviewer for World Magazine asked John Piper if he thought Christians should talk to the public about Natural Law instead of God to keep from alienating some listeners. Piper answered, “It certainly would be self-defeating for me to leave that (God or more specifically Jesus) out, because my calling is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God, not to spread a passion for family values.”

In all we do we are to bring glory to God. How can we do that if we avoid any mention of Him? --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

1 Corinthians 10:31 (CEV) When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.

After surviving a terrible auto accident, a 22 year-old Maryland woman says God gave her a second chance. Morgan Lake’s car was hit by a tractor trailer on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and the force of the collision pushed the car over the side of the bridge where it plunged into the water 40 feet below. Lake said God gave her the strength to stay alive after she watched the car explode with glass everywhere and the airbags hit her with full force. She said she felt like her body was getting filled up with water so she unbuckled her seat belt and swam through the broken window to the surface. She was able to reach a pile of rocks to wait for rescuers. She was flown to a nearby hospital with only minor injuries. Lake said, “I’m just blessed to be here, blessed to get a second chance at life.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Miracle: Woman Talks about Surviving Watery Crash, by Caitlin Burke, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/July/Miracle-Woman-Talks-about-Surviving-Watery-Crash, Accessed July 23, 2013.

2 Peter 3:9 (CEV) The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

When parts of the western United States recently received rain and snowfall during a prolonged drought, some meteorologists said the moisture was more valuable than most people realized. Some areas near San Francisco, California received over an inch of rain from one storm, and nearly two feet of snow fell in the nearby mountains. Ski resort operators said the snow was a welcome surprise because they had seen about 30 percent fewer visitors until then. While meteorologists noted much more moisture would be required to end the drought, the storm would be beneficial to the state’s agricultural industry. Weather Underground forecaster Jeff Masters said, “If one could put a monetary value on the moisture from this storm, I speculate that it would easily be worth a billion dollars.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Two feet of snow is expected in the Sierra Nevada, up to a foot in Northwest, By Doyle Rice and Gary Strauss, http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/02/06/california-rain-snow-drought/5262095; Accessed February 7, 2014.

Hebrews 6:7 (ESV) (7) For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

Residents of the small Montana town of Whitehall are finding something unusual in their tap water, flecks of gold. At least two households have reported finding gold flakes in the water, and they are concerned. After Sharon Brown finished washing dishes, she noticed glistening flecks in the bottom of the sink. Her husband did not think it could possibly be gold, but he had the material tested and it turned out to be the precious metal. Their neighbor has also reported finding gold flakes in his water. Both families say they are concerned that if they are finding gold in their water, there could be other more dangerous pollutants in the water as well. A spokesperson for the local water utility said there is nothing indicating anything harmful is in the water supply. He noted that there is an open pit goldmine about 5 miles from town, but doesn’t believe that has anything to do with the tap water. The utility thinks the flakes probably came from an approved piece of equipment tied to the water supply.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Montana residents finding gold in their tap water, By Will Lerner,
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/montana-residents-finding-gold-in-their-tap-water-174912578.html, Accessed June 6, 2014.

Isaiah 58:11 (HCSB) The LORD will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry.

A college art teacher in Colombia didn’t want people to recognize her by name so she won the right to legally change her name. Her new name is ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. I am not sure how the new name is pronounced. Perhaps she has a nickname, Alphabet.

One of the beautiful promises of Scripture is that the Lord knows my name. Several places it is written that He gives me a name, He knows my name, and he calls me by name.

I believe He still would know me by name even if the name was not pronounceable. -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Psalm 91:14 (HCSB) Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name.

While record rainfall totals fell in the midsection of the United States in May 2015, other parts of the country were dry. Overall, of the 1,445 months since weather records began in January 1895, May was the single wettest month across the country. 20 states reported wetter than average weather. It was so wet in Oklahoma and Texas that long standing droughts were erased, but the result for each state was also destructive flooding. Colorado also reported a record wet month, but rainfall there did not set a new overall record. Climate Scientist Jake Crouch said the wet May stemmed from El Nino, a climate pattern that tends to bring rain across the southern parts of the nation. He said, “This shows how a regional event can affect national statistics.”— Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

May was USA's wettest month on record, By Doyle Rice, http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/06/08/may-precipitation-usa/28682553,
Accessed June 8, 2015.

Psalm 68:9 (HCSB) (9) You, God, showered abundant rain; You revived Your inheritance when it languished.

In 2015, Dan Price, CEO of a credit-card processing firm made an announcement that he was raising the salaries of all of his employees to $70,000 a year. Price is now feeling the impact of that decision. One of the first things that happened as result of the decision was the loss of some big accounts. While the company added some other business, it will take time for these accounts to become profitable. Several employees also quit because they had been with the company longer and felt giving less motivated and less skilled workers the same wage as they received was unfair. When they spoke out about their concerns, they were treated as if they were being selfish. On top of everything else, Price is being sued by his brother who accuses him of taking millions of dollars out of the business and denying him his benefits as a minority owner. Most of the previous year’s $2.2 million in profit went into the salary increases, and now finances are much tighter. Price said he has also fallen on hard times as a result of his decision. He said, “I’m working as hard as I ever worked to make it work. I’m renting out my house right now to try to make ends meet myself.”—Jim L. Wilson and by Jim Sandell.

Dan Price, Seattle CEO who set company minimum wage at $70K, struggles to make ends meet, By Kellan Howell, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/1/dan-price-seattle-ceo-who-set-company-minimum-wage/print, Accessed August 1, 2015.

Proverbs 16:9 (NASB) “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”

Pilot Ken McKenzie credits his faith and his military experience for getting himself and his wife out of a plane after it crash landed in the Everglades. McKenzie is an experienced pilot, who served in the Canadian Air Force. He says his training took over, but both he and his wife credit their faith as playing a big role in their safety. His wife said it reminded her of the passage in Isaiah that says God’s angels will take care of the distress and fire that surrounds you. Though McKenzie suffered burns over eight percent of his body, he sees the Lord’s plan in all that has happened. He added,” When I look at all of what could have gone much worse than it did, I think we have a great deal of faith that there’s a plan for our lives.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Pilot who survived plane crash speaks about faith,
http://www.wsvn.com/story/29936218/pilot-who-survived-plane-crash-speaks-about-faith, Accessed September 11, 2015.

Isaiah 43:2 (HCSB) I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and ?when you pass? through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.

Sandra Ledford was surprised when she put down a bible at the store and a DVD fell out. Ledford said she thought it might be something included with the book, until she noticed writing on it and saw that it was a personal DVD. She started to set it down and leave it, but something told her not too. Ledford took the DVD home and discovered that it was full of meaningful memories of a tiny baby who only lived a few hours. She put it up on Facebook hoping to find the owner. It only took a short time to find the owner, Constance Merck. Merck said the disc held the few pictures they had of their baby who had only lived a few hours before passing away of kidney complications. Merck had purchased the Bible and then returned it but had forgotten to remove the DVD. She had returned hoping to find the DVD later, but had feared it was gone forever. Merck added, “I hoped that someone would find that and would do that, but I really just assumed it was gone. There’s a reason she found it. Yeah, I feel like God had a reason that day.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

DVD holding memories of baby's short life found in store Bible, By Sarah-Blake Morgan, http://www.wbtv.com/story/29807956/dvd-holding-memories-of-babys-short-life-found-in-store-bible, Accessed August 17, 2015.

Psalm 57:2 (HCSB) I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills ?His purpose? for me.

GOD’S PROVIDENCE

190 years after Thomas Jefferson died, a lock of his hair sold at a Texas auction for nearly $6,875. Heritage Auctions in Dallas said the sale involved 14 strands of Jefferson’s hair that were saved by his doctor at the time of his death in 1826. Though the buyer wished to remain anonymous, Heritage said the seller was a collector who purchased the hair in the early 1980s. The documentation including a letter confirms the authenticity of the hair and confirming the sample is part of a limited number of hair samples from Jefferson known to exist. –Jim L. Wilson and Sandell.

Lock of hair from Thomas Jefferson auctioned for $6,875, https://www.yahoo.com/news/lock-hair-thomas-jefferson-auctioned-6-875-005138377.html?nhp=1, Accessed May 14, 2016.

Matthew 10:30–31 (HCSB) “But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. ³¹ So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

GOD’S PROVIDENCE

When a fire destroyed the Poyen Missionary Baptist Church in Arkansas, the congregation had no place to gather for worship. Youth pastor James Green said the pastor called him and he was frantic because the church was burning. He rushed over, but Green said the fire was too intense and there was nothing he could do. The next day, he was discouraged because the church had no place to worship and he did not even have a Bible to use to teach the youth. That night they meet in the parking lot and the move helped them focus on the future. Green said the church had outgrown the building and the fire will help them grow. He added, “This is a minor setback to a major comeback. I do not understand why, but God does and there’s a purpose for everything. We will move forward.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

http://www.thv11.com/news/local/church-destroyed-by-fire-holds-service-in-parking-lot-1/215172088, Accessed May 23, 2016.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (HCSB) “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:”

A Kentucky pastor says he gained a new appreciation for God’s care over him after a serious accident in a church van. Pastor Gary Kirby was driving the van with 14 kids inside when a tire blew out. The blow out sent the van across the road and into a ditch. Kirby said no one died in the crash, although a couple of the kids suffered broken bones. He told reporters that he was grateful for the first responders and all that they did to help him and the kids. Kirby said his prayer has been, “Thank you Lord for being with us.” He said he prayed for the complete recovery of all of the children involved. He added, “I’m very grateful, very, very sore and relieved that the Lord never takes timeouts and was looking over me and our children last night in the van accident.”–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Psalm 36:7 (HCSB)“God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.”

When a Honolulu pastor and his wife went on a needed vacation to a nearby island, they had no idea that God had a divine appointment waiting for them. As Bryan Ashpole and his wife walked along a coastal trail, they came across a distressed young man standing on the edge of a cliff. He was in the middle of a heated discussion on his cell phone, but called out when he saw them. The young man began asking questions about their marriage and their thoughts about the importance of good communication. The Ashpoles told the man that they believed that communication was important, but also told him the most important thing for them was having Jesus at the center of their relationship. While they were talking a woman approached them, and it was the man’s girlfriend. As they talked, both young people prayed to ask Jesus to be their Savior right there on the beach. Later, Pastor Ashpole said the timing of the meeting couldn’t have been more perfect and that before they went on vacation, he had preached about using divine appointments. He said he has always felt that people need to make themselves available to listen to what the Lord wants them to say to others.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

Researchers studying the eruption of the Kilauea volcano say volcanoes reveal secrets when they rumble and new technology helps them understand future volcanic eruptions better. Scientists say looking at variations and similarities between previous eruptions and the present activity gives them insight into what is happening. It will help them anticipate what will happen next and recognize signs of other impending eruptions. Researchers say this information, coupled with better technology has helped them forecast the volcano’s behavior better, and could save lives in the future. They feel a responsibility to learn as much as they can from this eruption and apply the lessons they learn. Michael Poland of the U.S. Geological Survey said, “You’re sort of zeroing in on finer and finer levels of detail into how the volcano works. The more stuff you put on the volcano t make measurements, the more you realize there’s stuff going on that you never knew.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

http://www.klove.com/news/2018/06/07/Hawaii-Volcano-Gives-Experts-Clues-Into-Science

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

A French man was offered a job after a video of his exchange with French president Emmanuel Macron went viral online. Jonathan Jahan told the president he needed a job, and Macron told him all he had to do was cross the road and ask. Jahan never had to cross to ask for the job because a temporary agency contacted him with an offer to be a coach driver. Jahan studied horticulture and had been looking for a job for months. He said he turned down 20 offers and announced, “I’m happy because I’m going to work in something I love.” –Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Psalm 145:16 (CSB) “You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

A security camera at a Texas restaurant recorded the moment a runaway tire crashed through a window, just missing an employee working inside. The video from Pallott’s Italian Grill shows the tire flying through the window while an employee was sweeping the floor nearby. The video shows the employee jumping out of the way as glass rained down on that section of the restaurant. The restaurant was closed for a few hours to clean up but reopened later that evening. The owner said some research revealed the tire came off a tow truck on a feeder road for Interstate 45 which runs near the establishment. The restaurant posted the video to their social media site and observed, “He definitely had an angel watching over him.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell