No matter the circumstance He can use you

Acts 28:30-31 (ESV)

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Myrtie Howell was a devoted Christian woman who lived a hard life. Her family was very poor. When she was 10, she quit school and went to work in a steel mill for 10 cents a day. She married at age 17. But in early 1940, her husband was killed in an accident. And when that happened, she lost her home. And she had to go back to work to support herself and her three kids. Years later, her declining health forced her to move into an old, high rise nursing home. A few weeks later, her youngest son died. Then she fell into a depression.

She said, "Lord, what more can I do for you? I've lost everything that ever meant something to me. And now I'm stuck in this dark, dreary room. I have nothing left to live for! I want to die! I've had enough of this prison. Take me home." But then God spoke to her as clear as possible. He said, "I'm not through with you yet, Myrtie. Write to prisoners."

So she wrote a letter and sent it to the Atlanta Penitentiary. And this is what the letter said: "Dear inmate. I am a grandmother who loves and cares for you. I am willing to be a friend. If you'd like to hear from me, write me. I will answer every letter you write. A Christian friend, Grandmother Howell."

The letter was given to the prison chaplain. And he gave her the names of eight prisoners she could write to. Prison Fellowship gave her some more names. Soon, she was corresponding with up to 40 inmates a day. She became a one woman ministry reaching into prisons all over America.

She said, "I thought my life was over. But these past few years have been the most fulfilling years of my life! I thank Prison Fellowship! And most of all, I thank Jesus!" Myrtie Howell became a great missionary for God. Out of a one room apartment.

No matter what circumstances you find yourself, the Lord can use you for His glory.

Dear Lord, thank the You that as long as we are on this earth, You can use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Weather is in God's Control.

Jeremiah 10:13 (NIV)

When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;

    he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

He sends lightning with the rain

    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Aberra Wata worked with Christian youth in the southern part of Ethiopia during the time of Communist rule from 1974 to1991. Imprisoned for his faith, Aberra remembers one particular guard: "He would put filthy words to the tunes we sang. One night he patted his revolver and promised, 'Tomorrow morning at this time you won't be in the land of the living.'

Just after midnight that evening a tremendous storm burst on the town and the prison. Huge hailstones fell, wrecking several roofs, including the one where the insulting guard was sleeping. He became terrified, pulled out his revolver, and shot at random into the darkness, using up all the bullets he had promised would finish us off the next day. One by one the roofs were taken off the commandant's house, and the offices of the chief judge, the administrator, and his deputy. The prisoners in cells three, four, and five got a soaking from the rain too. We were in cell one and were kept dry. There were a lot of wet and unhappy people in Yavello that night.

At nine o'clock the next morning, while expecting the cruel guard to fulfill his promise to shoot us, we observed a remarkable sight. That same guard was pushed into our cell, without his uniform, by the commandant, who was whipping him with his belt. Other people in the background were yelling, 'We told this man to leave the believers alone, but he refused, and so God has sent this terrible punishment on the town and prison. He deserves to be given some of his own medicine.'"

The Lord is lord of all and even controls the weather for His good purpose.

Dear Lord, we thanks You that You are in control of the weather. We thank You that You can use it for Your good even when it seems to be so bad. Help us trust in You. Help us glorify You even in the storm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Do As Unto the Lord

Ephesians 6:7 (NIV)

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.

I read of a man who was involved in a tragic accident.  He lost both legs and his left arm and only a finger and thumb remained on the right hand. But he still possessed a brilliant mind, enriched with a good education and broadened with world travel.  At first he thought there was nothing he could do but remain a helpless sufferer.

A thought came to him.  It was always nice to receive letters, but why not write them--he could still use his right hand with some difficulty.  But to whom could he write? Was there anyone shut-in and incapacitated like he was who could be encouraged by his letters? He thought of men in prison--they did have some hope of release, whereas he had none--but it was worth a try.

He wrote to a Christian organization concerned with prison ministry.  He was told that his letters could not be answered because it was against prison rules, but he still decided to commence this one-sided correspondence.

He wrote twice a week, and it taxed his strength to the limit.  But into the letters he put his whole soul, all his experience, all his faith, all his wit, and all his Christian optimism.  Frequently he felt discouraged and was tempted to give it all up.  But it was his one remaining activity, and he resolved to continue as long as he could.

At last he got a letter.  It was very short, written on prison stationery by the officer whose duty it was to censor the mail.  All it said was: "Please write on the best paper you can afford.  Your letters are passed from cell to cell till they literally fall to pieces."

Dear Lord, Help us use what You have given us to bless those around us.  Help us not look at our limitations but look at how we can use them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Will You Show Mercy?

Hosea 6:6 (New International Version)

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

A few years ago a tragic accident happened on the back roads of a small town. A Christian man, a humble servant of the Lord, a sweet husband to his devoted wife, and a terrific dad to a couple of dynamic tweens, was hit head-on by a drunk driver. He died on impact.

The drunk survived the ordeal and was facing heavy criminal charges. Public opinion was that this guy should rot in prison. No mercy for such an offence!

The mourning family, however, was not a normal, every-day typically common kind of family. They were close to one another through an invincible bound called divine love. They got together and pondered out loud: What would Jesus do in our circumstances?

One thing they knew for certain was that their Master would not linger in self-pity and unforgiveness. They were convinced they had to reach out somehow to the guilty drunkard. Early one morning, the son and daughter of the victimized dad went down to the prison to visit the drunk. To the utter amazement of the guards, although both son and daughter were deep in grief, they hugged the man and forgave him for his actions.

The surprised criminal couldn't stop his emotions from overcoming him. He crumbled to his knees and started to cry. Instead of a fist in his face, which is what he expected and knew he deserved, he received mercy. He received love instead of utter contempt. He received divine grace instead of condemnation.

Surprisingly, both the son and daughter visited that prisoner regularly. They had truly forgiven the one who had killed their dad.

One of God's greatest desires is that we show mercy towards one another. Although important, sacrifices, offerings and going to church are inconsequential if mercy is not part of our lives.

Dear Lord we pray today that we would have a forgiving heart. We pray that like You we would forgive those around us no matter how great the offense. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He Will Never Leave Us

Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

   “Never will I leave you;

   never will I forsake you.”

Maktu, a Moro Christian, testified about the truth of Hebrews 13:5: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." He was caught by government forces in 1996 and thrown into prison. It is not clear if it was because of his Christian beliefs or simply because he was a civilian caught up in the ongoing civil war. Either way, the ordeal was a severe test of his faith.

As he lay in his cell, tied up so tightly that he could not lie down or sit properly, the pain and discomfort was intense. Then thoughts of doubt started to creep into his mind. Where was God in this time of need? Why should he continue in his faith when it only brought him problems?

He was on the verge of denying his faith when he suddenly heard a voice speaking clearly to him. The voice asked him why he had those thoughts and continued by saying that many people in the past had suffered for God's sake. He should not be surprised that this was happening to him as well. Then he saw a vision: Known and unknown Christians comforted him and praised God. There was such a joyous worshipping atmosphere that he forgot for a moment that he was still tied up in a prison cell! In fact, he desired to die so that he could join their ranks permanently.

God in His great mercy took this man through the crisis and put new strength in his faith. After he was eventually released from prison, he continued to follow God with fresh dedication and also blessed many others with his testimony.

Dear Lord we thank You that you will never leave us, even when things look the worse. In Jesus’ name, Amen.