Just when you think you have everything.....

You know, sometimes not being able to have something makes you want it even more. After 40 years away from the United States, there's a list of things my siblings and I might have missed all that time. The list includes:

1. Pumpernickel bread
2. Ivory soap,
3. Contemporary Christian Music,
4. French's mustard,
5. Freedom

Now, of course, there's a list of things we would all rather we didn't have:

1. Sexual Offenders Lists
2. Tax returns,
3. Snow (unless you ski!)
4. Taxes
5. Dog doo
6. Ill health.

I could go on, but you get the idea. What made me think of all this? I got a nice email today from James Waltz, long time family friend over in New Jersey....

I quote from "When your hut's on fire." 

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited 

island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the
horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to
build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and
to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived
home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He
felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with
disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'
Early the next day, he w as awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the
island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary
man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:


It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't
lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain
and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning
to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.