He causes His wind to blow.  Psalm 147:18

Recommended Reading: Psalm 147 “Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.² The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.³ He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.⁴ He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.⁵ Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.⁶ The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.⁷ Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:⁸ Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.⁹ He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.¹⁰ He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.¹¹ The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.¹² Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.¹³ For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.¹⁴ He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.¹⁵ He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.¹⁶ He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.¹⁷ He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?¹⁸ He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.¹⁹ He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.²⁰ He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.”

COMMENTS: History gives us the true story of Lt. Colonel James Doolittle, in 1942, who lead a group of Army Air Corps volunteer on a dangerous mission of flying five B-25 planes to conduct a bombing raid during WWII in South Pacific in Japan.  They would not have fuel to return to their aircraft carrier so plan was to abandon the planes when they ran out of fuel and be rescued by friendly natives in China.  During operation severe headwinds were encountered, consuming precious fuel.  Sgt. Joe Manske, a mechanic and gunner on the 5^th plane. Manske knelt and prayers for help during the hopeless battle to overcome those strong headwinds. His prayers were answered and the headwind turned into a strong tailwind propelling the plane to the point where they could parachute out of the plane well within the China border.  Otherwise, they all would have been lost at sea with no hope of rescue.  Such tailwinds were unheard of in that area before or since but were experienced this once. 

War and disasters caused naturally by weather and earthquakes and even personal disasters of loss of life and property and health impacts every generation and country.  Some are caused naturally without human input but all too many are caused deliberately by evil or foolish actions of someone or some group.    WWII was a terrible war that engulfed most of the world, causing great sacrifice and death.  Nearly everyone either was directly impacted by a loss of a family member or neighbor or friend and many with loss of property and wealth due to evil done by invading armies of the AXIS powers of Germany and Italy and Japan.

Their leaders and armies were convinced their actions were justified and felt great purpose in their mission and work, but their purpose and work were misguided and evil, motivated by satan himself.   Yet with God’s help and intervention and heroic efforts of countless millions of Allied forces, the Axis invasion and formidable military and might was defeated.  WWI was to be the one and only war and the league of nations was to be the organization to prevent a second such war.  BUT A SECOND WAR DID COME AND THAT WAR CAME IN ONLY 20 YEARS!!  The second war concluded with the creation of the United Nations, which was to provide a means to prevent such invaders.  But history continues to show us that isn’t working either.

Why?  Well, the author of war is still pretty much free to plan and implement his mischief in the hearts of men and women who man still allows to ascend to power and authority over nations and their people.  Why?  Because men and women continue to be easily deceived and continue follow evil inspired leaders who cater to their selfish desires and dreams instead of to God’s instruction and council.

Yet, stories like Sgt. Manske’s fill the history books.  God is faithful to those who follow Him.  Our bible is filled with such stories of God’s faithfulness from Adam through New Testament times.  But God’s faithfulness did not end when the John finished Revelation. It continues from then through every generation and in every country and still continues.  He has promised to be faithful and abide with us until He returns to rescue His faithful church.

Yet, sometimes He calms the storm first but sometimes He calms His children first by embracing them with His loving arms.  He has given us His Holy Spirit seldom seen but often felt providing comfort and encouragement and insight and inspiration and even strength and power.  Providing not always what is wanted but always what is needed.

But let’s face it.  If God provided all we want, we would soon do great harm to ourselves, but He instead forgoes our wants and provide what He in His wisdom determines we need.  He does know that because He looks and lives forward in our future as well as also living in our past, so He is fully capable and prepared to provide what is needed most.  He has our best interest at heart even more than our dearest family and friends because He loves us far more than anyone else does or can.  He let Job suffer loss of wealth and family without seeing an end in sight.  He let Daniel walk into a lion’s den without any assurance he would survive.  He let Daniel’s 3 friends go into a fiery furnace without any assurance they wouldn’t be burnt alive.  If He had chose to let them die, He would have escorted them Home to heaven.  Their permanent Home with Him.  By sparing them, He enabled them to tell their stories and continue to impact positively their generation awhile longer before then escorting them home to heaven.  The destination unchanged but only delays for a time fulfilling His plan and purpose.

I know.  I can’t imagine facing being eaten alive in a lion’s den or burnt alive in a fiery furnace like many faithful Christians have before me.  I can’t imagine their courage but know and understand He provides courage when we need it, and not before.  That means if you or I would need to face such a test of faith, His Holy Spirit would be right there with us either calming the storm or fire or lion’s hunger or calming us.  Either way, we are assured His faithfulness and provision and eternal home with Him.  That is what means and counts the most and is what enabled those before us to face unimaginable suffering and danger. 

We need to gain a more eternal perspective and realize sacrifice and tragedy does not hinder God’s resolve to prepare and escort us to an eternal home with Him.  Let’s face it, a million years from now will it really be an issue if we go Home today or 30 years from now?  Only if the impact of our lives results in leading some to Christ between now and then.  If we need to suffer for a time in order to lead some to Christ.  That will make an eternal difference for them and just might make significance for us too.  That is what He is passionate about anyway!! AMEN?  AMEN!

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”  Martin Luther

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