I just wanted to tell you that the Lord has answered our prayers and has brought my uncle Victor back home. He called my mother today and filled her in on the situation. Although I didn't receive many details from my mom, it turns out that there were unexpected diversions coming back into the United States and he's changed cell phones, which explains the lack of contact over this past week.
For all of you who prayed, thank you- really.
Tonight, as my wife and I were driving home from the grocery store, a friend of one of my sons happened to be walking home; we passed him and waved as we drove down our connecting street. We didn't think much of it; he had been at our house with the intent to play, but was returning home because we weren't present to greet him.
About two hours later, a man pulled up in the driveway looking for the boy. It was his grandfather. I'd never met the man in person, but had spoken to him on the phone. His voice was quiet, but his words were clear: "Have you seen Ben?" he said. "We were expecting him home and we thought he'd be down here." I was shocked. The boy had been to our place, but for all we knew, he was walking home a couple of hours earlier. With one more hopeful stop on his mind, Ben's grandfather drove away.
After about 20 minutes, we called Ben's grandfather (they live a few blocks away) to follow up and see if the lad had been found. Thankfully, he had been at another friends house. He'd gone to visit someone else after visiting our house, instead of going straight home. I'm sure Ben is currently being punished, but in spite of this, we're so thankful that the Lord kept him safe.
These are two real-world examples of people who were away from home in unknown conditions, yet were covered by God's protection and were brought home safely. Thank you, Jesus! In Acts 27, we'll read about the protection received by Paul and others, amidst a shipwreck. What a great example of the providence of the Lord!
Acts 27:27-44 (New International Version)
The Shipwreck
27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[a] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[b] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[c] deep. 29Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.
33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven't eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.
Good Night
No comments:
Post a Comment