As times of great testing and trials are near upon us all, these are a few things to keep in mind.
A little lesson in payback.
As a small child I lived in a little neighborhood on the edge of town consisting of several homes on a divided block surrounded by woodlands. One neighbor, Mr Goodnow, not only owned his home but three extra lots as well where he and his wife and only daughter lived. He wanted a son in the worst way but was denied this by God. As I was a male child it was most easy to get to know him and be at his service. He saw me as the child he was denied to not only help assist him in caring for his home and spare lots but to be his little hunting, fishing and sports buddy as well. He even went to the extent of trying to adopt me as I was a ward of the state. The people who had charge of me would not let that happen as there was money at stake, being they were paid to have me at their home.
This was back in the days when pennies, nichels and dimes meant something. I was paid from time to time for the work I would do around his property. Most usually never amounting to more then a quarter. After a most hard week of labor, many tasks and all done in a time of very hot weather, I was promised my reward with possibly a little extra in light of this fact. On the morrow at a set time I was to return for my pay. As I arrived the following day I saw that he and his family were gone. However, by the front door I found a small glass with some change in it. I thought to myself of him being a man of his word in every way as there was indeed extra as well. It totaled a whole fifty cents. I personally felt not only well rewarded but blessed as well by God for such a loving and kind man. I left to return later to thank him for what he had done for me. As I later saw his car in his drive, I went to thank him beeming with pride and appreciation. As I arrived he was found in a pure fit of rage. I approached most cautiously trying to decern why he was so enraged and if there was anything I could do to help asage his anger. He was shouting all sorts if things at the top of his voice in a total rage. As I drew near I took a seat on one of his lawn chairs and just sat quietly listening. In time I pieced togeather just why he was so enraged. Some dirty little xxxxx had stolen the money he had left for the Sunday paper for which he had been in arrears and promised to pay this day. This dirty little xxxx not only took his money but made him look a fool and a liar to his creditor. He will most surely pay when found, he shouted in total rage. In tears I confessed that I had taken the money believing it was not only my pay but my reward for extra hard service as well. And I was off to return it as I had stowed it away in my piggy bank and ran off in tears to do just that. As I returned I left it just where I had found it at his front door and ran off to spend time with God in the nature that surrounded this area.
Hours later as I was returning to my foster home, the fellow neighbors called to me as I passed by stating that Mrs Goodnow had called them looking for me and it was most urgant that I see her personally, as soon as possible! I than bypassed my home and did just that. As I arrived she ran to meet me and began to explain her problem. Her husband was totally distraught as he found not only his fifty cents were returned but an extra twenty five cents as well. He was so undone she feared he would die. He must see me at once, to try to undo what he had done.
Heap red hot coals of fire in God's most perfect LOVE upon all your enemies in the true spirit of LOVE and God will reward you with interest.
This works with God as well. In the most pressing of times, praise Him for who He is. A most perfect God we don't always understand. I suffered a most severe fall landing on my back and stunned in both surprise and pain as I came around, I began instantly praising God so as to heap love and admiration in praise toward him. Prior to this event I had suffered with nagging back pain from an old war wound for over twenty years. As I arose from my prone position all pain passed away. I haven't had any back pain since. In all things be found giving praise, honor and glory to God and He will indeed reward you.
Don't make the same mistake Job made in mourning his loss. Praise God always and in everything PRAISE GOD!!!
Send your heart to God. Not wrapped in the cares and concerns of the day but fully wrapped in Love and Admiration by PRAISE! Beneath he will no doubt find your cares and concerns for that hour. In return for love and admiration see if he wouldn't unburden your heart if praise leads the way. Test and see that the Lord is indeed GOOD! Aways at all times. Praise the LORD!
JLMichaels