God’s Provision and Protection

 

Photo by Richard Collett 2024

My husband Richard and I are blessed to be able to continue in our dance ministry, in the physically demanding style of Theater Arts Ballroom Dance, which combines elements of ballroom and Latin partnership dancing, ballet and contemporary, with overhead lifts, drops, and other strength moves.

Every day we are able to dance is a gift from God, especially given our ages (Richard is 76 and I am 71) and physical limitations. One of our favorite dance ministry verses is therefore Isaiah 40:31: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

While training for a world competition held in the UK in 2000, Richard was suddenly unable to breathe and was diagnosed with a heart condition, for which recommended treatment included exercise to the extent he was able! We competed successfully just 3 weeks after his heart procedure.

In 2017 I was bedridden with pneumonia for 6 weeks, but gradually improved through gentle exercise, singing, and a return to dancing! Four years ago, Richard was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer but responded well to treatment. We were able to perform 3 weeks after his surgery, even though the doctors had predicted 3 months of recovery! God is good! Praise God that His grace is sufficient, His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and that with Him, all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26).

Recently we were blessed by an opportunity to bring our dance ministry to a new audience, venue, and state. We submitted a video audition to a senior talent competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and were selected from many in-person and video auditions to be one of 12 acts performing, including singers, musicians, comedians, and even a magician!

We were the only dancers, performing to a recording of Christian lyrics I wrote and sang to the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel. As it was a full day’s drive to get there, we planned to combine the competition with a mini-vacation and found a reasonably priced AirBnB to rent for several days.

But it seemed that our recreation plans would be foiled by bad weather, as the forecast called for 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms every day we would be there. But thankfully, we had good weather on our trip to Tennessee, no issues with our aging and often ailing vehicle, and light traffic – all answers to specific prayers!.

We were delighted by our accommodations – clean and comfortable, nestled on the side of a hill with privacy, fresh air, and lovely mountain views. Every morning we enjoyed breakfast on the front porch, serenaded by robins, cardinals, mockingbirds, and even a crowing rooster!

As predicted, it rained often while we were there, but never while we were out in it, and we were able to enjoy the many beautiful sights of Chattanooga. Surprisingly, we experienced the unique rock formations and gardens of Rock City with only a few visitors we passed along the trails, rather than the dense crowds we had expected. We had Lookout Mountain practically to ourselves, with its breathtaking views and moving battle monuments.

Again, these were answers to specific prayers. We had almost wondered if it was appropriate to “trouble” God regarding these relatively minor requests, but then remembered the apostle James’ admonition that we have not, because we ask not (James 4:2), and that God delights in giving good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).

As thankful as we were for these abundant blessings, our main focus was on the ministry aspect of our trip, with many concerns and hopes that God addressed. Safety is always a priority when we dance in a new venue, as the floor surface can be too slippery, or too sticky, which hinders the speed needed to enter and travel in lifts. Spotlights can be disorienting or even blinding during spinning lifts, increasing the risk of a missed connection or even a fall. Musical equipment or other obstacles in the dancing space can pose their own challenges!

But praise God, the stage floor was painted wood, an ideal surface for our dance shoes. The stage was evenly well lit without spotlights, and the dance space was clear! The crew and volunteers were welcoming, helpful and supportive. When we set out on a mission God has appointed to us, He will provide whatever we need to accomplish it, according to His riches in glory! (Philippians 4:19).

The theater was packed out – 650 enthusiastic spectators. As the newly built, spacious theater was on a Baptist academy campus, it was an inspirational setting because the walls in the lobby were filled with metal plaques and engravings of Bible verses about God being the source of our ability (Philippians 4:13) and about glorifying God in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Especially uplifting was an unsigned poem handwritten on a dry erase board by the stage entrance, entitled “A Liturgy Before Taking the Stage.” As I don’t know to whom to attribute it (other than to Holy Spirit inspiration) or how to get permission to post it, I will select only a few lines from this poem of many stanzas:

“What have I to offer here that might sustain the souls of others?…O Christ, as I step onto this stage, meet me amidst the wreckage of my ego and my woundedness, and through me give what I alone cannot.…Take this tiny heap of my talents and my brokenness alike…and meld it to the greater work of Your Spirit [so that] Your grace might somehow be revealed upon this stage in whatever gloried and peculiar patterns You have fashioned me to display. Amen.”

Praise God, He answered that prayer to use what He had given us – our talents and our trials -- to bless others and glorify Him! Many of our competitors were brothers and sisters in Christ who also took that poem to heart, and all were extremely talented. Rehearsal went well, with many of the crew, volunteers and competitors expressing their appreciation for our dancing, my singing, and our message. We often replied “Only by the grace of God!”

The actual performance went better technically and expressively than we have ever danced this piece, and it was one of those rare moments of complete immersion in worship through dance. The crowd applauded at lyrics and at lifts portraying the salvation message. One of the judges, herself a dancer and choreographer seeking to glorify God in this art form, gave us a standing ovation, and another judge said he had goose bumps the whole time!

Praise God, if we delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4) -- in this case, to glorify Him in our performance!

Three of the four judges gave us a perfect score, and we received second place of the 12 competitors selected from preliminary auditions and video submissions. The cash prize of $500 paid for our AirBnB and was an unexpected blessing! In all aspects, God answered our prayers for this ministry opportunity far beyond what we could even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

The day after the competition, we had a full day of sightseeing then returned to the AirBnB around 5PM. Around 6PM the internet and power went out, and winds began blowing in a circular pattern, making an eerie sound.

“I hope it’s not a tornado,” Richard said. As if on cue, a tree 4 ft. In diameter and 30 ft. long crashed straight across our driveway, only about 5 feet from our car. It pulled down all the power lines, which also blocked the driveway, broke the sturdy chain link fence, and snapped a telephone pole in the neighbor's yard.

Although the storm left as quickly as it had come, and we thanked God for protecting us, my heart sank as I feared we would be stuck there for weeks, with no power and no way to use our car. When a similar tree blocked the road leading to our beach house after Hurricane Ian, it took a full crew about a month to clear the road.

But amazingly, the AirBnB owner showed up with a chain saw. This wizard with a glorified weed whacker had it all cleared out in a couple of hours – just before dark!

Before he started working, Richard asked him if he was sure the power company had cut the electricity to the downed lines, tangled up in the fallen tree branches. “Oh, I’m sure somebody’s reported it by now,” he replied cavalierly, seemingly unphased by the destruction, by the potential danger, or by the herculean task ahead of him. “I’m surprised this tree was the first to go – I always figured it would be the one right over the house!”

We shuddered contemplating that scenario, especially when he told us that two houses had collapsed just a few streets away. Apparently the storm had indeed been a tornado, as the fallen tree was the only damage on our street, and the rest of the neighborhood had been spared except for the two collapsed houses.

The power was out all night, but it was a strangely relaxing experience. We had enough light to read the Bible out loud and then prayed in bed in the dark, giving praise and thanksgiving for God’s deliverance and prayers for all those affected by the storm and for our safe journey home. The open windows offered a cooling breeze and the soothing sounds of rain and light thunder in the distance.

We had so many praises to God for His protection and provision!  Praise Him that the tree didn't fall on our car, or worse yet, on the house! Thank God we were able to get out the next morning and get home safely, again with good weather, no car issues, and light traffic on the way home!. God is so good, all the time! Praise Him for the many prayer warriors at home and in our church family who stood in the gap for us during our journey and facilitated this unique ministry opportunity!

© 2024 Laurie Collett

Photo by Laurie Collett 2024

Last Flower Still In Bloom

                                                                                                    

Image generated by Image Creator Dall-E

We are blessed to have many trees and shrubs in our undeveloped back yard and sliding doors in our family room leading out to a balcony, offering us a lovely view of nature and wildlife.

Years ago, when I was laid up on the couch for weeks, ill with pneumonia, seeing a sparrow or other feathered friend scrounge for insects on the balcony would bring a smile to my tired face. I looked forward to daily visits from a baby squirrel, who always seemed to know when it was mealtime, and would tilt his head quizzically as if asking to share in our modest repast.

To this very day, we enjoy the serenity of viewing nature here during our morning devotionals, where we are constantly reminded of the beauty and variety of God’s creation (Psalm 19:1).

This year, as fall approached, the burnt orange blooms of the butterfly bushes and blue phlox in our front yard were no longer there to attract the zebrawings, swallowtails and occasional hummingbirds often seen in summer.

A perennial favorite in our back yard, located near the balcony, is a bright red hibiscus. In the summer, the blooms are lavish, open, and feather-edged, with yellow stamens, but now in fall these are past their prime, closed and tubular.

I was therefore surprised one recent morning to see a flurry of activity around these flowers. A solitary chickadee chattered excitedly as he seemed to sip nectar, drawing the attention of his mate, and then several more.  A tiny brown hummingbird hovered near a separate bloom, then a female cardinal flew over to see what all the fuss was about.

After several minutes of what seemed to be a bountiful breakfast and social gathering, the birds dispersed.

Scripture tells us that God provides even for the sparrows (Luke 12:6-7), and here He abundantly provided for them with flowers that seemed way past their peak, even when their usual source of nectar was out of season. It reminded me that He will certainly supply our needs even more than those of the birds of the air, and that He can use us even when we are past our prime.

The Bible does not speak of retirement and is full of accounts of how God used aged people to accomplish his purposes. Among the great examples of faith (Hebrews 11), Abraham left his position of power in a pagan nation to set out for the Promised Land (Genesis 12:2-5) and then became the father of a great Godly nation through the birth of Isaac, when he and his wife Sarah were nearly a century old.

Elizabeth, aged and barren wife of the high priest Zachariah, gave birth to John the Baptist well past her childbearing years, just as God had promised (Luke 1). King David, a man after God’s heart who nonetheless fell prey to the egregious sins of lust, adultery, deceit and murder (2 Samuel 11-12), was still used by God shortly before his death, when he gave his son Solomon God’s instruction and priceless materials to build the temple (1 Kings 7:51).

Joshua, though “old and stricken in years,” knew that there was still much land for God’s people to possess, and God granted him his request to “possess that mountain” (Joshua 13:1; 14:11-12).

In all these instances, many might be tempted to ask, “Why did God wait so long?” His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), so we cannot be certain of the answer until we see Him face to face. But one reason might be to grow and strengthen us, preparing us spiritually and in other ways for the mission He has chosen for us.

Our church is blessed with many senior saints who, not content to slip quietly into retirement from God’s work, have instead possessed the mountain He set before them, with all its challenges and rewards, despite their advanced age.

Although I was not saved until well into adulthood, and have now retired from my former occupation, I am blessed and thankful that God still allows me to write, teach, sing to lyrics I have written and dance to His glory, using these ministries to share His Word. This is only possible through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), for His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Praise God that once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) of His Son Jesus as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), He will set before each of us a unique mission (Jeremiah 29:11). Our age and ability are irrelevant – what matters is only our faith and obedience to follow His Word. There are always younger, more beautiful, more capable people He could have used, but He chooses each of us!

May we be that last flower still in bloom, letting God use us to bless others as He sees fit!

Copyright Laurie Barclay 2023

Photo by Laurie Collett 2023

Let It Go!

 

Photo by Living In Monrovia 2009

As time goes by, I find that my prayers get longer. I would like to hope that this is because as I become closer to God, I want to spend more quiet time with Him, but I fear this is only part of the reason.

Another reasonable explanation for longer prayers may also be that as we grow older, so do our friends and families, and with aging comes a host of physical, financial and spiritual needs. So our intercessory prayers become laden with many pressing urgent requests. These needs seldom resolve right away, so our prayer list grows daily with new emergencies and continued chronic problems.

Sometimes it is clear that our prayers have been answered, whether or not to our liking, and we can remove that request from our list. For example, if we pray for healing for a loved one with cancer, and that person goes home to be with the Lord, then we know that the healing has been accomplished, not in this world, as we had hoped, but in Heaven. We can then pray for peace and comfort for ourselves and others who mourn, but it would be pointless to continue to pray for healing.

But sometimes the direction our prayers should take is less clear cut. What if a loved one has a stroke, and we pray for recovery, and God grants it, is it then wrong to pray that they won’t have any more strokes? Should we thank God, trust Him to work all things together according to His perfect will (Romans 8:28), and move on to other requests?

Or has God allowed this situation in our lives to increase our dependence on and faith in Him, and even our thankfulness? When this type of situation occurs in my life, I’m ashamed to admit that sometimes my gratitude is short-lived. I thank God for the positive outcome of the prayer request – for a day or two – and then my prayers turn to “and please Lord, don’t let that happen again.”

I am reminded of ten lepers whom Jesus cleansed and healed, but only one returned to thank Him, and he was rewarded with spiritual as well as physical healing (Luke 17:12-19). I wonder if the others forgot about the Great Physician altogether, or if they were sacrificing and praying in the temple to never contract leprosy again.

The danger of this type of prayer is that it can become the sin of worry, which is motivated by fear and reflects a lack of faith. Fear should be cast out of our hearts by God’s perfect love (1 John 4:18), and without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Perhaps the most extreme example of this type of worry is the believer who doubts their eternal security. Rather than knowing they are Heaven-bound, they may always worry that their last sin was too great, or that the cumulative total of their sins was too many, for God to forgive. Such doubt erodes joy in the Lord and peace that passes all understanding.

Do we trust God to provide for all our needs, physical and spiritual, or do we feel that we need to remind Him of how threatened we felt in a particular situation, and how bad it would be if that situation occurred once more?

Do we trust in His perfect will and timing, knowing that He knows all our needs even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), and that any trial He permits in our life is for our ultimate good, the good of others, and His glory?  

Can we trust Him to give us perfect peace by keeping our minds, hearts and souls fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3), or do we need to perpetuate the illusion that we are in control? If we worry/pray enough about a negative experience not recurring, do we think we can prevent it?

Over the years, it seems that the stuff in our house has multiplied just as our prayer list has grown, and not always for the better! I enjoy having many clothes to choose from so that I can dress in a manner that reflects the song I plan to sing in church, and my husband enjoys collecting and studying fossilized shells and animal bones and teeth that we gather from the beach. We both appreciate having photos and other mementos of our family, travels, and dance ministry.

These things are not expensive, or may even be free, but they are not without cost, as they take time to dust, sort, and find suitable places to store them. Taken to the extreme, acquiring things can become hoarding, with our possessions not only getting underfoot and causing stress, but even creating a health or safety hazard.

Many missionaries our church supports have the opposite problem, living in huts with straw roofs and dirt floors, and having few if any possessions, yet they have joy in the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 35:9; Isaiah 29:19) and the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), for they trust God to provide for their daily needs (Matthew 6:25-34).

Jesus taught us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), and to have only one coat (Luke 9:3), not to hoard provisions for future use. This can become a foolish pursuit, for we are not promised tomorrow (James 4:14). Even our prized possessions are more likely to be a burden than a treasure to those who survive us.

As Jesus explained, we should instead store up treasure in Heaven, free of corruption from rust and decay, and of loss by theft (Luke 12:33; Matthew 6:19-20). Once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way (John 14:6) to Heaven, we can enjoy these treasures throughout eternity! They are not physical trophies, but spiritual blessings and rewards given for souls we help bring to Christ through our witness, testimony, and lifestyle.

A well-known story tells of a little girl who cherished her prized possession – an inexpensive fake “pearl” necklace she found in a box of Cracker Jack. She wore it everywhere, even to go to sleep at night. One day her father asked her to give him the necklace, because he wanted to give her something else instead. She stubbornly refused, clutching it tightly to her neck.

“Honey, don’t you trust me?” her father asked. “I can’t give you your special gift until you let that go.”

Finally, after much cajoling, the little girl reluctantly unclasped the necklace, held it tightly in her palm for a few moments, and slowly released her grip on it, placing it in her father’s hand. Much to her surprise and delight, her father brought out an elegant velvet box holding a strand of genuine pearls of great value. As he lovingly fastened the clasp around her neck, she realized that letting go was the best decision!

May we trust our Father to always provide His best for us and be willing to relinquish what we think we need – control, self-sufficiency, earthly goods, and even prayers borne out of worry rather than of faith. May we let go of whatever hinders us from collecting souls for Jesus!

© 2023 Laurie Collett

Unlikely, Unexpected Ministry

 

Photo by Rolf Dietrich Brecher 2014

I had a dream in which a dear lady from church entered Hospice care. It was a small place, with only one visitor per patient at a time. Her family all had to go together to attend to an urgent matter, so they asked me to stay with her.

She is in pain, but as I pray with her, she starts to relax and falls asleep. Her husband returns soon thereafter and I leave so that he can stay with her. Outside it’s dark, and I have no car, phone or money with me. As I walk away from the hospice facility toward home, the road becomes pitch black. I can’t even see my hand in front of my face and am frightened of getting lost or attacked.

Way off in the distance, in the middle of nowhere, I see an Outback chain restaurant, lit up, with nothing around it. I decide to go in to get my bearings and be in a place of safety. The restaurant is noisy and crowded, and aromas from the kitchen make me realize I’m hungry, but I have no way to pay for the food.

A man who used to attend our former church comes up to me and I see that he’s sitting with some members from that church. He says the church would like to pay for my dinner. I thank him and tell him that’s not necessary, but he insists, saying, “You have to eat, because you have a long night ahead of you.”

He explains that he has a message to deliver to me. There is a chronic care facility further up the road that would like me to visit and pray with the patients one-on-one. I agree to go, and again find myself walking in the dark with no landmarks other than the restaurant getting smaller and dimmer the further away I get.

Finally I spot a well-lit building, with a sign saying it is a chronic care facility. When I get there, many hospital staff are busy around the nurses’ station. I introduce myself to one of the nurses and tell her why I’m there. She says that I’m needed in the operating room, where one of the surgeons has asked for me.

I go there and he explains that he needs me to give a patient a spinal injection of stem cells. I protest, saying that I’m not qualified, that it’s been years since I even did a spinal tap, and that I have never given a spinal injection. He says it will rejuvenate the patient’s spinal cord and allow him to walk again. He hands me a large metal contraption holding a very large needle and syringe full of clear fluid.

I awake with mixed emotions – wanting to help the patient by letting God use me for a miracle of healing, but fear that I could injure him, and regret over being rusty in my medical skills. And yet the dream gave me hope that God could use me in unexpected ways, thankfulness that He has not placed me on the shelf (1 Corinthians 9:27), and that He guides me and provides for me in the opportunities He gives.

When trying to interpret the dream, I realized that the ministry doors God opened (1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12) were unexpected and outside my comfort zone. On our way home to Heaven, to eternal life with Jesus Christ, the path may sometimes be dark, and how we serve Him may take unexpected turns, at least from our perspective.

Despite my medical training and profession, I have never felt led to minister by visiting and praying with those in the hospital, although I have provided informal counsel to those who ask me about various aspects of their medical care or conditions, and I pray daily for family, church family, friends and acquaintances who are ill or going through other special trials. However, I greatly respect others who have chosen this highly valued ministry. Visiting someone in the hospital is as if we have visited Christ Himself (Matthew 25:34-40), and the prayer of faith shall save the sick (James 5:15).

Nor have I ever felt led to use my training or profession to go on a medical mission, and I have been retired from clinical practice for so long that I doubt it would even be possible. But nothing is too difficult for God! (Isaiah 59:1).

As the saying goes, “God looks not for ability but for availability.” When He uses an unlikely subject to accomplish an unexpected ministry, God gets all the glory, for that person could not have done it in His own strength. Once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), God empowers us to learn, follow and do His will through His Holy Spirit living in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22).

Lately my prayer has been, “Father, please use me in whatever way you see fit.”  I am blessed that God has called me to sing to His glory, including Christian lyrics I have written, and to teach His Word, both of which seem unlikely and unexpected in my own ability, as I grew up challenged by an often severe stuttering problem.

I began writing this blog on Memorial Day weekend 11 years ago, after seeing the movie “Julie and Julia” in which the heroine decides to test one of Julia Child’s recipes daily and write a blog post about it. An unlikely inspiration for a Christian blog, and unexpected that God would allow me to continue it to the present day!

My husband and I are blessed that He continues to use us in a physically challenging form of dance ministry, which is unlikely and unexpected given our age and my husband’s battle with cancer.

Yet looking back, we can see God’s provision and preparation in our lives for these ministries long before we were even saved! He gave me a love of music, poetry, dance and song, and a home where these gifts would be encouraged. I attended a school where we had writing assignments every day, and continuing to write medical articles after retiring from clinical practice no doubt helped with the discipline of writing a weekly blog.

God brought my husband and me together through a series of “coincidences” defying all probability, and He strengthened our marriage even when others thought the unexpected partnership was unlikely to succeed, given differences in our upbringing and backgrounds. We danced together at our first meeting and loved it, giving us motivation to hone our dance skills for years before we were saved and devoted this gift to Him.

I don’t believe that God has called me through this dream to shift gears and abandon the ministries He has so graciously appointed to us. However, sometimes He does ask His children to set a different course, even when a current ministry seems to be fruitful. For example, we are blessed to know a missionary leader who followed God’s call to resign as Pastor from a growing church he had planted, and to become the full-time founding director of a missionary organization that has trained and supported indigenous pastors all over the globe.

Thank God that no matter what form our primary ministry takes, no matter where we are, and no matter what physical or financial limitations we may have, we can and should pray for souls to be saved, and lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), interceding for them as we come boldly to His throne of grace! (Hebrews 4:16).

I believe God is showing me that He is my Commander, Provider and Guide in all that He has set forth for me to do. In the dream, He gave various assignments, which I could complete only with His help. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, all things are possible!  (Matthew 19:26).

When the path was dark, He supernaturally led me to the next destination (Psalm 119:105). When I didn’t know where I was going, He illuminated the buildings where I had divine appointments and communicated with me through His children. When I was hungry, He fed me (Psalm 37:25), using brothers and sisters in Christ to do so, as we are to build up and help one another, bearing one another’s burdens and fulfilling His law (Galatians 6:2).

The restaurant being an Outback restaurant I believe is a reference to the Australian Outback, which Wikipedia describes as “a remote, vast, sparsely populated area of Australia.… more remote than the bush.” It reminds me that sometimes God’s calling on the lives of His children is to spread His Word across the globe, to the most desolate places, and yet that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), for He is with us wherever we go (Psalm 139:7).

Had I taken the leap of faith in the dream and administered the spinal injection, I believe He would have guided my hands and used the surgeon who asked for my help to instruct me in the proper technique, to perform a healing miracle, allowing the lame to walk (Matthew 11:5) through His power and grace! What a blessing when God uses us to accomplish His perfect will! And yet, what regret and loss we will experience if we learn at the Judgment Seat that we failed to walk through ministry doors He opened (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

May we all let God use us as He sees fit, even if it is in an unlikely and unexpected ministry that takes us far from our comfort zone! May we be blessed in knowing that God sees our labor and will reward us richly!

© 2023 Laurie Collett

Precious Parachutes

 

A golden parachute typically refers to the generous severance package provided to CEOs or other top-level executives when they leave a company, at the request of that company, to cushion the “fall” as they transition to new employment. It may seem redundant to many who are not such high income earners, as the golden parachute is often many times greater than the employee’s yearly salary; that salary far exceeds usual wages; and most such executives have an ample nest egg from which to draw living expenses for quite some time.

Such a golden parachute is really more of a luxury than a life saver. That was not the case for the silver parachutes in the Hunger Games book and film series, portraying a dystopic society in which teens were forced to battle one another to the death, until only one was left and declared the winner. These "games" were widely broadcast, and sponsors could send their favorite warrior a silver parachute, which literally floated down from the sky, bearing a lifesaving gift such as medicine to treat a deadly wound, or food when it was unsafe for the warrior to leave shelter.

It reminds me of the many precious parachutes we receive from God, sometimes even daily, once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). Sometimes these actually descend from the heavens, as in the case of manna God provided to feed the Israelites as they wandered through the Promised Land (Exodus 16:4). God gave them exactly what they needed when they needed it.

Manna appeared on the ground for them to gather every morning, enough for each person to meet their daily need, except for the Sabbath. So that they would not have to dishonor God’s day of rest by working (Exodus 20:8), God provided and allowed them to gather twice as much the day before, and it was still perfectly fresh on the Sabbath. But if they attempted to store manna on any other day, it would spoil and be foul with worms in the morning (Exodus 16:5; 14-28). What a great reminder not to hoard God’s blessings (Luke 12:16-21), but to use them in accordance with His perfect plan!

Another example is the prophet Elijah, soon to be used by God in spiritual warfare (and victory!) over the pagan prophets of Baal. During the preceding drought, God guided Elijah to drink from the brook Cherith, and nourished him from a most unlikely source, also descending from on high like ebony parachutes! Ravens, known for their greed and mean-spiritedness, brought him his daily bread and meat, most likely carried in their beaks or talons! (1 Kings 17:1-7)

But such examples are not limited to Scripture. No doubt all born-again Christians (John 3:3-8) can think of times God sent them exactly what they needed, at the very moment they needed it! The youth pastor at a church we once attended gave a testimony of having committed to tithe $20 every Wednesday, when he was first starting out and had very limited funds.

One Wednesday evening he just didn’t have any extra cash in his wallet, cookie jar, or ATM, and he was ashamed at having to go to the weekly prayer meeting empty handed. But he knew it was God’s will for him to go to church, so he reluctantly drove there. To his amazement, as he opened the car door, a $20 bill fluttered to the ground near his feet, and he knew God had provided the means for him to honor his tithing commitment!

But sometimes God’s precious parachutes are not lifesaving, or even necessary for us to carry out His will, but just an unexpected blessing, perfectly timed to lift our spirits to heavenly places when we most yearn for encouragement. These are like love letters from our Savior, tender reminders of His constant faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23), and are no less appreciated. These could be as simple yet beautiful as a rainbow piercing a cloudy sky (Genesis 9:12-17), a vibrant bloom pushing up through a crack in the sidewalk, or a soothing bird song chiming in as we pray out loud.

At one time I went through a particularly challenging legal battle, and received especially bad news one day regarding this struggle. Although I was despondent, my spirits lifted when I received an unexpected letter of encouragement in the mail from a dear sister in Christ. She had no idea what I was going through, yet God had laid it on her heart to reach out to me with this note. She had actually written it ten days before she sent it, and waited for the Spirit’s gentle nudge to mail it so that I would receive it exactly when He knew I would need it the most.

On another occasion my husband and I were entered in a dance competition and show in which we would be dancing to a Gospel song with a strong resurrection message. Ordinarily we looked forward to such opportunities and our mood was usually one of excitement and anticipation (sometimes with a few nerves thrown in), and as the time to dance approached, our focus and resolve would intensify.

Yet my mental state was totally different for this competition. For the first time, my spirit was bound in such heaviness, gloom and dread that I felt physically unable to dance. We were backstage in rehearsal, a few hours before we were scheduled to perform, and I told my husband that I didn’t think I could do it. He said he understood, that we were not obligated to continue, and that he would respect whatever decision I made, but that we should pray about it and be open to God’s leading..

Just then his phone rang. It was a missionary brother we had not spoken with for quite some time. He explained that God had laid it on his heart to call us, as he sensed we were going through spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). He prayed with us, for God to strengthen and uplift us (Isaiah 41:10), and to enable us to fulfill the mission He had set before us.

I felt as though a great burden had lifted from my chest – perhaps borne aloft by a God-sent parachute? We went on to dance better than we had ever danced in our lives, to a packed-out theatre, delivering the Gospel message through dance and song to a largely unsaved audience, fulfilling the unique opportunity God had given us to spread His Word. Only by the grace of God and to His glory!

That precious parachute not only helped us sail through that spiritual battle, but stays with us as a memory of God’s faithfulness (1 Samuel 7:12), uplifting us when we grow weary or discouraged, and strengthening us to continue His work as we wait upon the Lord for His perfect will and timing. Sometimes God’s parachutes are like the wings of eagles! (Isaiah 40:31).

A parachute can save your life, if you’re jumping from a plane, or re-entering earth’s atmosphere, as in the photo above. But only if you have a genuine chute, pack it properly, and wear it! Faith saves us from eternity in hell (Ephesians 2:8-9), but only if we accept the freely given gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) through true faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. May we thank God daily for the precious parachutes He provides, and may we follow His leading to be the parachute others need, when they need it most!    

© 2022 Laurie Collett