1. When Hearts Come Together
In November 2004, two North Carolina buddies, Dale Beatty and John Gallina, were wounded when their vehicle hit an anti-tank mine in Iraq. John received severe head and back injuries. Dale lost both legs below the knee. Neither man let their injuries stop them. Returning home, they formed an organization to provide accessible housing solutions for disabled veterans. Their story has widely appeared in the media, and they've been called part of "the new greatest generation." Their slogan: "When hearts come together, great things happen."
We can't always control what happens to us, but we are responsible for our response. It takes time to work through painful and injurious episodes in life; but nothing is wasted in the providence of God. He knows how to take every burden and bring from it a blessing. Obstacles are stepping stones, not roadblocks.
In times of loss, it's necessary to grieve, process the pain, ask questions, and allow ourselves to cycle through natural human emotions. But all the while, we can cry to the Lord. When overwhelmed, we can pray, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
2. We may not be able to rejoice in our circumstances, but we can rejoice in the Lord and brighten up in God our Savior. Robert J. Morgan
3. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah Psalm 61.1-4
I. Recognize the Realities of Life
A. Life Is Not Always Pleasant -- "No Pain; No Pain"
B. Our Circumstances are Never Wasted
1. Bad Circumstances help us see God
2. Bad circumstances help us excel
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12.10 (context of thorn in flesh)
3. No Pain; No Gain -- Ease is not always best
* [Charles Kettering had a broken arm that changed things for the auto industry. Years ago Kettering was in front of his car, cranking the engine when it "kicked him." That is, the engine had to be started with a crank. The cylinder would fire and turn the crank rather than the crank turn the engine. When that happened the sudden lurch could break the person's arm, which happened to Kettering. As he recovered from his injury he thought that there must be a safer way to start a car. Because of this unfortunate incident, Kettering invented what he called the "self-starter" for engines.
* God sent Abram to the unknown land and blessed the world through him; Moses 40-40-40; we often learn "the hard way" with lasting results in the process
II. We Are Responsible for Our Responses (not Our Circumstances)
A. Circumstances are Beyond our Control -- [We do not get to pick our parents/children
1. I wonder how much God laughs when he watches us think we are in control -- of anything
2. We sometimes play the victim --
a. Bad things happening which are not my fault
b. Bad Choices
3. Really can be victims
a. Wounded Warriors
b. Abuse
c. Physical issues
d. Attacks of all sorts
B. How We Respond to our Circumstances is Critical
1. Not being simplistic (Job's wife -- curse God and die)
2. In Properly Responding:
a. God is glorified -- John 9.1-3
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
b. Improved attitudes -- Contentment in Philippians 4
c. Success in Spite of the Critics
WWII Internment Camps for Japanese American Citizens
After Pearl Harbor, the US Government feared that Americans of Japanese descent might be disloyal to the US. They took these families to detention camps. After much consideration many in these camps were given the opportunity to prove their loyalty to the US and permitted to serve in the Armed Forces.
The 442nd Combat Regimental Team was formed, made up of Japanese Americans. This regiment won more Congressional Medals of Honor than any other regiment in US history. Following the war this group had the highest percentage of college graduates of any first generation Americans.
III. Requesting Rescue (Psalm 61.1-4)
A. Pictures of God's Provisions
1. Matters of Altitude and Attitude -- High Ground
The eagle has an extra eyelid that he can see through but the eyelid can shade out the sun light. Sometimes, birds will attack the eagle by droves. The eagle will pull down that eyelid and fly directly at the sun.
* Rock
* Tower
2. The Cover of Humility and Dependence
a. Tent
b. Wings -- Tallit --
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Luke 13.34
B. Presence of God -- Shepherd Who Leads
1. Devils Tower WY (a volcanic neck)
- Said to be known among the Indians as Bear's Tipi
"misinterpreted the name to mean Bad God's Tower, later shortened to Devils Tower.
- President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first
national monument in 1906.
- Devils Tower with its vertical face rises 867 from base to summit.
- The top is domed shape 400'x200' 1 1/2 acres. (roughly size of a football field)
- The first ascent was in 1893 using pegs to make a ladder to the top
- The first technical climb was made June 1937
- George Hopkins was the only person to climb down the Tower -- without climbing up first! In 1941
* Parachuted onto the top
* He could not get down and had to wait 6 days for a rescue
- Of almost a half million visitors to devils Tower only 1% reach
the top
- The thing here is that Few climb His heights -- David asks for God's leadership to his tower -- not climbing on his own
2. We Can't make it on our own but with the help of God and he is glorified
1. Made to Fly
There was a farmer that found an Eagle egg where the mother had died or left the egg. So he placed it under one of his hens and it hatched in the hen house. At first, the eagle scratched like a chicken and ate like a chicken. But The bigger he got, he became aware that he was not a chicken. He would stare out of the cage and look into the sky. Sometimes, he would flop his wings but the cage held him down. One day, another eagle flew over and screamed. Something inside that little eagle began to swell. The farmer saw the look in his eye and opened the cage door and off he flew. He wasn't made to scratch in the dirt but God had made him to fly in the heavens!!!
2. Renew our relationship with God and SOAR on eagles' wings -- Our hearts come together with His!
You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19.4
They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40.31
