Melanie flicked a speck of dust off the glass shelf in the front window of her flower shop then turned to look around. Her gaze took in the shelves of potted plants, ceramic planters and statuary then finished with the cooler where she displayed fresh flowers. These were just waiting to be arranged, among them the roses ready to be purchased by a young man for his lady love, or carnations she could make into a corsage for a young girl’s prom dress.

Melanie was proud of her newly opened business, particularly since it was the realization of a long held dream, and though there’d been many struggles along the way now it was reality. However, though there was no guarantee that she’d be successful, she thought she had a good chance. After all, she’d carefully researched her location in a strip shopping center in a well-traveled commercial district, and being located around the corner from a large prestigious medical center didn’t hurt.

Melanie stepped back behind the counter to regard her inventory records on the counter; however, just as she was trying to concentrate the tinkle of the bell on the front door interrupted her.

The new customer was a plump middle-aged woman who let the door shut behind her as Melanie smiled broadly in welcome. “May I help you?” As she came nearer Melanie saw that her eyes were red and she tightly gripped her handbag, her lips quivering.

“I want to order an arrangement of flowers - or a plant - something appropriate for a 15 year old boy.” She said softly. “And could you deliver it?”

Melanie nodded, grateful for her foresight in arranging with a local delivery service “Could you tell me something about the boy - and of course where you want it delivered?”

The customer paused. “He’s very fond of sports, particularly football. He’s over at the medical center and will be there for a while.”

“Was it a football injury?” Melanie began to fill out the order. “I’d think that’s the mostly likely reason for so long a hospital stay for someone so young.”

“No,” the customer’s voice dropped to almost a whisper. “He’s got leukemia.” But then she attempted a smile. “But he’s in the best place for treatment and the doctors are optimistic.”

There was an awkward pause till Melanie spoke. “We’ll be glad to send something over and I’ll make it a special arrangement. Will he be in the hospital for a week or so?”

“Probably more. They’re optimistic and think they can stop it - or at least put it into remission - but it will take a long time. There’ll be chemotherapy - and he may lose his hair and get nausea, and of course he can ’t play football anymore. He’s become so depressed.”

Melanie could feel a pang of anxiety at the description, then tried to continue by completing the order. “Are you his mother?”

“No, his aunt.” She opened her purse to extract her wallet. “I’ve got to get back - let me pay you and give you his name and location.”

After the customer left Melanie set to work on the arrangement and she found that knowing who would be the recipient gave her the drive and purpose to stretch her creativity. She finished by early afternoon then reached for the card her customer had left, and attached it to the plant. Then she made a sudden decision. Reaching for another card, she quickly dashed off a few lines: “Doug - I’m Melanie the florist who arranged your aunt’s gift. I just wanted you to know that I had leukemia when I was 13 and now I’m 29. My heart goes out to you. Good luck.” Melanie called for the delivery service and as the arrangement left the shop, she said a silent prayer that it might help.

She later wondered if the lady customer had been a good luck charm because from then on she had a steady stream of customers, and since the days passed quickly Melanie was so busy she didn’t think much more about Doug.

Then one morning some weeks later she had just taken an order for a wedding when she looked up to see the young bride leaving and holding the door open for the next customer. The lady who entered looked vaguely familiar.

“Hello! Remember me?” The new arrival was smiling as she approached the counter. “I’m Doug’s aunt, you know - the boy with leukemia?”

“I remember! Is Doug doing better?”

“Oh, yes!” The lady smiled. “He’s home now and getting his treatments on an out-patient basis. He’s had some rough times but he’s making great progress. The doctors are amazed at how well he’s doing - and actually you had something to do with that.”

Melanie was puzzled. “How’s that?”

”When I came here several weeks ago we were all devastated but Doug was the one who was hit the hardest with the diagnosis. He went into a deep depression, particularly after the doctors outlined the treatment process and all the discomfort he’d feel for a while. He seemed to have just surrendered and it was so completely unlike him since he’d always been such a fighter. He just kept saying, ‘I’ll just never get any better.’”

Melanie nodded.

“Then he got your card with the plant. He read it and for the first time I saw a glimmer of the old Doug. As you know, attitude has a lot to do with the success of any cancer treatment and we were worried he’d do poorly because he was so depressed. Then after he got your card seemed to get back his old spirit.”

Again Melanie nodded, a tear in the corner of her eye.

“As he put it: ‘I couldn’t imagine any future with leukemia, but when the lady florist wrote me that note she showed me that there was life beyond the illness.’”

The customer also wiped away a tear. “You know he’s in the best medical center in the area and surrounded by the most sophisticated medical equipment and treated by medical personnel with years of training and you were the one who actually provided him with what he really needed - hope.”

Sometimes when we’re having a difficulty we can’t help but wonder why it’s happening. At the same time we often find ourselves wondering if we’re struggling for no reason, or that we’re helpless and living at the whim of some impersonal force. Yet we know that’s certainly not the case when we as Christians struggle. For not only does God know what’s going on He’s also in total control, and though we may not know the reasons at the moment He does. So we can confidently and courageously confront the challenge.

Yet while we still wonder the reasons behind our difficulty occasionally we do learn the reason and then we see how we can be part of His perfect purposes. For God’s glory and our benefit.

Joe crossed his legs and he settled into the chair across from the employment manager’s desk as he considered Joe’s newly presented job application. The manager ran a finger down the form, pausing several times till he reached the bottom, then glanced up at Joe and cleared his throat.

“Technically you seem to have the qualifications we need for this position but I’m concerned about your irregular job history. Now about this job you had last year - you were only there for two months.”

Joe nodded. “I did fine for the first month until I got a new boss. He didn ’t like me so he fired me.”

“That job seems to be the one you held the longest. The next one - you were only there two weeks.”

“That one I liked. But I couldn’t get up early enough to get to work so they fired me there, too.”

The manger frowned slightly. “Then the most recent job you had - you were there only one week.”

“Yeah, that was a good one too but I had argument with a customer and they fired me.”

The manager stood up. “I’m afraid this won’t work. On the surface you’re qualified, but your job history is too spotty. You just don’t seem to be able to keep a job very long before you’re fired.”

Joe arose as he flung out a hand in a defensive gesture. “Maybe I can’t seem to keep a job - but at least I’m not a quitter!”

Though Joe’s job history wasn’t admirable at least he was right - he’d never quit anyone and that’s exactly the same attitude God displays toward us when He deals with our deviations from His plans. Though we’re often tempted to give up on His will for us and wander off to what we think is more promising we soon find that’s a mistake. For when we substitute our plans for His we’ re actually replacing our imperfect human ideas for His divinely perfect ones. Yet even when we do that, God’s not a quitter - He doesn’t abandon us. Indeed, He may nudge us a bit to get us back into His will or wait till we realize it on our own yet when we do return He’s ready to take us back. After all, He knows we’ll never be content and fulfilled until we forget our own plans and intentions and return to His perfect guidance and provision.

“This is what comes up when I try to get into these programs.” I handed Andrew the sheet of my notes, hoping he could decipher the weird computer gibberish I’d written down

For months whenever I tried to open some programs on my computer a small square “dialogue box” would pop into view on the screen listing in computer gibberish what was the problem and why I couldn’t open it up. There were words like “fault” or “Program cannot be opened…” or File DDLLLTXLT… is missing from this application…” Indecipherable computer gibberish. What I needed was someone who not only could read the gibberish but also do something about it. So when I asked Andrew, a skilled computer whiz, to help I provided him with the dialogue box gibberish.

Once he saw the gibberish Andrew nodded, “Oh, yeah… that means…” and the printed computer gibberish became spoken computer gibberish. Yet the gibberish meant something because he soon fixed my computer. He had the experience I needed and was in control enough to solve my problem.

As Moses’ successor, Joshua would be leading the Israelis into the land God had promised them and while Moses was no longer with him, he certainly wasn’ t alone. God would still be with Joshua and the Israelis just as He’d been with Moses He intended to continue His purposes for His people with Joshua as their leader and because of that Joshua could rely on God to provide the experience and total control so Joshua would be able to meet all challenges.

A timeless lesson and just as true today.

I may not face precisely what Joshua did but I can still benefit from the fact that, like with Joshua so long ago, God knows about my problem and is in control.

As teacher of the ladies Bible study, Della was summarizing their lesson. “So we’ve seen that even though he admired John the Baptist and enjoyed talking to him, Herod agreed to have John executed. His stepdaughter had just finished her dance at his stag party and he’d told her he’d give her anything she wanted - even to half to his kingdom. He wanted to show his guests how generous he was. Her mother, who hated John, told the girl to ask for John’s head and Herod had to comply to prevent embarrassment in front of his party guests. He was just a weak man who got in a mess he couldn’t get out of.”

“I know how he could have gotten out of it.” Kim spoke up.

”And how was that?” Della smiled tolerantly since she knew Kim had an unusual sense of humor.

“He could have told the girl that John’s head wasn’t in the half of the kingdom he was offering her!”

If Herod had followed that advice he would have denied his wife what she really wanted - something we also face once in a while when God must deny us something we especially desire.

Yet why would God do that? It could be for various reasons. Perhaps what we want isn’t good for us or could be harmful, or a misuse of our talents or maybe it’s because He has someone else in mind for what we want to do. However, no matter what it is, God’s denials are based on the fact that since He knows all about the situation He knows what’s best for us, and all He asks is that we trust Him to guide us into His perfect plans for us. So when sometimes He must decline our desires then we can be assured that He has perfect reasons and may indeed eventually have planned on something for us that is better than our original desire.

However, as the work progressed, wiser heads prevailed and a large net was installed beneath the work area. This soon proved to be valuable as some 10 men fell but the net caught them and they survived. However, after the net was installed and the bridge construction continued there was an increase in work production. The reason was obvious. Once the workmen developed a sense of security in what was a dangerous job they felt free to work harder and do their work better.

We don't work on bridges on course, but what if we faced that same insecurity of “falling” from God's total support and acceptance? Suppose that when we tried and failed, we wondered how He'd respond when we would to return to Him? What if we thought He might abandon and reject us instead of forgiving and restoring us?

Of course we know He'd never do that but what if it were possible? How could that affect our Christian life? Could we then confidently continue to serve Him and rely on His full assurance of His love and support even if we might fail? Or would we creep along in trepidation constantly wary of doing something to offend God and risk his rejection? After all, if that were likely, then why should we risk anything when we might lose everything?

Thankfully that's not even possible, because we have total reliance on God's promise of unfailing support despite our failures, and that's better than any net could ever be.

Decisions! We all make them and they can range from the eternal determinations of Jesus as Matthew describes it, to Bishop Wright's and even to our own. For example, how will we answer God's call to a possible new challenge or opportunity? Will we accept the cause with assurance and trust or will we decline because we're afraid or wary of failure or loss? Our choices along this line may not have the eternal or historical consequences of our Lord's or Bishop Wright's, but they can well determine our quality of service for God.  Again, how will we respond?

“You wear a size 16 shirt collar.” Said the tailor as he reeled in his tape.

“No,” said the customer. “I've always worn a size 14.”

“Oh, I really couldn't recommend that, sir,” said the tailor, “If you wear a size 14 collar and you'll see pink and purple spots before your eyes.”

That reprieve was certainly a pleasant surprise for that fellow, and though we may never encounter a situation like he did, we also can experience equally wonderful surprises along our spiritual journey. And if they're from God they often arrive just when we need them.

God might surprise us with a sudden awareness of His presence just when we thought He'd forgotten us. Or perhaps He provides extra strength for a hard struggle or maybe He gives us an unexpected solution or a new perspective on a problem. He meets our needs with His perfect provision at the right time and in the right way.

God's surprises – just more evidence of His eternal loving care and provision.

Now Conroe is a suburb north of Houston where I live and knowing Dale I'm sure he probably didn't intend it to make any sense. But it does bring up a very human need - help.

Help.  Such a short word with so much impact and meaning to all of us: Assistance. Aid. Relief. Support. Backing. Advice.  It's all of these and of course so much more.  We use the term rather casually these days - like I say, "May I help you?" to visitors at my office. "Can I help you?" I say if I'm a guest in someone's home and they're serving a meal.  Casual.  And sometimes we use the term as an expression of concern.  "Can I do anything to help?" We might ask someone who's had a death in the family.  We're concerned but we don't really know right then what to do for them.

Yet there are times when it must become more than just a platitude - such as when we really NEED help and we don't think we can continue without some kind of assistance ... or relief or support.  Of course at times like that we may turn to friends and relatives but occasionally we need something beyond the human. And that's when we seek the help only God can provide.

The Scriptures - and particularly the Psalms - are full of promises about God's help for us. For example "But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me.  You are my help and my deliverer, Don't delay, O My God." (Ps. 40:17) or the beautiful words of Ps. 46:1. "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble." And it is when we trust the God behind these comforting timeless words, we can experience the wonderful God that does help and always in the right way at the right time.

Yet help can be such a general term and though we know He assists us sometimes when we really look back on a situation in our lives, it's hard to remember exactly how he did it.  However, when I seek out and follow His perfect plan for me He helps me in some specific ways. So we put it like this - as God helps me to follow His will He CHIDES, He GUIDES, and He PROVIDES.

CHIDE - It's an old fashioned term of course, and yet though it can imply something harsh as in a rebuke or a reprimand, another meaning is to "criticize - in order to warn of or to correct a fault."  And that's how I prefer to think of God's chiding me. After all, if I'm going to follow His will then I have to see His plan for me as superior to my own.   I have to see my plan as futile and a waste of time and learn that I can't depend on myself or anyone else - only on Him.  And He often does this by chiding - where He provides lessons that nudge me away from my plans and toward His. To do this though sometimes the lesson can only come through struggle.

It's like Joe who was an atheist and proud of it.  His spiritual friends fretted over his lack of belief, and they'd just about given up trying to persuade him that God existed but they couldn't break through.  But then Joe took a trip to Scotland and set out on a small craft on Loch Ness.

He was enjoying the stiff breeze that pushed his small sailboat along the waves, until suddenly a massive form thrust up through the waves and Joe was hurtled from his craft by the force of the new arrival. He dropped into the water and swam furiously, away from the gaping maw that could only be the Loch Ness monster!

"Help, God!" Joe screamed as he paddled. "Help me!"

Then just as suddenly, the monster dropped into the waves and disappeared, leaving Joe to stroke over to his nearby craft and scramble aboard.  Just then Joe heard a booming voice coming from above: "I thought you didn't believe in Me!"

"I didn't," he shouted back, "but until a few minutes ago I didn't even believe in the Loch Ness monster!"

We'll probably never have that sort of experience but sometimes it may take something dramatic to have me feel God's presence and arouse me to follow His will. So if that happens how will I react? When I have a problem that drives me to my knees will I look down and inside myself in self-induced misery - what some might call a "pity party"?  Will I look around to see a friend or family member who might help me?  Maybe I'll realize I have no choice but to look UPWARD to seek His presence and be aware of the lessons He wants to teach me.   So God may CHIDE ... by using my struggles as a way of getting my attention to trust Him and want to follow His will for my life.

The second way He helps me once I've decided to follow His plan is to GUIDE.

How does God guide us?  In many ways of course and those ways are all as individual as we are. You can no doubt look back over your lives and realize how He directed you into what He wanted you to do. Perhaps you experienced His guidance through something that happened. Did something open up at just the right time and place?  Or maybe it was from what someone said.  Or maybe it was even an impulse that you had - and you realized later that God was nudging you.

So we know He guides us but what's often hard to deal with is when we're not sure where we're going or what's going to happen.  We 're certainly in His will but we don't know where He's leading us. It's only natural to want to know what's coming and how it will end. After all, when we know what's going to happen we feel we're in control and don't have to worry about any surprises.

Yet there are times when we just don't know - and perhaps that's the hardest part of seeing God's help in this area. Hardest when we have to live each minute and each day without knowing fully what's to happen - it's times like that when ignorance is not bliss!  Perhaps it's like waiting for a plane carrying a loved one to land in the fog.  You can only wait to hear the engine ... then linger in the misty unknown till the massive bulk cuts through the swathe and you know that your loved one is safe.

Yet I know God is guiding me and though I may not understand what's happening and where I'm going, then I must trust Him to know and guide me.  And if I can't see the reason for something now - I will eventually.  It's like the cartoon I saw that shows a pulpit scene where a Pastor is leaving as the Song Leader steps up and says enthusiastically, "Thank you for that moving sermon, Pastor, and now let's all rise and sing the wonderful hymn 'We'll Understand it Better By and By.'"

In short, if I don't understand how or why He guides me as He does then I must trust Him to be in control as He helps me. So God guides and all He asks is that I trust Him to do so.

The third way that God helps me is how He PROVIDES for me.  Everything.  At all times.  In every way.  For if I've learned one lesson then I know that when God has CHIDED me into beginning to follow His will, then GUIDED me further along, then as I try to do His will He'll provide everything I need to follow through.  However, do I really believe that? Do I trust Him?  Or am I creeping along in fear and trepidation?

Many years ago during pioneer days a traveler was heading west on foot in the winter when he came to a wide ice covered river.  There was no bridge or boat available, and he stood indecisively on the bank, looking across to a village where he could spend the night.  He hesitated to cross because he wasn't sure the ice was thick enough to hold him.

Perhaps, he thought, he might make it if he could lie down flat and creep across, distributing his weight evenly across the surface.  So he set out like that, trembling at every vibration and sound as he progressed.

He'd made it halfway across when he heard the distant sound of singing and rattling of wheels. He looked behind him to see a heavy horse drawn freight loaded wagon coming at a rapid clip across the ice - the driving singing at the top of his voice.  Waving encouragingly, the confident driver flapped the reins at the horses and drove on.  Ashamed at his baseless fear, the traveler climbed to his feet and went on.

So though we may sometimes fail to trust Him He goes on providing all we really need without our being aware of it.

So whether we're from Conroe or not, no matter who we are or what we've done - God has a wonderful plan for our lives - and when He helps us follow it He CHIDES, GUIDES, and PROVIDES.  I like to describe that plan this way:

And what also waits for us is all that we can be when we look to Him as He tells us: "This is the way, walk in it."

A West Texas citizens' committee wired the Ranger headquarters to help them with a particularly troublesome bunch of thugs. "Send a company of Rangers," pleaded the leader of the committee. "Unruly ruffians looting and robbing town." There soon arrived Capt. Bill McDonald, one of the toughest and bravest Rangers.

"We need a whole company of Rangers!" The committee complained. "Not just one!"

McDonald didn't seem concerned. "I think I can handle this alone. After all, you've only got one mob."

Though we may not have to face an actual mob we do encounter many problems and challenges in our daily lives that can seem just as serious. Yet despite what may happen we know God is perfectly capable of helping us handle all of it. His help, of course, may vary with the specific situation, but it is always perfect ­ just as He is.

So whether you've got one difficulty or a batch - you only need one God!

Nostalgia aside, I doubt most people would say "Hooray!" about a time of serious struggle such as the Depression. After all, how can you actually look back at a dreadful period in your life and be glad it occurred? Is that actually possible? Sometimes it can be and I know because I've done it.

I've had challenges in my spiritual life, and though it was difficult at the time, when I looked back later I saw it differently. From the vantage of the present I saw how God had worked in my life and I realized how, through the adversity, He'd equipped me to deal with it as well as changing me in the process.

We may not say "Hooray!" when we think of difficult times, but we can learn to use such experience as a way to see and appreciate how God has worked in our lives.

"You shouldn't have gone visiting without a tie!",  She chided him.

Amused, Twain immediately set things right. He found a necktie, wrapped it up and sent it next door with a note, which read: "Recently I visited you for a half hour without my necktie. I'm informed that wasn't proper. Please gaze at my tie for 30 minutes and then return it to me."

Twain and his wife certainly had different ideas of what was important, something that sometimes happens to me, and particularly when it comes to what I do for God.  So often I think up great tasks and challenges that I'm sure will glorify and serve Him, then I set off with great enthusiasm. However, there's one problem - I didn't consult Him first.

Sometimes the task I have in mind is His will, but usually it isn't.  And if that's the case, then I soon discover I don't get anywhere. After all, I've discovered that if He's behind a task everything usually falls perfectly into place, something that doesn't happen with the jobs I create.

Naturally I need to realize that His challenges are the only ones worth doing. For only when I align my ideas with His can I succeed on my spiritual journey.

Anxious to keep them content, he investigated and found that though they were happy with their wages, because of their remote location the girls had no place to spend their money. The factory owner soon discovered the solution. He provided for them an assortment of mail order catalogs displaying many different products, and as they began to order they were no longer satisfied.

Just as that employer provided for the needs of his employees God does the same as He sees our deprivation and provides the solutions. Each problem or challenge we have has a perfect solution and God knows exactly what it is; and as we struggle and see Him at work in the midst of it we can often detect what might be a Divine purpose. God can use our struggles to teach, encourage and minister to us, and at the same time also as a way for us to minister to others. Yet no matter the reason with God's help our trials can be for His glory and our benefit.

Marvo soon escaped from the manacles then began working on the lock to the cell, yet even with all his previous planning it was useless - he simply could not open it. Since his time was limited he knew he had to quickly free himself to emerge from behind the curtain. The tension of that knowledge only added to his effort as he tried again and again to open the lock. Finally, he gave up, dropping his hands to his sides and slumping against the cell door. He jerked back upright as the barred door slowly began to swing out and open. Despite his surprise he quickly remembered his waiting audience and charged through the open door, flung aside the curtain and received the expected applause. Only later did Marvo discover that when the jail personnel had shut him in the cell they had neglected to lock the door.

Though I've never tried to escape from a jail cell I've experienced the same sense of frustration and anxiety when I have challenges on my spiritual journey. It happens most often when I try to solve a troubling situation on my own and encounter only failure. Eventually I must finally stop struggling I realize that I'm totally helpless and need the solution only God can provide. Yet if I'm powerless then God certainly is not. And once I've surrendered to Him He begins His work on the solution.

Of course ideally I should have let Him handle it from the beginning and saved myself frustration but sometimes I have to learn from experience. And the lesson? That God's solutions are perfect, and once I let Him He's waiting to provide them.

The community church was attracting so many new members they were outgrowing their building, so to provide enough space the church officials decided to rebuild. After a series of planning meetings they came up with the following resolutions:

That committee certainly wasn't thinking very clearly and sometimes we do the same when I try to create great plans for God. Perhaps I'm interested in a new area of ministry, or what seems like a great opportunity to do great things for Him. Yet despite how promising these seem I know that what's most important is that I determine what He wants. He might be behind these new opportunities but if He isn't then I'm only wasting our time - and His - by trying to pursue them.

So how do I tell the difference? When God's behind it there are usually no unsolvable barriers and events fall into place. So which do I choose? My own imperfect devices or His with it's perfect provisions and guidance?

"We're all proud of Daddy's work," she told her daughter, "but you're not just his daughter. You're also Katie Brown - a very special little girl and I don't want you to forget that." Mrs. Brown told her. "So try this - if someone at church asks who you are then I want you to say 'I'm Katie Brown.' Let's try that."

Katie tried to follow her mother's instructions, however, somehow it didn't quite work out. For the next Sunday as she was standing with her mother a lady stopped. "And aren't you Rev. Brown's daughter?" She asked Katie. With all the earnest truthfulness a five-year-old can express Katie replied somberly. "I thought I was, but mother says I'm not."

It can certainly give us a sense of confidence when we identify with someone important but do we feel that way when we are asked about our relationship with God? When we consider that association with Him do we feel confidence or maybe a bit of insecurity at being identified with Him? Does it make us uneasy to being considered as His child?

Hopefully we don't but no matter how we feel about Him, His response to us is always the same- consistently loving, caring and providing.

Still, while he was there he began to translate the gospel of John into the local language and as he did so he encountered a problem common to all translators. He had to learn how to take the words in the original languages and find their equivalent in the local tongue. Also, he not only had to translate the words themselves, but cope with the cultural differences that complicated what he was trying to accomplish.

Paton was particularly stymied with the passage of John 1:12. The Greek could be translated "believe in" or "trust in" Christ, but the local people were so antagonistic against each other, they did not know how to trust anyone. In fact there was simply no word for "trust" in their language. Just then his native assistant entered and Paton sought his help.

"What am I doing?" He asked the young man.

"Working at your desk." Was the response.

Paton then lifted both feet off the floor and leaned back in the chair. "Now what am I doing?" he asked.

The assistant replied in the native language, describing Paton's action as "leaning your whole weight on" the chair. That was Paton's answer, and the words that he used in his gospel translation.

Whether it's "trust" or "lean your whole weight on" the Lord, it's the same idea when it comes to how we depend on God ­ for everything. There are many tragedies and struggles in our lives and we often seek answers as well as reasons. And often we can find neither. Yet the same One on Whom we lean our full weight has both answers and reasons, and while we may not immediately be provided what we seek we can know that He is in control. For if we don't know why, then He does, He loves us, and because of that whatever happens is for our ultimate benefit and always for His glory.

"Mump umn Kmpfhm," he said.

"Freddie, how many times have I told you not to talk with your mouth full?" Sheila told him.

"He says he wants some ketchup," Dan offered calmly as he picked up the ketchup bottle, then received a vigorous nod as he offered it to the child.

He had just resumed eating when he heard a voice near his elbow, from the lady sitting at the table next to him.

"I don't intend to intrude but I couldn't help but hear your little boy. If you don't mind I'd like to ask a question." She leaned over slightly and spoke hesitantly. "How did you know what he said? Is it just because he's your son?"

Dan smiled a bit at her. "It's really very simple.  I have no problem understanding him. I'm a dentist."

Dan's experience of understand those with their mouths full certainly helped Freddie, and though we may not have to translate for small children, we can also use our experiences to likewise understand and help others. Does that seem hard to believe?

Look at it this way - if you have a particular problem and you meet someone else who has had the same difficulty then you're likely to have both experienced the same emotions and questions that they have.  And if you were struggling who would you prefer to talk to - someone who'd gone through what you did or someone who hasn't? So if you've had a problem you can possibly provide answers for someone else ­ but what will you tell them?

If you've struggled and triumphed through trust in God and His provision then that's the perfect response to share. Your words and conduct may well be the inspiration to someone who will also learn to trust and see God at work through the challenge.

In a day when such personal news often was shared with others in the community newspaper, Katherine then took the telegram to the local editor where after reading the telegram, he quickly identified the news he'd print. "How nice," He said. "The boys will be home for Christmas."

We don't know if the Wright family fully realized what Wilbur and Orville had done, yet what was most important to them was that they were coming home for Christmas. While they no doubt enjoyed the brothers' presence at Christmas time in 1903 did they really know how momentous that 120 foot flight would be for the rest of the world?

Many years ago something similar happened. It was what seemed an obscure event at the time, but because it occurred the human race would never been the same.

It was in a small dusty and now crowded village in a remote corner of the Roman Empire where many had gathered because a census required their presence. Amidst the crowded scene probably few noticed the young couple who found shelter among animals in a stable type setting – in fact it might even have been a cave for such were commonly used as stables in the area. Few heard the faint cries of a newborn baby and then the hushed whispers and shuffling feet of some nondescript shepherds passing through could have aroused a neighbor from their slumber. Then the next morning the local residents of Bethlehem went about their business and the events of the previous night remained unnoticed.

Though the world seemed to take no notice, God's Son had been born. However, those who later encountered the Man the Baby became know though the world took little notice of His birth the fact that He did come makes an eternal difference to them.

When he did this he would quietly leave his palace clad in ordinary clothing, then usually visit the poorest and most needy of his subjects.

One day dressed in ragged clothing he called on a desperately poor old man. He ate the simple meager food the man offered him and after hearing about the man's life and struggles he sympathized and as his visit ended he left the man with a sense of encouragement and a new hope.

Then for once the king changed his usual procedure, and this time returned in person in his royal garments and with his crown with help for the man.  "I am your king." He told the man. "I visited you to hear of your difficulties. I thought you might not speak freely if you knew who I really was."

Though the poor man might have logically resented what he saw as his king's patronizing him, the poor man was not angered but surprisingly humbled.

"You left your beautiful palace and your magnificence to actually come and share my life to visit me in my poverty and misery.  You ate my poor food and sat with me in the midst of my cellar.  You could have just sent money but you didn't. You came yourself.  You didn't give me things – you gave yourself."

In the same way we live in the misery and poverty of our sinful darkness yet when God wanted to liberate us He didn't just sympathize - He acted.  To provide our release He gave us the perfect gift that is His Son Who took human form to live among us so He could fully experience the misery and poverty of the human nature. Yet He remained untainted. Then through His death and resurrection He gives us not only the release we needed but also a new eternal hope.

Chad noticed it had begun to snow a bit, the flurries swirling outside his window. He'd started to put a few last ornaments on the Christmas tree as he recalled what his wife had said about Christ's coming. She said that God had loved the world so much that He'd sent His son – in human form – to show people how much He loved them and what He wanted to provide for them. Yet that didn't seem logical, Chad thought. Why would God go to so much trouble? Surely – being God – He could have figured out another way to show His love and tell people about it

Then as he considered this, Chad heard a faint sound.

"Thump!" Then again. "Thump! Thump!"

Puzzled, he followed the sound to the front window, peering through the glass into the swirling snow to see on the ground a pair of tiny sparrows. They would flutter up to the window, attracted by the light, thump against the glass and then fall back.

Intent on offering the birds some kind of shelter, Chad found an empty shoe box and putting some tissues in it, opened the door. He hoped he could get them into the box then leave it on its side in the shelter of the porch. At least then they'd be out of the storm. Yet as he approached the birds with the box they fluttered a short distance away. When this happened again, he went to find some bread crumbs to scatter to attract the birds but even that failed to work. They fluttered even further away.

Chad stood back in the door, shivering but concerned and frustrated. He wanted so much to protect the birds but they didn't seem to understand that. Perhaps, he thought, they saw him as a giant terrifying monster figure.

Leaving the box, he returned to the house, shutting the door behind him. He gazed out the window at the tiny frightened birds, so much in need but so frightened and helpless. How could he tell them of his concern when they only saw him as distant and even terrifying figure?

Then it struck him and though the idea was ridiculous still, it would be the answer. If he could become a little bird himself, then he could tell them about his concern and how he had planned for their security and comfort. Then they wouldn't be afraid of him because he was one of them!

Just then Chad glanced at the manger scene on the mantel. The tiny figure of the Christ child lay in the manger, his arms uplifted.

A child – God – in human form.

"That's it!" Chad whispered aloud. "That's why Jesus came. That's what Christmas is all about!"