ELMER'S POST

We wish everyone a Happy Labor Day to those who are working and have worked.  To those of you that have jobs, please thank the Lord.   Also, remember in your prayer those that are looking for work.

I had a subject on, but after speaking with Marilyn today, I decided to change it.  First, I want to say, I too, am concerned with Sarah, John, Anna and the baby.  I hope the next doctor is better.  Had I been there, I don't think I would have been as calm as Anna - which may be the reason she left me home. Also, if the baby is normal size or small, it belongs to us and will be loved, taken care of, protected and taught the Lord's ways.  The child is a gift from God to us no matter what size.

Marilyn was driving the car this morning and the brakes went out.  It was a very upsetting situation and I can't blame her.  She is worried what is wrong with the car, how much it will cost and more.  I told her to look on the bright side of it.  The bright side?

Maybe I have said this before, so if I had, it doesn't hurt for all of us to hear it again.

My view was that she should thank the Lord.  She was coming to a stop light and the brakes went to the floor.  When she hit them again, they stopped the car.  They could have failed and the car gone right through the light and hit another car or person, but didn't.

She had to get the car home which was just over a block away so she went slowly down Main Street, brakes worked except once, but when she hit them again, they took hold.  She turned down a side street and parked it in front of her building - the brakes worked.  Again, they could not have worked and she hit a building, car , etc.

It was also lucky that it happened in town when she was going slowly and not on the highway where she could be going 40, 50  or 55 miles per hour.  Again, she could have  hit a car, truck, person, animal, flipped her car or more.  But she wasn't on a Main Road and didn't have any of those things happen.

She was going to breakfast with friends whom she called and told them she couldn't come.  As her friends were at the restaurant already, her friend's husband came and picked her up.  At the restaurant her friend, after hearing what happened, prayed for her.  Yes, right in the restaurant.

Now I am not saying all this to put Marilyn down in any way.  I have her permission to say what I am saying.  She is also typing this on the computer while I speak and if she doesn't like something, she can stop any time.  I just want us to know that even though bad things happen - there are good things in them.

Yes, she can't drive the car right now, but there wasn't an accident and there could have been.  That was God watching over her and the car.  She could be in the hospital with injuries from an accident and Michael on here telling you about it - but it didn't happen.  The Lord protected her.

It seems we all see the bad things in happenings, myself included.  Sometimes we have to stop, think and look at the good side.  Yes, the car is laid up, but at least it is parked safe, no accidents, no injuries.

As far as what's wrong with the car..  Her friend's husband looked it over.  He doesn't think it is a gas line leak.  At least today, there is still the same amount of gas in it as there was - meaning it doesn't appear it is leaking gas.  But he said it could be but very small.  So we don't know what is wrong with it.

It could need new brakes.  It could be a new gas tank like they said when they put the water pump in.  It could be, it could be, it could be.  Now here comes the real hard part.  She and we, at times like this, must trust the Lord.  She can't find out until at least Tuesday as the gas station is closed.  Maybe not until Wednesday as many cars will probably be coming in Tuesday after the holiday.  Also she worries about how she will pay the bill again.  She had only two payments on the service station bill and she would be done, thanks to you.  Also, she's still paying her friend's loan on the garage bill.

My answer was Trust the Lord.  In Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.  Trust that the Lord will see whatever the bill is and that it is paid.  Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Being fed doesn't only mean food fed, but also financial fed, clothes fed, crops fed to grow and more.  I think sometimes the trusting the Lord is the hardest party.  We get situations where we can , help others and more, but Trusting the Lord is the hard part.

I like the first part of Luke 6:38 which the first part says "Give and it shall be given unto to you."  How many times have I given my problems unto the Lord - and taken them back again.  Marilyn agrees she has done the same thing.  You bring it before the Lord and say it's yours, Lord.  But putting it there, leaving it there  - it starts crawling back to you.  Like I say, I've done it, Anna's done and Marilyn has done it.  You have to read the rest: "good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over; shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."  You have to keep your faith, your trust in the Lord, thank the Lord for all he has done for you, hold Him close in your heart, thoughts and prayers.

Sometimes we think of asking the Lord so much, but we also must thank Him, too.  Praise Him for all He has done for us.  Take time or times out of our day to pray to Him and thank Him for all He has done.  Sure, you can ask the Lord, but it is our place to thank Him and Praise Him, too.

I can go with more quotes from the Bible, but you see it is that we must stop and thank for the things that we want and need.  Also, I told Marilyn, when she finds out what the bill is, the Lord will provide.  It may be just something little that she can afford.  Or it could be a big bill like last time.  Somehow the Lord will provide the payment of the bill.  He did last time and He will again.  It does not do any good worrying over it until you find out what it is.  I know I don't have a car, but still we have horses that have gotten sick.  We had a buggy at one time that needed major work.  Somehow when the time came comes, we came up with the money.  But I told her don't worry until you know what it is.

I hope this gives us all something to think about.  That we must trust in the Lord.  We must turn all our problem over to the Lord.  That's what He wants us to do.  He is more powerful and knowledgeable than we are.  He is our Father.

But we must also remember to thank Him and Praise Him for all he has done for us.  Again, I am not trying say anything against Marilyn, but we got talking and that made me change my post.  I hope it gives all of us something to think about.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer