Providences of the Great War

 I found a jewel! It is titled, Providences of the Great War, by W. A. Spicer. And in case you are wondering - the war referenced is World War I because it was published in 1923.

This inspiring collection of stories is categorized into geographical sections such as Eastern Europe, Siberian Experiences, Through the War Years in Russia, In Moslem Lands and so on. Altogether they create a beautiful picture of God's faithful care for those who trust Him no matter how dark their circumstances may seem.

Stories of. . .

When a Sabbath morning air-raid passed over a group praying in a London church. And a more than four foot long bomb pierced through the flagstone walkway nearby to a depth of 9 feet without detonating.

A hen coming out into open battlefields each day to lay an egg beside a fallen soldier for almost a week until he was rescued and taken to a hospital.

A man who rejoiced in a lengthy solitary confinement because it provided an undisturbed time for prayer and study.

How an entire regiment stopped for Sabbath because of the prayer of one faithful heart.

Of being bought in a slave market - only to be set free. . . and so many other rich accounts of God's intervention.

God does not stop every bomb or intervene to prevent the death of every fallen soldier. The grief and destruction brought on by human depravity is staggering. Throughout the ages many people have asked, "Where is God in war?" Countless battles have been fought because one or both sides believed they had the divine right or destiny to destroy the other. Providences of the Great War presents in kaleidoscope form powerful personal testimonies to the sovereignty and grace of God.

Who, as the old hymn says, "keeps watch above His own" in a beautiful provision that ignores national boundaries, human prejudice, and political agendas.

"Though the cause of evil prosper, Yet 'tis truth alone is strong; 

Though her portion be the scaffold, And upon the throne be wrong;

Yet that scaffold sways the future, And, behind the dim unknown, 

Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above His own."

"These are not stories of war. They are stories of deliverances amidst war. They teach the lesson of trust in God in times of distress and trouble - a lesson that can never be too well learned."

Kisses From Katie

18 year old Katie Davis' commitment to follow Jesus completely led her to Uganda on a short term mission trip. That trip turned into a life time commitment to bring love and hope to the Ugandan people. To begin meeting the overwhelming needs she founded the NGO Amazima (truth) that provides food and education to over 1600 children and is developing sustainable businesses so parents can support their own families. Katie also legally adopted 14 girls who had been orphaned or abandoned in the aftermath of the war torn region. She and her family are radically living tangible love.

Here is one of the many beautiful insights that she shares:

"Mommmyyyy!" I heard a yell as I bounced quickly along the pitted road that leads to our program in my sixteen-passenger van. I stopped quickly, turning the van around to go back for Prossy, who had been walking home to get something.
"How did you see her?" asked my dad, who was visiting.
"I didn't! I heard her yell, 'Mommy,' " I replied.
"But everyone calls you Mommy. Even people we don't know call you that around here."
"Yeah, but I know when it's mine," I explained matter-of-factly.
And then I thought about what I had said and tears began to well. How incredible, what God has done for me. For us. It is true, hundreds of people in this area call me Mommy. Even people whom I have not met before recognize me as the woman who cares for the children and call me Mommy before even having made my acquaintance. On any given day, I can drive down the road between my home and Buziika, and if it is the right time, when kids are heading home from school, I will hear "Mommy! Mommy!" being shouted about every two seconds as I pass all the children on the road. I smile as I hear them. But for fourteen "Mommy"s I stop. I can hear the difference.

"I believe there is only one truly courageous thing we can do with our lives: to love unconditionally. Absolutely, with all of ourselves, so much that it hurts and then more."

"I would like to say that as I am surrounded by sorrow and destitution, it gets easier or less painful. But it doesn't. . . Each and every time, it is overwhelmingly devastating that people have to live, and die, like this - like my girls and I see happening around us. While it does not get easier, I have found that I am able to face each situation with a little more hope. I always hope my friends will live here on earth with me, but I tell them with a new senses of urgency about Jesus mostly because I want them to live with Him, experience His profound, unconditional love, whether here or in heaven. I see sadness, but I also see redemption."

"I have learned along my journey that if I really want to follow Jesus, I will go to the hard places. . . . So we go. This is where our family is today and where I hope to stay - loving, because He first loved us. Going into the hard places, entering into sorrow because He entered for us first and because by His grace, redemption and beauty are on the other side."