Things you may not See

Many years ago I heard the story of a British Bomber (Avro Lancaster Four Engine Heavy Bomber) during WWII struck by 5 bullets in one of the fuel tanks located in the wings, and how to the aircrew’s surprise their aircraft did not explode. Intrigued by this story I began studying the reports and from what I know and have researched this was possibly a 30mm MK108 explosive round.While flying over occupied German Airspace the Bomber had lost their air cover and subsequently were spotted, targeted, and strafed by German Fighters (possibly the Messerschmitt Me 262 Night Fighter being one of two Luftwaffe fighters to carry the 30mm incendiary rounds). The special effect occurs when the round strikes the target. The initial collision ignites the incendiary material in the tip, triggering the second detonation of the phosphorus HE (high explosive) charge. The remaining element of the round is the tungsten carbide penetrator.

The story continues after returning safely to their base a mechanic who replaced the damaged fuel tanks which were shot during the strafing found five incendiary rounds intact. Upon careful examination, he discovered four rounds void with no phosphorus incendiary explosive. The fifth round contained a furrowed-up piece of paper. Unfolding the paper, he discovered the following note:

 

“We are Jewish POWs in Poland working in a German munitions factory. We cannot do much, although when the guards are not watching we do not fill with powder.”

 

Polish Jews lived in Poland for 800 years before the Nazi occupation. On the eve of the occupation 3.3 million Jews lived in Poland, more than any other country in Europe. Their percentage among the general population at the time was about 10% and was also the highest concentration in Europe. After Germany’s invasion and conquest of Poland and the Soviet Union in September 1939, most of the Jewish people remaining within the area occupied by Germany was approximately 1.8 million. In 1941 they were subsequently imprisoned in ghettos and deported to concentration and slave labor camps.At the end of the war, approximately 380,000 Polish Jews were barely alive in Poland, the Soviet Union, or in the concentration camps in Germany, Austria, and the Czech territories. Facing genocide and extinction they made a choice to stand, not as Jewish men, not as Polish men, not as inferior men, they committed themselves to stand as…

Men of Faith!

 

One of the biggest challenges in life is not taking a stand, the challenge is making time to remember how GOD supported us each time when we took a stand. The older we get life seems to be going one thousand miles an hour. This is when Satan whispers one of his biggest lies into the ears of hustling humanity “happiness is found when you do more, happiness is found when you get more, and happiness is found when you spend more.” There is not a single person whom GOD is not aware of their circumstances, past, present, and future. All GOD desires is our love, our fellowship, and our availability. When we spend more time with GOD, He Blesses us more than we could imagine. When we take time to remember we will stand, serve, support, and glorify the Father receiving true happiness in our lives. It is true those POWs in the munitions’ factory could not do much. It is also true today we cannot do much. Conversely, when the tomorrows come the men, women, and children in that time will not be able to do much either, because they like us are confined to this futile and broken world. Only through Christ will we be able to make a difference. What is equally amazing is when we are available and take time to remember we can see how GOD chooses to use imperfect people to accomplish HIS perfect will.

 

“Live fully right where you are even if that is a place you don’t want to be.”

 

Every day we make hundreds of decisions. Many decisions we make we are not particularly aware of. Decisions like to stop here, to go there, to eat here, and whom we choose to interact with during our day. Nonetheless, some decisions before us are weighty with lasting consequences. Let’s examine how to make tough decisions in the light of GOD’s will. Many decisions will keep us up at night, and some decisions are life-threatening, or even life changing. These kinds of decisions are frightening and tough! Before we make decisions the first thing to consider is does this path align with GOD’s will for our lives! We want to be wise and discerning, and above all remain in the center of HIS will!

 

First, let me say all decisions should be made in light of GOD’s word. Therefore, the Bible should be the plumb line by which our lives are measured. However, there are some decisions that get muddled up with emotions, possibilities, and plain out indecisiveness. This is when we like Lauri need to listen for the voice of GOD. We know the prophets and patriarchs throughout the ages have heard GOD’s voice and proclaimed his message with confidence. We believe our GOD still speaks to us today, therefore we need to listen for HIS voice. But how do we hear GOD’s voice? Our lives are noisy, and our heads are filled with so many voices vying for our attention, and ways to influence our decisions. So how do we receive clear guidance from GOD for our everyday lives? I admit the answer is easy, however it is difficult to accomplish. The prophetic question, how to receive guidance from GOD? The simple answer is through listening prayers. A Listening prayer centers around a clear request for GOD’s guidance. In making our request, we submit to GOD’s guidance and authority over the other voices we hear throughout our daily lives. Then we hit the pause button. We wait on GOD in a time of silence, giving the Lord opportunity to speak to us. We focus our time of prayer on intentional, purposeful listening, and letting GOD do the talking.

I will close with the parable of the priceless stone.

Parable of The Priceless Stone

 

One day a young boy asks his father what is the value of his life? Instead of answering the father told his son to take this rock and go sell it at a market. If anybody ask the price raise two fingers and don't say anything. The boy then went to the market and a woman asked, “how much is this rock, I want to put it in my garden?” The boy didn't say anything and raised up two fingers and the woman said $2? I'll take it! And the boy went home and told his father a woman wants to buy this rock for $2.

 

The father then said son I want you to take this rock to a museum if anybody wants to buy it don't say a word and just put up two fingers. The boy then went to the museum and a man wanted to buy the rock. The boy didn't say a word and just put up two fingers and the man said $200? I'll take it! The boy was shocked and went running home and told his father a man wants to buy this rock for $200!

 

His father then said, son, the last place I want you to take this rock is to a precious stone store. Show it to the owner and don't say a word and if he asks the price just put up two fingers. The son then went to a precious stone store. He showed the rock to the owner. Where did you find this Stone! It is one of the most rarest stones in the world! I must have it! How much would you sell it for? The boy put up two fingers and the man said I'll take it for $200,000! The boy not knowing what to say, ran at home to his father. Father there's a man that wants to buy the stone for $200,000! His farther than said “son do you know the value of your life now?”

 

You see… it doesn't matter where you come from, where you're born, the color of your skin, or how much money you were born into. It matters where you decide to place yourself, the people you surround yourself with and how you choose to carry yourself. Your may have lived your whole life thinking that you were a $2 stone. Your may have lived your whole life surrounded by people that saw your worth for only $2. But everybody has a diamond inside them. And we can choose to surround ourselves with people that see our value and see the diamond inside of us. We can choose to put our self in a market or put our self in a precious stone store. And you can also choose to see the value in other people. You can help other people see the diamond inside of them. Choose the people you surround yourself wisely. That can make all the difference in your life.