...where do you get your hat?
Devotional for Today
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
We reached our mission station at Maymyo in northern Burma without any more trouble, and waited there for 10 days, hoping that the enemy would be content with taking Rangoon, and that we could establish temporary headquarters where we were. But the enemy turned northward and was traveling 30 to 75 miles a day. We had to get out or we’d be made prisoners of war. So we reorganized. My car was too small for the rough roads to the border, so it was left behind, and the five of us, in two cars, started for the border pass. After being helped again and again by our loving God, we crossed the Irrawaddy River and found ourselves in Pakokku, at the beginning of the cart track to Tamu, 300 miles away.
After cleaning ourselves up we went to the district magistrate for a permit to travel that road. “Gentlemen,” he replied solemnly, “the road has been closed, and I have been forbidden to issue any more permits for people to go that way. You see, cholera and plague have broken out, and the poor evacuees are dying like flies. So no permits will be issued until the camps have been cleared up. The road is very rough, but cars and buses have been getting through in about five days.”
Pastor Meleen looked into the magistrate’s face and said, “Sir, just what might happen if we chose to proceed without a permit?” We gasped at such unbelievable frankness, and anxiously awaited the magistrate’s reply.
“You would have no difficulty with my policeman at this end. Of course, at Tamu they could make you come back, but I hardly think they would.” Then he lowered his voice and added, “Gentlemen, if I were in your position I think I would go without delay.” We couldn’t believe our ears. It must be a dream. Real people couldn’t talk like that.
Brother Baird asked, “Sir, how many gallons of gasoline does a car need for the trip?”
“About 40,” he replied. “We have only 30 gallons each,” said Brother Baird. The
magistrate took his pen and wrote an order for 22 gallons of gas, and handing it over, he said, “Would that help?” It did, and in five days we were at Tamu at the end of the road and the beginning of the foot trail to India. We never ceased to praise God for very present help in our day of trouble. When your day of trouble comes, God will be your help, just as He was ours.
From the Devotional: Skyscrapers: 365 Stories That Build You Up
Eric B. Hare, legendary storyteller and missionary, crammed this
devotional full of stories that will help you get to know Jesus—and
have a happier life. You’ll get to read through the best story of all
(just a little at a time), and you’ll even discover what Nehemiah,
Christopher Columbus, and some Brazilian fishermen had in common
(honest, it’s in here!).
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