DARK, UGLY, STUNKY THINGS

DARK, UGLY, STINKY THINGS
 
A few months ago I began to hear something in my spirit; something rather startling and yet exciting! This is what I heard:
 
"God specializes in taking ugly, dark, stinky things and transforming them into beautiful, bright, fragrant things for His glory and for our good."
 
As I thought about it, I became convinced that it was a word from the Lord to me, but also a word that God wanted me to share with others. From that time I have believed that word and have said it often to myself and to others. Then the other day on one of my prayer walks I asked the Lord to give me scriptural grounds for such a statement. He gave me three:
 
        "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." NLT
 
        Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and the Lord used their selfish, stinking, murderous act as a means of their own salvation, for it was Joseph who was used of God to provide food for them years later when they and their families were starving.
 
        The most heinous, dark, ugly, stinky thing mankind ever did was when we nailed the Son of God to that cross and watched him die. But God turned that foul deed into the means for the salvation of the world.
 
The story is told of a survivor of a shipwreck who was washed up on a small, uninhabited Island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but all in vain.

          He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his meager possessions.

          But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

          "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried. He went to sleep that night in a state of deep grief and discouragement. Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. As the boat from the ship touched onto the shore he ran into the surf shouting, "How did you know I was here?"

          "We saw your smoke signal,"

          That which now seems to be nothing but total tragedy may be the instrument in the hands of God to bring you into total victory.

          "HE WHO HAS JESUS AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS NO MORE THAN HE WHO HAS JESUS AND NOTHING ELSE." - C. S. Lewis

          Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II, was invited to do the commencement speech at Yale University right after the war. He walked to the podium and stood looking at the vast audience for a long moment, then began his speech. The graduates and their invited guests sat waiting to savor every word of the great orator as he began to speak. Churchill boomed out the words:
 
"NEVER GIVE UP!"

(long pause) 
 
"NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!"

(another long pause)

       "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!"
He stood there in silence for a long time looking out over the audience, then turned and walked back to his seat on the platform and sat down.     It was the shortest commencement address in the history of the University . . . but it might be the only one that will never be forgotten.
 
 
Robert & Joni Fitts
76-6309 Haku Pl.
Kona, HI 96740