That Could Have Been . . .

Our tour bus stopped for a photo opportunity at the beautiful little fishing village of Neils Harbour, located on the Cabot Trail of Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia. The Cabot Trail is called the most photographed highway in Nova Scotia and further described as nature’s longest roller coaster. Shortly after we resumed our tour, another tour bus lost control, ran off the winding road, and turned over, killing one passenger and injuring twenty others. One of my first thoughts was, “That could have been us.” Then my mind raced back several years when I missed my flight after a speaking engagement because the driver couldn’t find the right entrance to the airport terminal. While I was having my private pity party, and waiting on the next flight, I discovered that the flight I missed had crashed on arrival at my next destination. Again, the thought was, “That could have been me.” In both circumstances, and other similar scenarios, why was it not me? The only answer I can give is that God planned it differently for me. Does that make me better than those who were not so fortunate? Not at all. Just different. On another day, in another place, with another person, God said, “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand; I will keep you. (Isaiah 42:6)”

Join me this week in praying for the following global concerns:
• Pray for Joe, a missionary to Donetsk, who is being re-located due to the intense conflict in eastern Ukraine.
• Pray for Mick, who will be in Ukraine July 20-25 teaching a group of missionaries at the Odessa seminary. Pray for these students as they train in the midst of the crisis in Ukraine.
• Pray for Mary and others who serve in Israel during this difficult time in their country.