Cornerstone

Isa 62:10-12 (11) “…Behold thy salvation cometh…”

While pastoring in Tennessee my wife and I both drove school buses to supplement our income. One morning my wife stopped at a rural intersection. She looked to the left at the distant hill, back to the level stretch on her right and then again to the left before entering the empty road. She continued for about 100 feet, turned on her left turn signal, looked in her mirrors and then began to make the left turn.

At this time a pickup traveling at a tremendous rate of speed struck her left fender. The impact was so great that it knocked the turning bus to the right shoulder of the road. The front end was knocked out from under the bus. The pickup continued into a field for some distance before finally stopping.

The driver later sued the County School District. We were somewhat apprehensive not being sure how the large law suit would affect us personally.

Finally the court date arrived. The preceedings progressed until at one point the prosecuting attorney looked out over the packed courtroom and made eye contact with me. I had met the man once in a minister’s meeting. He was a Christian lawyer.

Just a few moments later he spoke privately with the judge and asked for a recess to talk to the defense attorney and the clients. After awhile they returned and we found that a settlement for a much smaller dollar amount had been made out of court. We were relieved!

As we went down the steps of the Courthouse my wife and I were surprised to hear a man calling to us. We looked around in time to see the attorney coming. He shook my hand and told me it was good to see me again. I did not know the man personally. I had met him on one occasion. Yet God superintended the circumstances by having the couple who was suing the county choose this Christian lawyer who I had met on one occasion to argue their case. The case could have gone differently. But God intervened and we were delivered.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Isa 62:1-5 (3) “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.”

Before Merlin became the advisor to King Arthur, he led a war band throughout Briton in an effort to free them from the marauding bands of barbarians. During this time he met the illegitimate son of a neighboring king. The young man was the shame of his father and wished to be free from the bondage he felt.

When he met Merlin there was a natural affinity that often occurs. He bowed before Merlin and asked that he be permitted to be Merlin’s servant. At his insistence, Merlin asked the king to grant him the young man as a gift.

The king was happy to be rid of the shame in his life. From that day Pelleas was closer to Merlin than a brother.

Later, Merlin married. When his wife was soon to have a child he allowed her to travel to her father’s castle. He and his warband would follow a short time later.

Unknown to Merlin a large army of barbarians was roving the area. When they saw her group arriving they attacked the group, abusing, torturing and killing all of them.

When Merlin came upon the body of his mutilated wife he went crazy. He led his warband in a reckless battle against the barbarians. It was a slaughter. Still crazed in his grief he disappeared. He was not seen for many years.

Pelleas did not cease to search for him. Day after day he searched. He crisscrossed the country looking for his friend. Finally, he was rewarded for his diligence when he found Merlin, just healed by God but still wearing the rags of his hermitage.

This kind of loyalty and devotion illustrates what God desires of His people. We are to be totally given to Him. His our life, our breath, our being.

Dr. Gayle Woods