HELP!
(CNN) A US Navy and Coast Guard operation on Tuesday rescued three mariners stranded on a tiny Pacific Ocean islet for more than a week after the trio spelled out “HELP” using palm fronds laid on a white-sand beach.
The men were on a fishing trip in the remote area when rough swells resulted in engine damage, ultimately beaching them on the island. Matters went from bad to worse when their radio batteries died before they could put out a mayday.
They'd apparently watched enough TV or movies to know their next best move was to use palm branches to spell out the word "HELP" on the sandy shore. They had no idea if anyone would ever see their desperate plea. But they hoped and waited.
For the next week, they survived on coconut meat and water from an old well they found on the tiny island — just 31 acres of land in the middle of the massive Pacific ocean.
They must have felt like the dust particle Horton the Elephant carried about on a flower in the famed Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears A Who. And just like those little Whos on that tiny speck of dust, the palm frond letters were their way of screaming out, "We're here! We're here!"
Do you ever feel adrift? Invisible? Alone on a tiny island amid a vast sea of trial, or despair, or confusion? Not sure anyone, anywhere will notice?
Cry out to Jesus! Spell out your need for help. Scream out, "I'm here! Help me!"
Crying out to God is not a crap shoot. There is no where He cannot see you ... find you ... rescue you.
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love ... " (Psalms 33:18, ESV).
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer" (1 Peter 3:12, ESV).
"And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15, ESV).
"Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!" (Psalm 40:13, ESV).
Stand Down
Two police officers and a first responder were killed in Burnsville, Minnesota, responding to “a call of a family in danger” Sunday morning, according Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The two officers and a pardemic firefighter were killed during a domestic disturbance call. The shooter had barricaded himself inside his home with 7 children and his wife therein. During the standoff and attempted negotiations, the man opened fire, killing the 3 first responders before being hit by other officers who had arrived on the scence. The children and wife were safely escorted out after the man was found deceased at 8:00am.
The officers and firefifghters were there to respond to a man clearly in crisis, perhaps assailed by his own pain, his own frustration, his own despair, his own internal turmoil, and perhaps the turmoil within his own home and life. Whatever was happening in his life, whatever was occruing or contributing to such a deadly response, the fatal blow to both himself and the responders was actually dealt the moment he refused to respond to the efforts of those who were ulitimately there to spare him, to save him, the woman, and the children.
Sure, he would have faced consequences. But maybe the family would have forgiven him, refusing to press charges. Maybe the state would have been understanding and lenient.
If only he had stood down, his life, and the lives of the others, could have been spared.
In our own times of trouble, of crisis, of despair, the Lord comes to us as a type of first responder. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ... the Godhead comes to us ready to minister in any way necessary. Ready to talk us off our ledges. Ready to minister peace. Ready to save.
Stand down, believer!
The situation may be dire. You may be as desperate as you have ever been. It may be difficult to simply receive the help. But stand down!
Stand down and receive the witness of the Heavenly Responders: Faither, Son, and Holy Spirit. They work in coordination and complete harmony with one another. Theirs is the only response that will spare your life, and eternally set you on the course toward repair.
Stand down, believer! They are not there to put you down but to pull you through.
"Do not quench the Spirit" I Thessalonians 5:19, ESV).
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46:1, BSB).
When Fear Melts Into Freedom
A small little bird was trapped in a net ball containing bird food near our back window. It was fluttering about trying to escape. We went out to help it, but when it saw us coming, it chirped furiously in panic. We pulled down the net ball, bird attached, and held it gently, speaking softly to the little guy. At this point he was listless and tired from trying to escape, for perhaps hours. We carefully and gently cut the net from around its legs and gently set it on the picnic table. It immediately flew away in freedom.
Its initial panic eventually yielded to let one much more powerful, yet gentle, release it from bondage.
When God sees us trapped, we often struggle to escape by our own devices, yet we consistently fail until we yield to God's gentle and gracious power to release us. Only then do we find true freedom.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1, NIV).
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29, NIV).