photo from Flickr by David Gunter
The only survivor of a shipwreck 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 none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. However one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened -everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me?” he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
It’s easy to get discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God! For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it. 
Thank you Grace Genuino for this beautiful bible passage. God has a reason for everything and just like in a marriage, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do us part, we should never give up on Him. A good friend of mine told me the story of Joseph the Dreamer ( Joseph and the Technicolored Dreamcoat ) and the basic message being, Joseph who went through sufferings for many many years, hardship one after the other…yet the bible said ” And God was with him.”
With all the series of events, downturns the country has been facing for so many years, we wonder why is it happening to us? Why is God doing this to our country? There has to be a reason….right? We all have to look and understand God’s message. Could it be a wake up call for us? It is amazing how we have seen the efforts of the whole country to help all the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Imagine if we would be like this in helping build our nation? Everyone trying to find ways and helping each other bring our country to greater heights!
And God is definitely with us….
Related Entries:
How You Can Help? Sept. 28, 2009
Starbucks and the Ateneo Taskforce Ondoy Sept. 28, 2009
What you can do for typhoon Ondoy victims Sept. 28, 2009
Bawat Pilipino Bayani September 29, 2009
How to Clean up After a Flood September 30, 3009
The Power of Prayer October 2, 2009
Super Typhoon Pepeng Checklist October 2, 2009
The Beauty of Prayer October 3, 2009
Messages/Lessons Learned from Ondoy and Pepeng October 4, 2009
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Dear Rica,
It feels so wonderful, being able to share the Lord’s message and inspiration for all.
Please let me know what and how to help you with your numerous projects and outreach activities.
With love,
Grace