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Great and Mighty Are His Works
The psalmist, David, had some glorious experiences with God, and
these enlarged his vision of God's greatness and all through his
writings, he cried out of the depth of his soul, magnifying God for
His mighty works to the children of men. In Psalm 40:4 he exclaimed
Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust" and in verse 5,
"Many, 0 Lord, my God, are thy wonderful works which Thou hast done
and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in
order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more
than can be numbered." How true these works are. His thoughts toward
His true children are very great. His blessings to us are more than
can be numbered. Praise His worthy name.
About the middle of January 1935, I had a very marvelous experience
with the Lord, which I here relate, trusting it may help others to
"hide away in His pavilion" and to learn some of the "secrets of the
Lord." I arose in the morning with a full day planned in active
service for my Master. Soon, a heavy burden so fully enveloped my
soul that I could do nothing but pray. At different times during the
day I left my room to start out to do some of the many things that
were awaiting me, but each time I would attempt to leave the house
the same overwhelming burden would come back, and I would come back,
and I would be forced by the promptings of the Spirit of God to
return to the secret place of prayer. Thus the hours of the day
passed away. That night, I went to the church service and there I
told of my burden and asked the brethren to pray that God would lift
the burden so I could deliver the message of Truth He had laid on my
heart. They got under the burden and prayed very earnestly, and the
dear lord did liberate me so I could preach, but as soon as the
service was over, the weight again came on my soul and I wept and
prayed until 1:30 in the morning when the crushing burden was not
only lifted but a full assurance was given that whatever was before
me, God would be with me and care for me. Sweet peace then filled my
soul and I slept like a child until about 4 a. m. when something
suddenly awakened me and in a moment I was confronted by two armed
men--one with a revolver and the other with a long knife which is
used much in Cuba as a weapon. I definitely heard voices in other
rooms and knew well that a group of armed bandits had entered to rob
and to kill. But in this same moment, a voice spoke to me out of
heaven, in unmistakably clear words, and saying "The angel of the
Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them"
Psalm 34:7. Praise our God! My heart was calm; my soul at ease; and
God was there.
Before entering the home, these men had bored a hole in the kitchen
door and had inserted a funnel and through that, had blown in
gas--and with us all under gas, they had entered and had done a
complete job of robbing the home of all valuables--silverware,
linens, bedding, clothing and all office supplies. I was bodily
thrown from one part of the bed to another and kept where they put
me, with the knife and revolver held over me. When they were
convinced that nothing of value was left, they went out to their
well-loaded car and drove away. In the room next to me were two
young ladies (students in the Bible Training School) and one small
girl. These men were definitely searching for money and not finding
what satisfied them, they repeatedly declared that if they did not
get what they wanted they would kill me. Although their weapons were
raised in anger at me several times, God did not permit any one of
us to be harmed. As soon as they departed and the alarm could be
given, neighbors rushed in, and the first ones who entered threw up
their hands with an exclamation of horror, and brought a looking
glass for me to see my white hair that had changed color in less
than one hour.
Policemen, detectives and American officials rushed in and none
could understand how we had escaped death. This took place in the
time of the Machado Revolution and the American officials told us
that in that same week, in that same part of the city, burglars had
entered eight other homes, and that in each of these, from one to
three persons had been left dead. And in our home no one was injured
in any way. Oh, how marvelous are His works toward them that fear
Him. Yes, "the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that
fear Him and delivereth them."
God never does fail those who love and serve Him, with true hearts.
He has been with us in the past and will be with us to the end.
"Draw nigh unto the Lord and He will draw nigh unto thee." But dear
reader, we cannot live afar off from the Lord, and follow our own
ways and expect Him to be with us in times of trouble. Let us
delight ourselves in the way of the Lord, and He shall direct our
paths, and overshadow us with His Love.
Safe In His Keeping
Experiences With Communists
"When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be
at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7. This scripture is as true as any
other, and we are safe in expecting a fulfillment of its promise IF
OUR WAYS DO PLEASE THE LORD.
Early in the year of 1947, I had a strange experience in that each
night when I had to go over to the other side of the city for a
service in the church, near the close of the meeting I would notice
a brother from the Children's Homes entering the meeting and quietly
taking a seat. I did not think so much about it when we were in a
Spanish service, but when the same thing happened the night of the
service for the English speaking brethren, I did look on in
amazement, as this brother did not understand any English and had
never before attended these services. But each time when I would ask
why he had come, he would just quietly say, "I came over to
accompany you in going home." I was troubled at this act, for it had
never been done before, but I said little as I knew how very kind
this brother was, and did not want to discourage him. After this had
continued some six weeks, I learned why it was done. One afternoon a
"Chief-of-police" came to the door at the HOME and asked the
privilege of speaking privately with me. I took him into the office,
and after carefully closing all the windows he turned to me and
asked if there was anyone in hearing distance. I told him I felt
sure there was not, and then he told me he had come to bring secret
information. That the communists had a plot-and it included killing
me and the very same brother who had been coming over to the church
so I would not have to go home alone. That it also included the
destruction of both our Children's Homes. He said he had known
something of the plan for some time, but had waited until he had
full proof before alarming me. But that he could not keep it from me
longer. He said he did not know what method they planned on using to
destroy the work of the Children's Homes, but that it was a definite
plot, to be put in action. He warned me never to leave the Homes
alone, and never to return from any place late at night. That if it
was absolutely necessary to go out, to remain away until the next
day-and then to return under protection. After he left I called
Brother Morales in (the one who had been watching for my
protection), and told him, and to my great astonishment he told me
that he had known all this for six weeks. It was for that reason he
had been following, trying to give protection, but he did not want
to tell me what was hanging over us.
Shortly before this we had learned that the Communistic Training
School for Cuba was located next door to our Boy's Home. We bad been
told by many that there was some kind of a Men's Club there, but no
one seemed to know that it was this Training School. On the other
side of us, just one block from the Homes was the bus terminal for
the suburb of Los Pinos where I then lived. All of the employees of
that bus company were communists. When fully awake to the danger
that surrounded us, we called the faithful brethren together and let
them know the plot of these enemies. Oh, how faithful our brethren
were both in prayer and in their attention in those days of danger.
Day after day some of them came early in the morning, all day,
sitting on the verandahs, or walking around the buildings, just to
be there with us. What a strength we felt from their presence, and
from their prayers. At last--early one morning a group of some
twenty men marched into the front yard, and right upon the verandah
of the missionary department, and there, raising their hands
heavenward, they denounced the HOMES in terms strong and ugly. They
had with them then, two of our precious little children that they
bad already kidnapped. After denouncing the HOMES they turned and
rushed off. What could we do--notify the police--ah, no, for one
police was right with them. All we could do was to call on God. Some
of the workers did rush off to the police station, but these men
were there before our brethren could get there, and had turned in a
false report to condemn the HOMES. We were in the hands of ours and
Christ's enemies--the communists. And before night of that day they
had kidnapped four of our darling little children. The next
Sunday--the Communist publication, "Hoy" had a large picture of this
group of men with the first two children they had taken; and the
HOMES were denounced in strong terms, in large letters. Our sky grew
darker with the passing hours, and our only comfort was that we knew
that "underneath were the Everlasting Arms of Our Blessed Lord and
Saviour." Praise our God forever.
Four days later another group came in a large car with a loud
speaker on top. They entered the Boy's Home and were trying to break
down some doors, when we stopped them to await the keys. On entering
the rooms they found nothing but clean well ordered rooms, with the
doors closed to keep the children out of the rooms until time to
enter for their clothes for bathing. Then these seven men went
around onto the verandah of the Missionary department and sat down,
talking in loud voices, and again denouncing the HOMES, and
declaring they were going to destroy those Institutions. We had to
go to the American officials for advice and protection, and had to
get a lawyer to defend our case, as they had a case in court against
us. And we soon learned that our money for the lawyer was lost, and
he was afraid to 4efend us, as he knew what the cost would be to
him. At last we found out clearly that we had no defense from a
human standpoint as all were afraid, so the church just kept crying
out to God, and day after day we had His mighty protection on all
sides. Oh glory be to His matchless name. At this same time a group
of these men entered a man's home to kill him, and finding him out,
they killed his young wife and shot through the baby, and this
infant died a few days later in the hospital. What tragedies we were
then surrounded with--but the Church Prayed--and God continued to
protect us. Several months of this suffering passed. We lost, in
all, ten of our precious children, and had most of our activities in
the city curbed, but as the Church prayed, God stayed the hand of
the enemy.
The year ended with the shadow still over us, but we kept on doing
all possible for souls, and trusted God to bring victory. He brought
it in even a fuller sense than we had expected. Early in January, a
telephone call came from the home of the communists, saying the
School of Instructions was closed, and the students and teachers
gone. They were selling off everything--furniture, bedding, etc., as
fast as possible, to clear things out. They thought since we had an
institution (which they had not had power to destroy--thank God) we
might like to buy some things, and If so, to go over and have first
choice of the things. A group of us went over, and we bought enough
three-decker beds for our Boy's Home, and a lot of blankets,
mattresses, etc., for a very low price. We also bought some other
much-needed pieces of furniture. As we returned home we called all
the children and workers of the Homes together to see what great
things God had done for us. THE COMMUNISTIC TRAINING SCHOOL WAS
GONE--THANK GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYER. Then on the 9th of February we
were talking about the ANNIVERSARY of the Homes which would be the
next day. Formerly this was a happy day for all, but because of the
tremendous cloud that had hung over us so long, and the heavy
expenses it had brought on us, we had made NO preparations for the
day. We were talking about this when the phone rang and someone went
to answer, and returned saying the call was from a watchman over at
that school, and that they had remembered the date of the opening of
Our Homes, and wondered if we would not like to take the children
and workers all over to that place and let them have a good time
playing on the grounds there. They had wonderful grounds, and also
the dining hall was still all intact, as the furniture had not been
sold. We considered it, and accepted the invitation. We called the
teachers whom the government sends us daily and invited them, and
also a number of our ministers and other brethren, and we all went
over and had the joy of triumphing over our foes. As we sat down to
eat dinner we asked the four who were living on the premises to care
for things there, to eat with us, and these poor souls for the first
time in their lives had to bow their heads with us as we thanked God
for the beautiful day, and the good food, and the kindness of those
who had given us the privilege of using those grounds. And we prayed
for God to bless them, and teach them His will. The day closed with
many blessings to all. Praise God, "If our ways please the Lord, He
maketh even our enemies to be at peace with us." I might just say
that the Lord also cleaned out the communist employees from the bus
company, and gave victory. And now in the place of the school, we
have the comfort of having a good dairy farm there, run by quiet
people. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
"The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect
towards Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9
Some years ago while I was working in Missionary work in Cuttack,
India we had a wonderful demonstration of the fulfillment of this
great promise, which I shall relate here.
Our Church of God camp meeting had ended (in Cuttack) and the
brethren from various parts of India were returning to their
different fields of labour. A few of the ministers had remained over
a day or two after the departure of the others, to talk together and
plan some of the activities in their special fields. The day of
departure of these brethren had come. One of this group had been
very seriously ill for some time, and had been brought to the camp
meeting with great care, but trying to get him there for the benefit
of united prayer. God had definitely touched his body, and he was
gaining rapidly, but was still in a very weak condition, so it was
planned that this good brother must be taken back to his home (a
full night's journey) in a good compartment on the train, so he
could have some rest, and also not to endanger his health again. The
compartment was arranged for, and paid for in plenty of time to
secure reservation. The other brethren would go in the same
compartment, although they had no bed.
The morning of the day of their departure arrived, and that morning
all the group who were going had a very unusual burden come on their
hearts; and so did those of us who were remaining behind. So we
prayed very earnestly, asking God to take care of everything for us.
They started at midday, and had only gone a short distance in the
coach, till this burden so increased that they told the driver to
return to the mission house, which he did. As we saw them returning
our burden increased the more, and we all entered again into deep
prayer. They said they just could not understand their feelings—but
after much prayer, they again left for the station. As they reached
there and went to enter the coach assigned to them, to their
amazement they found it completely full, and the passengers showed
by their tickets that they had a right to the compartment. These
passengers had entered the train farther down the line, and then we
learned that the agent at Cuttack had no notice of these passengers
and was not at fault. We knew that nothing could be done about this
situation, so all our brethren could do was to enter a THIRD class
compartment, which offered very bad accommodations for the sick
brother. They committed it all to the Lord, and started their
homeward journey. Being much worn from the heavy work of the camp
meeting, they were soon asleep in spite of poor accommodations, and
knew nothing more until one brother awoke hearing voices. Putting
his head out of an open window, he asked someone standing there
where they were. The man was surprised, and answered, "Man, where
have you been? Sleeping through all this?" The brother then asked,
"Sleeping through all of WHAT?" Then the answer came back, "We have
collided with another train, and many are killed, and scores of
people injured." What a shock! What an awakening to the great
providence of God, and what a surge of gratitude filled our
brethren's hearts, to know God had spared them. Not a scar, not a
bruise. As the ones who were well rushed out of their compartment to
offer what assistance they might be able to render, they discovered
that the compartment in which they should have traveled, was smashed
to pieces, and not a passenger in that compartment was alive. With
sad hearts at what they witnessed, but with hearts melted before God
as they looked on His great power in saving them, they bowed in
grateful praise to Him who was worthy. They knew they were alive
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT INTERVENTION OF THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER.
Yes, the eyes of the Lord do run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to show himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are
perfect towards Him. Bless His dear Holy name forever and forever.
Brethren, it pays to so live in touch with the throne of God that at
any time when in danger, He can send His Holy Spirit to direct us,
and to guide and to warn, and to prepare us for His own
intervention, that we may be protected and helped through the coming
danger. Let us love Him sincerely and trust m Him fully, and He will
never fail us.
"Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven" Exodus
20:22
In 1932 I was working at my office desk in my home in Buena Vista,
Havana, when I heard a knock at the front door, and naturally put my
work aside, and arose to open the door. My desk was in the room just
back of the living room, and a heavy curtain hung between the two
rooms. Just as I arose from the chair, a voice spoke to me directly,
saying, "Do not invite that person in, but open the door, and pass
out to the verandah." The voice was so clear that at once I
recognized it as the voice of the Lord, and definitely obeyed it.
As I raised the curtain to step out, I saw a man standing there who
was an enemy of the TRUTH, and with whom I had had some dealing, and
I knew him to be capable of doing harm. He was a strong Catholic and
was very bitter against us and our work.
On reaching the front door, I did exactly what the Spirit of God had
told me to do; I opened the screen door, and immediately stepped out
on the verandah. As I did this, I saw neighbors sitting out on their
verandahs, both at the side of my house, and also across the street.
Naturally this poor man was surprised, and angered, for he had a
revolver in his pocket to kill me with and had not expected a defeat
like this was. He knew both languages, English and Spanish, and
knowing that the neighbors were all Spanish speaking, he spoke to me
in English. In great anger he said he had come to kill me, and that
he would yet accomplish it if it was the last thing he ever did. I
quietly stayed outside until his anger cooled a bit and he left. One
of the neighbors saw the revolver and reported it, and the police
gave him warning, and watched for some days. The church prayed for
God to take care of the whole thing, which He did, soon removing
this man to another country in his work. Thank God, again I was made
to realize more than ever how marvelous are the ways of the Lord.
In Exodus 20:22 we read, "Ye have seen that I have talked with you
from heaven," and although God was there speaking to Moses, He still
speaks to His trusting children and guides them, and saves them from
the hand of their enemies, and proves that He was not only the God
of the Israelites, but that in a very definite way HE IS OUR GOD—and
He does care for us at all times. In olden times God made a promise
with the children of Israel that if they should forsake all else,
and cleave to Him and obey ALL His commandments and keep ALL His
Statutes, He would then be their God, and would care for them. And
for us today--He has made the same promise--that if we keep His
commandments, AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT, 1
John 4:22--He will be with us, and answer our prayers and keep us.
His eyes are on the sparrow, and he sees it's fall--then how much
more will He care for those who really love and serve Him
wholeheartedly. Praise the Lord.
These experiences that I am writing about in this book are not
ordinary experiences that come to the cold professor of religion, or
that come in the life of the careless Christian. If we desire God's
protecting care, we must by our devotions and our consecration prove
to Him that we are His indeed and that our lives are really to be
poured out for His glory. But with this close, devoted living, then
comes into the life a depth of spirituality that keep the soul in
vital touch with heaven, and it is then easy to hear from above when
the need comes upon us. Thank God for His wonderful plan for us. Let
us live worthily, and reach out more and more for that intimate life
with our Lord that assures us of His constant companionship in life. |
