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For
two Canadian boys, Mike and A.J. Kolla of Alberta, their father's prayers
were answered as they were caught in a mountain blizzard. Mike and A.J.
had been skiing on Schweitzer Mountain in North Idaho when the wind picked
up gusting up to 70 miles an hour. The temperature dropped to 20 F but the
wind made it feel much colder.
Mike, 15,
and A.J., 13, missed snowed-in trail signs, became lost and, realizing their
fate built a quinzee, that is a snow shelter, for protection using pine
tree branches for a carpet. They clutched onto each other for the 'will'
and heat to get through the night, praying for strength to survive the long,
harsh night.
Volunteer searchers found the cold, wet boys trudging
in waist-deep snow, three miles from the lodge; they were tired, hungry,
and disoriented, but unharmed more than 26 hours after they were reported
missing. Their father, Dr. Kolla, responded, "From our prayers, we know
have an awesome Creator who obviously has more in store for the lives of
these boys."
We
may be fortunate not to be lost in some blizzard but there are those who
have become disoriented in relationships, in personal problems, or addiction.
In the blizzard of life, they lose perspective, wish to escape, and see
no reason to exist. Mike and A.J. needed each other to maintain the will
or resolve to live. For them, hypothermia and the need for irresistible
sleep could have made them never wake up. |
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For
all of us, as we encounter our night, a long seductive arm beckons us
to secumb to our weaknesses and demand that we escape and follow that
flickering candle of false hope. Yet, that candle quickly extinguishes
in the next wind gust. In the course of time the light of dawn reveals
the flimsy shelter we have made. When hyper tension takes place is, escaping
life's problems is futile. Turning to God in prayer, like Dr. Kolla, enables
us to see that God does have a plan for each of us. Jeremiah 29:11-13
says it aptly, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper
and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Then you will
call upon me and I will listen to you if you seek me with your whole heart."
 A
Suggested Prayer:
"God, I thank You for this blizzard story that shows Your
faithfulness. Do you know my story? I share it right now with You
... Now forgive my wrong directions I have made. Forgive me for missing
trail signs. I know that you are an awesome Creator who obviously
has more in store for my life. I give you my heart so that You can
now start to map out the plans for my life. Yes, I need a future and
a hope with You. Amen!" |
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