Chapter V

God Our Refuge and Strength

"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." Psalm 125:1

My thoughts go back to a scene I never wished to have repeated. Our little girl, eight years old, and my nephew, four years and I were crossing the intersection at University Avenue and College, with the green light. We had reached the centre of the street and there we were left stranded by so many cars making the left hand turn. The light changed to red and our situation became worse.

Two street cars from opposite directions came along and both passed us at the same time. We were standing in what I have heard is called the "Devil strip," the narrow lane between two car lines. As they approached I said to the children, "Don't move." I had each of them by the hand. You may be confident that I sent up an earnest plea for Divine protection.

Those two children never moved, never made a sound. They stood as still as statues. Bless their hearts!

It was a fearful experience and might have been a fatality had not our Heavenly Father encircled us in His arms. The children did not express any fear at the time or afterwards.

There was gladness and thanksgiving.

Many of us must have wondered at some time how level crossing accidents can happen. Years ago one cause was impressed upon me very strongly.

My husband, our little girl and I were driving along a country road. My husband was a very careful driver, taking no chances. That day, he and I were deep in a business discussion. That, in itself, was necessary but not to the extent that we became engaged in it. We became so engrossed that we approached a level railroad crossing, view unobstructed, and we did not see or hear the train that was coming nearer, whistle blowing frantically. It was not until Blanche cried out, "Daddy, daddy, the train is coming." Then we realized a terrible accident had been averted.

How many times, though we think we are careful, we become involved to such an extent, that the adversary bears down upon us. He steals our time, takes away our concern about important things and sometimes the victory is lost.

In these days of compromise with the world and unbelievers it behooves God's children to be on the alert, to take a strong stand, or we might fail God as did the man of God when he listened to the old prophet of Bethel, 1 Kings 13. Even as Balaam did, Numbers 22:7-9.

"Abundantly above all that we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20

The last few years of my husband's life we had a business of our own. We sought help and guidance from the Lord daily. I could not take time nor space to write of the numerous answers to prayer.

I'll relate one. It was during the days of "Depression." Money came in for our immediate expenses but there was a license fee of one hundred dollars to be paid. We just never had enough for that. We went to the License Bureau to explain so they wouldn't think we were evading. They asked us to give a post-dated cheque. My husband did not like post-dated cheques. However, we decided to give one and trust God for the money.

Week after week went by, still no money for that cheque. The day before it came due, my husband was out, a stranger came into the store. He looked around, asked the price of an article. When told, said, "I shall take it." Then he looked at another, asked the same question and I gave him the answer. Then he asked the price of a third article and then said he would take it. He gave me a cheque that more than covered what we needed.

My husband came home, I told him and he wondered if the cheque were good. "Certainly it is. God has answered prayer," I replied.

"All I have needed Thy Hand hath provided, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto Me!" T.O.C.

We had fifteen precious years together then suddenly my husband took very ill. It was before the miracle drugs. I had not attended church for a year on account of illness. A new pastor had come. He visited me once.

It was Palm Sunday, the second day of my husband's illness. It had been the most anxious day in my life and the beginning of ten such days. No one knew of this illness except my family and some neighbours.

Sunday night I answered the ring of the door bell. There stood the pastor, I had seen only once before, with flowers. I said, "Oh Mr. F..., surely God sent you, it is my husband who is ill." He answered, "Surely God did. You have been on my mind the whole evening and when the ladies said they were sending you flowers, I said, 'I shall take them.' I had three other places to go."

To me that was a message from the Lord that He would be with me during the days to follow. One day, I found myself thanking God that He was going to heal my husband. I held to that but on Easter Sunday, 1936, as he was lying in the hospital, unconcious, I looked down at his dear sick face and something went right through me. I said, "Oh God, not my will, but Thine be done." He went to be with the Lord a half hour later. I said then it was best. God knew best and some time I would know why.

In recent years I have seen men who have been in wheel chairs, ten and fifteen years, unable to talk. Others blind for years, others in agonizing pain, still others with the intellect gone. I can thank God my dear one has been with Him.

It has been a blessing in disguise for me. I was drawn into a richer, deeper communion with the Lord. Weak and stumbling but steadily learning to rely on Christ alone for help, moment by moment. It has been a school of testing, discipline and blessing.

"Wonderful name He bears,
Wonderful crown He wears
Wonderful blessings His triumphs afford:
Wonderful Calvary, Wonderful grace for me,
Wonderful love of my wonderful Lord" A.H.A.

The Voice of the Holy Spirit guided through the Word or the still small Voice. There were times I did not heed, did not listen intently only later to regret and seek His forgiveness and receive it.

We can say, "He is sweeter as the years go by." We can say with Paul, "Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect." Philippians 3:12. Paul is not speaking of salvation but of pressing on toward the goal, as in a race: and that perfection will not be reached until we are with the Lord in glory.

C. H. MacIntosh wrote, "But I long to know more of His own Precious Person, His work and His glory. Then oh! to live for Him: to labour, testify, preach and pray, and all for Christ, and by the working of His grace in our hearts."