Notes from the church lady: Despite man's efforts, God in control

One of the weaknesses of man is his desire to be in control of everything. It is disconcerting when variables come into play making the outcome uncertain.

Some men think they are smart enough to control their environment. Electric lights are man's attempt to dispel darkness. This is only true if one has enough batteries, a cord long enough, or a power source nearby.

Man thinks he has altered his environment through heaters or air conditioners. Comfort is a wonderful thing until there is a power failure. When a devastating storm strikes and the power goes out the only alternative is to endure it.

One of the more humorous attempts of man is the attempt to save time. We are surrounded by time saving devices designed to make life simpler. Do they? When was the last time a microwave gave you more minutes in your day?

How about daylight saving time? Isn't it true the hour you gain on March 10 will be lost this fall? How does that save daylight?

I am all for leaving the clock alone year round. While it is true we need standard time for various parts of our daily lives, some of us wish time were left alone.

The argument for saving time according to some originated with Benjamin Franklin. Others state patriotic reasons to conserve energy during World War I with the U.S. joining other countries in 1918. Not everyone is part of this twice-a-year occurrence as Arizona is one state remaining on standard time.

The Lord is the author of time. It was He who divided time into day and night. In Genesis 1:5 we read "God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night."

While our activities are sometimes out of synch with division of day and night, it continues the best way to spend a 24-hour period. They start when we are born and end when we die.

I found two references to the Lord altering time. The first is in Joshua 10 when the Israelites defeated the Amorites in battle. In Joshua 10:12-13 it says, "Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel ... Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies..."

There was no doubt the Lord was in control that day.

Another time the Lord altered time was in the days of Hezekiah (Isaiah 38) when he was so ill he thought he would surely die. He prayed to the Lord and the Lord gave him 15 more years. As a sign from the Lord the shadow on the sun dial went back 10 degrees and then returned back to normal before the sun went down.

While man tries to control his own destiny, his environment and even time, it is always the Lord who has the last word. When we listen to the Lord and follow His leading, we can be sure our lives will go according to His purpose under the heaven.

Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at:

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