I know this

never happens to you, but it is certainly happening to me

more and more these days as time goes on. I misplace

things or they "disappear" right before my

eyes, even if I'm standing there working on them.

To make a long story short,

I misplaced a set of keys that were very important to our

household. We literally turned the house upside down and

sideways several times looking for them. Dee and I even

prayed and prayed that God would allow us to find the

keys.

But, in losing them, we

found something far greater than the keys. We both lead

very busy lives, as most of us do today, and after

retracing our steps over and over, I finally, out of

frustration, grabbed the Fayette phone book to look for a

locksmith. I went down the listings and my eye caught the

"Always Safe Lock Company."

When I read he words

"Always Safe," something inside me just smiled

and made me feel glad. The words made me think of our

heavenly father and the fact that even though at the time

of salvation we are free from the penalty of sin and free

from the power of sin, we will still have trials in life.

One day we will be free

from the "trials" of sin in Heaven. I called

the "Always Safe Lock Co." and a very pleasant

and reassuring voice (Barbie) listened to my demise and

said that her husband would be right over after

completing another "lockout." In a very short

time, a very friendly man showed up with a pleasant smile

and a heart the size of Texas.

Anything having to do with

something mechanical has always interested me so I stood

around and watched this master locksmith exercise his

talented craft. Within minutes he not only opened the

locked area, but made me a spare key. I naturally invited

him to our church and Lennie Dunn is now attending.

For some reason, it makes

me feel extra secure to have someone sitting in the

congregation from the "Always Safe Lock Co."

Lennie and his lovely wife Barbie have two beautiful twin

daughters, April and Aimee, whom I taught in school at

Fayette County High. As I said earlier, even though we

get "right " with God through Christ, trials

and tribulation still get us "locked out" at

times.

We must always remember

that ultimately the believer in Christ wins in the end,

either in this life or the next. A friend sent me

something that is just too precious to not share about

trials and tribulations.

"The carpenter I hired

to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a

rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an

hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient

pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he

sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me

in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front

door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the

tips of the branches with both hands.

After opening the door, he

underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was

wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children

and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward, he walked me to my

car. We passed the tree, and my curiosity got the better

of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble

tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having

troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles

don't belong in the house with my wife and the children.

So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I

come home. Then in the morning, I pick them up again.

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come

out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly

as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Psalm 30:5 states:

"For His anger endureth but a moment; in his favor

is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh

in the morning."

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon

is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC), a

substitute school teacher in the Fayette County School

System, and a former Army chaplain. The church is

currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across

from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer

line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]