Our “In Spite Of” God

It was a disappointment for sure. Our family looks forward all year to the Fourth of July. We belong to a small community of old trailers (like ours) and new homes that is called the Athen’s Boat Club. It sits on Lake Lanier and every Fourth of July we all celebrate big time. There is a fishing tournament for the kids. There is a golf cart parade and we all see how we can out-do each other by decorating our carts with the most crepe paper and American flags. We hang flags and banners on the cottage porches and pavilion. We feast on barbeque and beans, slaw, cornbread, pies and cakes together and then of course the day concludes with a massive fireworks display which is enjoyed from the myriad of boats. It is a big deal and a whole lot of fun.

The grandkids are old enough now to really take part, in fact take over. They come prepared with banners and hats and more flags and streamers for the cart. The Hughes clan came from Alabama two days early so they could help us “get ready” and enjoy some lake and boat time.

But then the weather forecast began to look ominous, and as the day drew closer we knew there was no way our traditional Fourth would take place. The rain began on Monday and it poured. Tuesday was the same. Wednesday there was a small break and so the Hughes and Harleys optimistically packed a picnic lunch and took off in the boat to explore the northern tip of Lake Lanier, some five miles away. As we approached our destination the temperature dropped significantly and then the rain hit us with great force. This was not your average rain, but gale force torrents. We flew home as fast as the boat could go and arrived drenched and freezing.

The Cavins joined us for an early breakfast on the morning of the Fourth. This year Sydney (age 13) had her outfit picked out four weeks in advance and had designed each granddaughter’s hair style for the parade, so she arrived with her curling iron in hand. All the boys brought their fishing poles and plenty of fishing gear. But then news spread that the parade was canceled and there would be no fishing tournament that day. So we watched the rain. Then we ate barbeque in the rain (some things just have to go on no matter what!). And then we spent the afternoon running outside when there was a break and running inside when the rain started up again. And then the fireworks were canceled. No, nothing was the same and I was so disappointed.

Later that evening when the day was over, the Cavins packed up their clan to drive back to their home and beds. It was at this point that Sydney wrapped her arms around me and said, “You know Mimi, it wasn’t what we expected but in spite of the rain it was a fabulous day!”

I have thought about those three small words since then. These past few weeks we have had to proof the twenty- four teaching DVDs for the new Be Amazing Bible Study and Practical Guide. There is not one teacher who is satisfied with her presentation. Oh, it is not just that we don’t like our hair or shoes, or the way we stand or sit. No, we can often be disappointed in ourselves or when things are not what we expected, nor as perfect as we wished. Each one of us is critical of our own work. But then there are those three words…“in spite of”… and they make all the difference.

So in spite of our weakness, in spite of our imperfections, in spite of our lack of ability, in spite of our clothes or looks or demeanor or inflections, or gestures…in spite of …there is GOD! And we have found through filming The Amazing Collection and Invincible Love/Invisible War, that God can use our small efforts “in spite of” all that may disappoint us in ways that we could not have imagined. He can take those small loaves and can multiply them for His glory and His glory alone...“in spite of”!

Matthew 14:17 “We have here only five loaves and two fishes.”

Matthew 14:20 “And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces,

twelve full baskets.”