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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



Life Lines

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39


Remember the childhood game of Hide and Seek? You run and hide from the person designated as the seeker. God’s Word teaches us nothing and no one is able to hide from the eyes or mind of God.

Last May 26, 2013 at 4:30 a.m. a Nigerian cook, named Harrison Odjegba Okene, aboard a tugboat in the Atlantic Ocean got to experience the all-seeing eye, never failing memory, and listening ear of our Lord God Almighty regarding his whereabouts. At that hour Harrison’s tugboat gave a sudden lurch, keeled over, and sank 100 feet to the ocean bottom. Clad in his underwear in very cold water, Harrison found an air pocket that would be his “home” of dwindling oxygen and ever colder water for 72 hours.

Harrison said in his interview to the newspaper, Nation:  “I started calling on the name of God … I started reminiscing on the verses I read before I slept. I read the Bible from Psalm 54 to 92. My wife had sent me the verses to read that night when she called me before I went to bed.”

By the time he was saved, relatives had already been told the sailors were dead. His situation was discovered by humans when a diver was sent down to assess the situation, locate, and recover bodies.

Harrison’s story of his Divine Miracle touched me so profoundly I read Psalms 54 to 92 to see the verses he reminisced about in his helpless state. I was overwhelmed at the numerous pleas of helplessness in watery situations and God’s loving rescue.

Due to my limited space I will only use three. Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold.  I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me (Psalm 69:1-2). Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught. But, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress and He hears my voice (Psalm 55:1-2). “Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation (Psalm 91:14-16).

I challenge you to read what Harrison read (Psalms 54 to 92) the night of the tragedy and what he reminisced on in his helpless state.

Share God’s Word with others----they are life lines!!!!!!

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word.

Claudia Jackson

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