Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”
The eternal God is your refuge and His everlasting arms are under you... Deuteronomy 27:33a NLT
On Friday nights, when our children were small and we wanted to go out, we used to trade baby-sitting duties with another couple. Sometimes they would take our two rambunctious boys, and on others we would watch their three active girls. Kathy and Susie, the two older girls, were easy to watch and when their bedtime came, they generally lay down and slept after a good-night prayer and kiss. But little Debbie, wanted nothing to do with going to sleep that way. For some reason she would only be quiet if I picked her up and gently rocked her as I walked back and forth in our apartment. Then slowly she would doze off, and I could sit down in my easy chair. But anytime I tried to quietly lay her down on the bed, to sleep, the very second her tiny body touched the comforter, she would wake up and begin fussing. Then with a sigh, I would pick her back up again and hold her close until she went back to sleep. Now, God may have everlasting arms, but I do not! Let me tell you, that as much as I loved little Debbie, I was never so glad to see Ken and Linda when they came to pick up their kids!
Those long-ago memories still give me a chuckle and remind me of my own relationship with God. He prepares me for many things, but often, just like my little friend I am fearful and feel unready for them. I want to feel those everlasting arms holding and rocking me all the time. God has promised to never leave us, and yet there are times He would like us to trust Him enough to just lie down and rest a while. But He is also a patient Father, knowing our weaknesses and fears, and when we cry out, He comes and again with those everlasting arms, picks us up and holds us. What a comfort to know that whatever we are going through, we can always count on His everlasting arms and know that one day in His perfect time they will carry us all the way home!
I do hope you enjoy hearing again this simple rendering of the old hymn which we sang at Life Care this week. Have a blessed weekend everybody!
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 7:25 ESV
Today’s verse is part of the story Jesus told of two neighbors: one had built on a rock; the other on sand. For both men, the weather was the same. Rain fell, flood waters rose, and the wind beat on their houses. Their two homes had the same windows and doors, same flooring, and even the same roof. The only difference was the foundation. One was laid directly on the sandy soil. It might have been a quick build, because everything was level, the footers were easy to dig and before you knew it that man’s home was finished. The builders of the second home, decided to dig down far deeper in that sandy soil until finally they hit sold rock. Then slowly, but surely, they built back up from that footing, to even reach ground level. Both neighbors seemed happy with their new homes. But then one morning, dark clouds rolled in, and thunder echoed in the distance. Both men headed home, shut the door, and covered the windows. Rain fell all day and that night, both men drifted off to sleep in their beds. But sometime during the night, something terrible happened. The river not far from their doorsteps began to rise and water flooded their homes, and the wind turned from a gentle breeze into a howling tempest. Both men and their families fled to higher ground to stay with friends. They all shivered through the night, wondering what the morning would hold. By dawn, the storm had passed and the two neighbors headed down the path to their street. The man whose foundation had been laid on the rock discovered quite a mess. Mud was everywhere, some of their clothing and furniture had been ruined by the water, but thankfully, their house was standing. Perhaps thinking that things weren’t so bad after all, the other man headed to his home. As he walked down the street and turned the corner, he gasped in shock as he saw the pile of loose boards, shingles, and other debris where their home had once proudly stood.
None of us skate through this life without a devastating storm or two. Jesus tells us that our outcome won’t be because of how much work we put in to building our homes. All that matters is whether we have put in our faith in Jesus not by where we attend church, but by whether we have built our foundation on the promises of God and trusted Jesus all through the storm.
praise2worshipdotnet 
You must be logged in to post a comment.