Calming storms

Snow Storms and Celebrations

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Our first home had a spectacular view from the top of a high ridge in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. However nice as that view was in Summer, we paid double for it in Winter. Can you guess where the snow piled up in drifts several feet deep? Yep you got it -right outside our front door!

Then in 1993 a snow storm attacked our state and we went through 3 days of everything being shut down and the roads being closed. But we discovered the sweet reality that as long as our wood supply was stacked safe and dry in the garage and Nancy had flour for baking bread we simply turned that storm into a time of celebration!

God offers us the same sweet reality and much more in today’s verse. Notice first He doesn’t say that storms won’t attack us but that when they do He has a blessing in store. We can trust Him because He is totally and perfectly prepared for whatever comes. The warmth of His love and His Living Bread from Heaven will always be in abundant supply and He will raise up a banner turning our greatest trials into our greatest celebration!

He Knows My Name!

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But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:2-3 ESV As we approached, the little flock of sheep crossed the small gravel road and huddled together with […]

He Knows My Name!

I am reposting this from my nursing home blog as it seems to be something important to remember in the middle of the chaos. Jesus is calling our name and He knows right where we are.

Who is He to you?

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They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”  Mark 4:41 NIV

“Who is this?” Peter, Andrew, John and James asked. Even though they had watched water turned to wine, the blind made to see, and bread multiplied. As the wind and waves became a great calm they suddenly realized that they really didn’t know who Jesus was at all.

grayscale photo of body of waves

Photo by Matt Hardy on Pexels.com

Some others also asked His name like.  Jacob who was met one night by a stranger that wrestled with him till morning. Somewhere in those weary hours Jacob began to realize that the one who struggled with him was God’s angel; so he asked, “ “What is your name?” But  the one he thought an angel answered, “Why do you ask my name?” and then He blessed Jacob and then changed Jacob’s name to Israel.

Moses at the burning bush; when he was called also asked, “When the people ask what is your name what shall I tell them?” and God answered him saying; “I am that I am! Tell them that I am sent you!”

Our God showed himself as Shepherd; to David and as wisdom to Solomon. He was the one who walks through fire with Daniel’s friends and as the coming Messiah to Isaiah.  But does it really matter who He He was in their lives? Who is He in yours? Is He just the storm calmer or the worker of miracles? Is He a wrestler who refuses to let you go or a flame and a voice that calls you to set others free? What will count at the end of the day is if like Mary at the tomb; that when you meet Him; He calls your name and you fall at His feet and can call Him master and Lord!