STORM THREAT

 “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, revive me in your word.”

(Ps119:37 HISB)

The storm raged. Trees bent over by the strong winds – a worrisome sight. I got a weather alert phone call warning, “Be careful, find shelter, tornados touched down nearby.” Rain beat against my windows. A loud thunderous clap, as a lightning zap, struck nearby, and then total silence and darkness. Power was out. My house was as dead and dark as a tomb inside with the unrelenting storm ravaging outside. Lightning ruled the skies as I hurried to the basement.

Sitting in the light of my flashlight, I wondered how long I’d be without power; if my freezer would stay cold? Would the basement flood without the sump pump running? Was a tornado nearby? I couldn’t check the weather station on TV because I have no power, no computer connection.

Another lightning flash and thunder clap startled me. “Oh Lord,” I whined. I looked at the light my flashlight produced and recalled what Jesus said. “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 RSV).

All my creature comforts were disrupted: my computer, my food, my home. What would this situation be like if my connection to Jesus were unplugged. A new horrible definition of panic would rule my world. Fortunately, the Light of the world is here and I’m not alone.

Let me hear your voice and feel your presence. That is my prayer, Lord. Things come and go, my love and connection to You remains firm. Thank you.  Amen

©2013-Lois Gosley

Mind Your Own Business

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:21‑22 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but when I’m in church, an annoying habit plagues me. You might ask what kind of bad habit one could have in church. There are many, but my big one is listening for other people.

It starts innocently: maybe someone I know struggles with a situation, addiction, or hurtful attitude. I want to help. My problem is that when the pastor speaks, I filter the message through their situation rather than actually listening to God, who is speaking to me. It is a subtle sin, brilliantly disguised by the enemy to keep me from seeking God’s will for my own life.

Peter wanted to know what would happen to the Apostle John. He asked this question right after Jesus had instructed him three times to feed His sheep, indicated that Peter would face a martyr’s death, and told him to follow. Surprisingly, Peter still felt the need to compare his own situation with John’s rather than focusing on Christ’s call to him. Jesus’ response was, frankly, “mind your own business.”

How do I tell when I am listening for someone else and not for me? Thoughts like, if only So‑and‑So could hear this, or this message would be perfect for So‑and‑So, send me on mental rabbit trails. I imagine what God wants for them. All the while, I miss His voice saying, “You must follow me.”
Lord, your ways and your thoughts go so far beyond my own. Help me mind my own business, trusting you to work in others just as you do in me.

© 2013 Katherine A. Fuller

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

Years ago when a storm came up, I went outside on the porch to watch as angry clouds sent down large raindrops that bounced off the ground so hard that they literally jumped up before hitting the ground a second time. It was amazing.

I looked up into the tree beside the porch, it's branches swaying wildly in the wind. There, on the near end of the branch was a fairly large nest. In the nest a robin stood with outstretched wings, covering her young, protecting them. The rain came down so hard but she stood her ground, hunkering down as the wind grew stronger. How caring and brave that mother bird was concerning her offspring. She endured until the end of the storm, protecting her young from the gale.

How like our Lord that bird was. His blood covers our sins, protecting us from eternal death. He endured the slings and arrows of Satan, who scorned Him until His blood spilled out, covering the sins of the entire world from Genesis to Revelation. Satan could not move Him, for He was anchored on the cross of redemption with Jehovah God backing Him up.

Have mercy on me, my God---for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1. We are invited to take cover beneath the wings of our Creator when trouble overtakes us.

Father, our trust is in You. Today we have Your assurance that we will be protected if we rely on Your Word to guide us each day. Amen.

(c) 2013 Evelyn B. Ryan

Cat-Mail

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ( ESV)

One night, back when we used dial-up Internet service, I heard the modem connect in another room. Since I was the only one home, this seemed a bit odd, as did the sound of the keyboard.

As it turns out, one of the cats was sitting on the desk paw-typing. She had connected to the Internet, apparently by using the enter key on an active icon; opened the email program, the same way; and started a new cryptic email message, addressed to someone in my contact list. 

Laughing, I decided she needed her own email account, for I didn’t want her to misrepresent me by emailing who-knows-what with my name on it. I couldn’t afford for a business associate to receive a message that contradicted my principles. 

Far more serious are the messages we send through our words and actions, messages that contradict God’s principles. I get impatient with telephone customer service that lacks an understanding of the words “customer” and “service.” In turn, my tone sends a message that misrepresents my Father.

I get behind some day-dreaming driver who is doing 30 mph in a 45 mph zone. My eyes throw darts while my head shakes in disgust. The string trimmer line uncoils for the umpteenth time, and I forget the motor is no longer loud enough to muffle my words. I roll my eyes when someone ahead of me in line isn’t prepared for his turn.

Here I was worried about how the cat’s email might misrepresent me!

Oh, God, I’m sorry for the times I send messages that contradict your principles. Help me to represent you in my words and actions. Amen.

©2013, Nance