August 15, 2000
Caught in the storm
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”
Psalm 46:1-3
I remember as a kid being on a small boat at the lake with friends and a storm came up on us quickly. Maybe we weren't paying attention to the signs of it headed our way but nonetheless it was on us.
We had to find the shoreline and run for shelter.
Have you ever been outside and suddenly find yourself caught in a storm?
You gather yourself the best you can and you begin to run toward shelter. Even though the storm is leaving its mark on you, you find shelter, you find a place of refuge.
As you stand under the shelter you catch your breath, breathing deeply, you feel the wet clothes, wipe the water from your face and smile a big smile and give out a big “phew! That was crazy!”
The storm was bigger than you thought but at least now you are in a better place..but then it hits you...where are your friends?
Your smile turns to concern.
You begin to look into the heavy rain hoping to see them running to shelter too, but you don’t.
Where did they go?
Did they fall?
Are they hurt?
Your mind races.
Your heart hurts for them.
You want them to find shelter, to find refuge as well.
The storms of life can be overwhelming at times. It may feel like your world is falling apart, like the waves of the ocean are tossing you around and you feel like you are drowning. I pray that if you are in that place that you will see the hope of Christ, that God is there to rescue you and pull you safely unto Himself. That He is a very present help in your time of trouble.
But I also hope to remind that your friends may not be there. Your co-workers may not be there. Your family may not be there.
The weight of the world may be on them and they are crying for help but they feel like no one sees them.
Our world is full of hurting people.
As I stood in the rain looking back out into the storm my heart moved for my friends, hoping they would find refuge.
My personal joy of finding refuge was mirrored with concern for their lack of.
Pray today with that same sense of urgency for your friends to find refuge in God, that in their trouble they will be overwhelmed by the peace of God and turn to Him for help. That they to would see Him as a very present help in their time of trouble.
Jesus was moved with compassion when He looked at the crowds of people. He taught us to love others as He loved us.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Pray for your neighbor likewise. 🙏
For those young and old with FOMO, (fear of missing out) you are not alone...even if you feel like you are. But first, for the people who don’t have fomo, good for you. Enjoy your Sudoku. For my fomo friends though, as you scroll through Facebook, Instagram or begin to fill your mind with another Netflix series hoping it will make you feel connected...there is something you should know. Most people right now are not really doing anything either!! Yes there may be something happening but, most people actually go to work or school, get some food with family and sometimes a friend (don’t fret), come home, do some stuff that’s got to be done, like wash dishes, fold clothes, practice, do homework, go to the bathroom (is it a natural part of the day), play with their phone, think about “what’s up?” maybe even ask “what’s up?” Sit on the couch, get lazy (or work out), get more food, sit more, have a pointless conversation, drink coffee, bathroom more, go to the store because they need to, go to the store because they want to, play with their phone again, text a friend, wonder what everyone else is doing, be disciplined to do what they need to do, play with their phone again, get sleepy, think about how they probably missed out on something, or possibly just enjoyed the day God gave them, enjoyed the people He put on their path, got a good meal, got in bed, pondered their day, and fell asleep. Sound familiar? We all want to feel like we are “liked”, included, and loved. The truth is: - You are liked by God but probably not by all people. It’s ok, really. Be at peace with that and with them. - You are included in the gospel . God so loved the world. That includes you. -You are loved. God demonstrated His love to you (yes you) by Jesus dying on the cross for your sins and He proved it through His glorious resurrection. He lives to intercede for you and to give you joy and peace and abundant life. He listens to you and cares for you! -And He has set up His church to be a group of people that are bound together by what God has done and the common faith we have in Him, not by things or events. So actually instead of thinking about the temporary things you think you may be missing out on here, think of and be thankful for, what you have been given by God for your life here. Its abundantly amazing and so rich with His blessings!! Again, we all like to be a part of something, I get it, enjoy it when you can but don’t sit and be pouty and afraid of missing out anymore for a temporary event...if you have chosen to follow Christ you are part of “the gathering of gatherings” and its coming soon. You are invited to a place that “eye has not seen nor ear has heard” the wonderful things that He has prepared for all those who love Him, including YOU! So don’t lose heart. You are not alone. Love the life God gave you and don’t let the devil, people, or your own thoughts bring you down. Have faith. Encourage others with the love God has shown you and you will overcome FOMO. Because God says you are included!!! “I am convinced that the present sufferings of this time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us” Romans 8:18 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Jesus said to them, "Let us go to the other side of the lake" -Luke 8:22 The boat was being tossed back and forth as despair and total destruction loomed, yet He was asleep. “Why are you keeping silent during this most difficult season Lord?” Have you ever asked that of Him? We see the storm and it’s effects. We see the waves are not stopping, their constant roll tossing the boat of our lives around like it was nothing. We feel the winds of uncertainty coming hard from what feels like every direction and the splashes of water and mist serve as a personal reminder as they splash against your face. And He is asleep.... “Save us Lord we are perishing!” “Have you brought us out here to die?” “Why have you forsaken me?” These words come from the scared, broken, desperate, hearts of men who have come before you...you are not alone. Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” And He got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and it became perfectly calm... Our natural tendency of fight or flight keeps our minds racing. We want to see and feel results, believing God can do all things, but we wonder if maybe He does not particularly care or notice much about our personal situation. But the opposite is at work. He knows exactly what’s going on and why it’s going on. He has seen your trouble and He knows exactly what to do and when to do it. He has heard your cry. Trust that. Keep the faith knowing that He is on mission to reconcile the world back to Himself....that includes you and your story. There are no storms that He has not seen the beginning or end of. He can calm the wind and the seas at a word. Take a step of faith. He told His disciples that they were going to the other side. He knew the storm was part of the journey, we should know that too. Let Him take you to the place He wants to take you. Even through the storm. Trust Him, He knows what to do, allow His words to calm your spirit and know that He is fighting for you. “For those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” Isaiah 40:31 Further Reading Luke 8:22-25
•Do something Not long ago I was riding along with a friend and he began to tell me a story about his hardworking dad. He spoke proudly of his dad. He knew that his dad sacrificed for the family and loved and served his community well. His dad was building a good name, a good reputation, and gathering some treasure for now and the days ahead. He loved his fellow man and it showed. He was the backbone of America. But as I was listening to this son talk of his dad, it made a turn and it didn’t seem to end as I had hoped. Again, the son loved his father greatly and was very proud of him but as he continued to talk of his dad, his eyes got teary and he got a little choke in his throat as he said; “Daddy said, one day we are going to do something...but it never happened.” His dad had good thoughts and dreams but he kept on working and he died a young death, before he ever got around to “doing something” with his son. I could see in his sons eyes the thoughts of what could have been but will never be. I’m a doer. I have prided myself on how hard I work, how I have been able to get many tasks accomplished and serve a lot of people As an American and "good christian" I have felt the influence of a performance driven culture. But after a season of long hours, going fast, and the fulfillment of many roles, burnout got me. God slowed me down and has allowed me to rest and to re-evaluate. In that time of rest God gave me an opportunity to hear from Him and the stories of my fellow man. He allowed me to see how easy our focus can shift from loving God, ourselves, and our own family, His way, to giving God lip service, pleasing ourselves, and falling to the lure of meeting the expectations of everyone else, all of which sadly leads to neglecting the ones you love the most. The day my friend shared his story, I took it to heart. I told the man that I would be leaving work early and taking my kids to see a movie that they wanted to see. It was something and it was good. As the movie ended I looked across the row to see my son and my two daughters all smiling, enjoying a moment with dad, and God reminded me of my best work. Gods word says to "redeem the time because the days are evil" Ephesians 5:16 Moses asked God to "teach us to number our days so we can gain a heart of wisdom"- Psalm 90:12 What are you working for and for whom are you working? What’s keeping you from “doing something”? Work hard as unto the Lord, but try not to leave any regrets in your life or as I learned this day, don’t leave regrets in someone else life. Don’t make empty promises. Make a plan and enjoy the fruit of your labor with the ones you love. "Do something"