A Calm After the Storm

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." - Jeremiah 32:17

On Day 1 of VBS this year, we learned about God's power over nature.  The verse above was our verse for that day.  Don't get me wrong, I know God has power over nature; but I never really stopped to think about it until today.

A HUGE, thundering storm made its way into Morristown today.  Thunder, lightning...the works.  It even caused our power to go off in the middle of church service (which made for an interesting time..ha ha).  What I didn't know, was that afterwards, outside, God was showing His handiwork in the sky.  Apparently, following this billowing storm, a glorious rainbow filled the sky over Morristown. 

The rainbow that appeared in the sky over Morristown following today's storm 

Remember when God first "premiered" the rainbow?  In Genesis 9, following the great flood in which only Noah and his family and those animals on his ark survived, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a covenant.  God said, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you  and all living creatures of every kind.  Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kin on the earth." - Genesis 9:13-16. 

Due to the evil that was present on the earth, God showed His power over nature as He destroyed everything on earth with the great flood.  After the hardship was over, however, God again showed His power...but this time in a very different way.  This time, His power was shown through a multi-colored painting etched in the clear, blue sky.  This heavenly painting (aka rainbow, for those of you lost in my imagery...LOL) was to be a promise for Noah, his family, and his descendants that He would never again destroy the earth by water.  A deeper truth here is that this rainbow also serves as a reminder that God keeps His promises.  His promises are true and can be trusted.

Today, somebody needed to be reminded of His promises - His promise that He is ever-present in our time of need - His promise that everything will be okay - His promise that Jesus loves us and will take care of us.  And today in Morristown, God's promises were remembered - through the display of a glorious rainbow that filled the sky.

I know God's promises are true.  I know God reveals Himself through His Word and through our circumstances. I also know that many times God speaks through nature to get our attention, but I've only ever thought about it in a negative way (like earthquakes or tsunamis) where there is despair and agony.  It was just really cool today, to see after the storm how God spoke HIS PROMISE, HIS TRUTH through nature by showing us His rainbow.

Truly there was a sweet calm, after the storm.

Flooded with Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – Jesus in John 14:27

In the late 1800s, things seemed to be going terribly for a man named Horatio Spafford.  His four year old son had passed away due to illness.  The great Chicago Fire had destroyed not only his business, but his finances, as well.  In order to escape all this turmoil at home, he decided to travel with his family to Europe.  A zoning problem due to the fire, however, prevented him from leaving on time.  Not wanting to ruin a family trip, he decided to go ahead and send his family ahead of him.  Unfortunately, the boat his family was traveling on collided with another boat and all four of his daughters perished.  His wife telegraphed him back in Chicago saying, “Saved alone…”  This man, heartbroken, traveled on the next boat to Europe to be with his wife.  On the way, he asked the captain of the boat to stop at the place where the accident had occurred.  Looking at the area where the accident occurred, Spafford was inspired to write the following words:

                When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

                When sorrows like sea billows roll;

                Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

                It is well, it is well, with my soul.

These words were penned by a person who had lost everything that had ever mattered or meant anything to him.  However, instead of being furious and angry, he was at peace.  I wonder if he thought of Jesus words as he passed over the place where his family had died?  I think that only the sweet peace of Jesus could bring this man to the place and mindset to pen such poignant words in the midst of such loss.

I’ve been thinking a lot about peace over the past week.  I’m sure, like me, many of you have been praying peace over two special families multiple times a day over the course of the past week.  In the midst of tragedy and turmoil, how do we find peace?  Can we really say “it is well with my soul?”  I think we can, and I think it happens when we let go of our cares and let God handle them.  Easy to say, but not so easy to do…mainly because of control.  We want to be in control of our life, we want to know what comes next, and we want to have a plan for what will happen.  I think a lot of letting go of cares and control centers on Proverbs 3:5-6 – we must trust in God and not lean on our own understanding.  If we rely on our own understanding, it ‘aint gonna make sense.  Plain and simple.  That TV show was right, the (heavenly) Father does really know best and we’ve got to trust that.  Jesus tells us in John 14 not to be troubled or afraid.  We have to let go of fear and doubt, we have to move on in our day-to-day life, and we have to trust God that he will take care of us.  And He will (remember Jeremiah 29:11?).  By doing this, Jesus says we will have His peace. 

As a Christian, I can’t think of anything sweeter than the sweet peace of Jesus flooding my heart, but it's only going to happen when I let go and let Him take control of my life.  So, dear Jesus, “Take my life and let it be consecrate, Lord to Thee.  Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise, let the flow in ceaseless praise.”

A Prayer from my Heart

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

- Psalm 46:1

Dear Jesus,

My heart hurts.  My heart hurts for my beloved friends.  My heart hurts for my church.  My heart hurts for our sweet, precious children here at First Baptist whom I love so dearly.  Please, oh God, give us all peace in the midst of this storm.  Cover us with Your love and protection.

You sure do have one extraordinary little boy with you right now.  Full of life, laughter, and fun - he lived his life to the fullest.  We almost never knew what he would get into next - I even have a paper clip chain by my desk that he made a few weeks ago as he was waiting for his momma to take him home :).  He sure does have a heart of love and compassion - for You and also for others.  Always willing to help anyone in need, be friends with those who didn't fit in, or give of his time to others - this little boy truly lived with a servant's heart.  Now he is able to serve You in Your presence.  Wow.  How awesome is that!?  Thank you for his life - thank you for the opportunity to know him - thank you for the sweet memories of him that we all will carry with us.

For this precious other boy, I pray for a huge, giant miracle.  He needs you oh Jehovah-Rophe.  He needs healing and a powerful touch from You.  Jesus, I pray for his little body.  I pray for Your Will to be done.  Give peace and comfort to his sweet family.  Cover the entire family with your love; let them feel Your presence. - UPDATE 9:05 - You healed Him - eternally.  He's not hurting anymore, He's feeling the best He's ever felt.  He was such a creative little munchkin and he also had a big heart too.  He loved his family, his friends, and also lived life to the fullest.  I'm sure the other precious boy was waiting on him and they are now racing each other down Your streets, laughing, and seeing who gets to the gate first :)  Take care of them, Jesus.  I know you will. -

Over the past couple of days, SO many songs have come to my mind that I have been singing in prayer for this situation.  This one has meant so much to me over the past year - "You Are My Shepherd" by Tricia Brock.  In the song, it says, "You are my shepherd in the wilderness, whom shall I fear?  You are the God who goes before me, my rock and my shield.  In troubled times You will provide and I shall not want, You are, You are my God."  I can't think of any other words to say than that.  You're here with us, You're going before us, You will provide - You are our God and we trust in Your plan.

In your precious and holy name, I pray and praise You.

Amen.