The Lifeboat

Every time I look at the headlines in the newspaper or watch the news on television, it saddens me to see how this world is declining so rapidly.  Many people have become lovers of money, lovers of evil, and even lovers of themselves.  Some individuals have no regard for human life, whether the human is an adult or even a newborn baby.  Even in my short 32 years on this planet, I can see the numerous changes that have taken place since the 1980’s.  Some of these changes have been good; however, some of them have simply led to destructive ends.  In reality, this world resembles a sinking ship.  I am so thankful that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to carry me through the storm.  He is my Peace for the present and Hope for the future.  Jesus Christ is the Lifeboat for all who believe in Him.

Looking back in history, there was another time when the world became corrupt to the point that God wished His Creation did not even exist.  There was so much wickedness on this earth, the Bible says, “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled” (Genesis 6:6).  Just imagine.  The humans on earth had gotten so evil that their very own Creator regretted creating them and was troubled by what He saw.  Only one man was found to be worth saving.  God’s Word goes on to say, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).

But Noah: those two little words saved a family’s life forever.  Noah was found to be faultless.  He was different than the rest of the population.  Let’s just say he stood out from the crowd.  God saw something special in Noah and his family.  Genesis 6:9 reads, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”  I’m sure Noah wasn’t perfect.  He probably slammed a few doors in his time and he may have gotten upset if one of his sons didn’t do their chores the first time they were asked.  But he didn’t engage in wicked deeds and sinful ways.  Noah trusted God and knew that the Lord would take care of them.

What would you do if God came to you and said that He was going to destroy the earth because of the destruction people had brought into the world (Genesis 6:13)?  Would you make a phone call, Facebook about it, or just sit down and cry?  Well, this actually happened to Noah.  But he didn’t question God.  He didn’t have a panic attack either.  He didn’t even Tweet about it or text his best friend to tell them the news.  Instead, he listened intently to all of the instructions, detailing the size of the ark that he was to construct, what animals to bring aboard, how much food to pack, and all of the other tasks that must be completed.  Then the Bible says, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).  Noah didn’t just do half of the job and then sit down to watch his favorite program on television.  He didn’t delegate someone else to do the job.  He simply did what God asked him to do.

So many times, we complain about jobs that the Lord asks us to do.  Sometimes, we are tired and it’s hard to find energy to get the job done.  Other times, people often try to discourage us, even though we know God has enabled us for the task at hand.  I am sure Noah was discouraged when his friends laughed at him for building an ark. They had never seen a flood like that before.  They surely thought Noah had lost his mind.  What would your neighbors think if they saw you building a big boat in your front yard, standing tall at approximately 45 feet high?  I am sure the Neighborhood Beautification Committee would have something to say about that at their monthly meeting!  Look at Noah, building that atrocity!  And bringing all of those animals so close to where our children play!  Something must be done to prevent such outlandish behavior!

But God had asked Noah to accomplish a monumental task.  Noah ignored the backlash from the opposing side and immediately obeyed God.  He didn’t tell God that he had to fit it in between watching the Sunday afternoon football game and improving his golf swing at the range on Saturday.  He didn’t tell God that he just didn’t have the energy and would try to get around to it next week.  He didn’t even tell his neighbors what was going on.  He just got the job done.  Oh, and Noah didn’t try to cut corners when building the ark.  He accomplished the task precisely as God commanded.  Noah did all of this without complaining, even at the age of 600 years old.

God provided a lifeboat, so to speak, for Noah and his family, along with two of every clean animal.  Everything else was destroyed.  Because Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord, he and his family were spared.  God tells Noah that the rainbow will be a sign of the covenant between God and all life on earth, promising never to destroy the earth by flood waters again.  The rainbow is a promise not only to Noah and his family, but also to you and me.  God will be our Shelter from the storm.  Just as this world seemingly spirals out of control, we have a safe haven in the midst of the tumultuous seas.  Every single person, young or old, who puts their trust in Jesus Christ, will be saved.

Whatever you are going through right now, there is no situation too hard for God to handle.  Jesus even told His disciples, “‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).  God is greater than every prison, every hospital, every nursing home, every bottle of alcohol, and every other thing that may try to pull you away from the love of Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:39).  He will rescue us when the raging waters rise.  He will be our beacon in the night, directing us toward safety.  No matter what you are facing today, remember that Jesus Christ is your Lifeboat.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

The Shelter in the Storm

A little over one month ago, my community was ravaged with an unprecedented storm.  Tropical Storm Debby dropped over 20 inches of rain in a matter of hours, causing massive flooding and destruction.  Hundreds of homes and vehicles were destroyed and countless people lost everything they owned.  To complicate matters even more, over 100 sinkholes have opened up in Suwannee County alone.  It is being declared as a “500 year event.”  Gratefully, no lives have been lost in our county, save the many livestock and pets that were swept away in the storm.  Even so, it is a disaster that has rattled everyone to their very core.



I am sure many people are asking themselves, “Why?” and “How?”  Personally, I have been asking some of the same questions.  My long-haired miniature Dachshund, Lucy, along with my two pygmy goats, Charlotte and Savannah, were taken by the flood.  I know many others have lost so much more, but still I wonder, “Why?”  Why did God allow my animals to be swept away?  I also wonder, “How?”  Our backyard became a huge lake, something which we do not have on our property.  The water came within inches of flooding my dad’s workshop and our home as well.  Looking at the photographs, I cannot quite comprehend how the water was approximately five feet high toward the back of our property, yet did not make its way into the house.  If the water had flowed level, I am pretty sure this would have been the case.  Still, several friends of mine were not so fortunate and woke up to several feet of water in their homes.  Over a month later, they are still trying to make sense of it all.

In life, there are many things we may never be able to comprehend.  Sometimes, these events will cause us to question our family and friends, question our beliefs, and even question God.  But it is also in these moments when we can often find a rainbow amid the clouds.  For me, the rainbow amid this particular storm is the realization that God caused the water to do something incomprehensible to my mind, thus preventing it from coming in our home.  Losing my pets was devastating, but it could have been so much worse.  Not only could we have personally lost everything, but human lives could have been lost in our county as well.  In life, there will be storms that ravage our communities, our homes, and our lives.  But God always has our back.  He always has a perfect plan and He will bring us through every storm.

I can’t help but think about Noah and how he must have felt, building that Ark.  Everyone laughed at him and thought he was a lunatic for working on such an enormous vessel.  There had been no rain in sight for a very long time, so the idea of an Ark to save his family from a flood was a little farfetched, to say the least.  Yet, he knew what God had called him to do.  I am sure there were times he doubted God and became discouraged, wondering if he should continue.  Then when it was time to gather two of every animal, I am sure it was a monumental task, leading lions, bears, giraffes, elephants, and other animals onto this boat.  Still, he and his family continued to trust God, with every board and every nail and with each and every animal, two by two.  Because of Noah’s faith in God, he and his family were saved, along with each pair of animals God had created.

What about you?  Are you facing a storm in your own life?  Maybe it is not a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake.  Perhaps it is an emotional, physical, or financial storm.  You may be going through a divorce or battling depression.  There may be someone in your family fighting for their life in Intensive Care.  Or someone you know could be suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s, cancer, or some other disease.  Whatever you are facing, I want to encourage you right this very moment.  Do not be afraid.  Call on the name that is above every other name: Jesus.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  No matter what you are going through, Jesus will calm your fears, He will guide your footsteps, and He will be your Friend that sticks closer than any brother.  Jesus will be your Shelter in the storm.

In Christ's Love,
Jennifer

Why, God?

Did you ever experience a terrifying storm?  Do you recall the fear and uncertainty that gripped your mind, as you wondered if your family and friends were safe?  Or perhaps you are enduring an emotional, mental, or physical storm in your life at this very moment.  Does it feel as if they sun will never shine again?  In life, we encounter a plethora of tragedies.  There are natural disasters, illnesses, wars, and many other difficult situations we may find ourselves in.  There may even be times when we find ourselves concerned with a catastrophic event that has not even happened directly to us.  Yet, the tragic occurrence causes us to reflect back on the difficult times we have endured.  Think about the devastating earthquake that struck near the coast of Japan.  When you heard about this natural disaster, did it bring to mind the storms in your own life?  Have you wondered why God did not provide a shelter from the storm for those whose lives were lost?  Or why He has not sheltered you from the storms you are currently going through?

As humans living in an imperfect world, there are moments when we may question, “Why, God?”  There may be times when we do not understand His plan for our life, since our plans may be entirely different.  As I was getting ready for work this morning, I was saddened to hear the news of the massive earthquake that had occurred off the coast of Japan.  Such a tragic event, yet there was no one to blame.  No human being on earth could have precisely predicted this natural disaster.  I am sure the citizens of Japan did not expect this catastrophe.  They planned to enjoy another routine weekday ahead, where everything happened according to their plans.  Then, their plans changed.  Instead of going to work or school, they will spend the day searching for missing persons, digging through rubble to find survivors, and wondering if their loved ones are safe.  And I am sure they will be pondering the question, “Why?”  Why did this happen?  Why couldn’t we prevent the loss of life?  Why didn’t God stop the destruction?

Although I cannot answer these questions, I can assure you that God was right in the midst of that storm.  He was standing right beside the people who were safely evacuated from derailed trains, broken bridges, and crumbled buildings.  Granted, our human minds cannot comprehend why some lives would be spared and others taken.  I cannot explain why every life is not spared.  Even in my own life, I often wonder why my Mom, three grandparents, two infant brothers, and numerous other relatives and friends are not still with me today.  Still, one thing is certain.  God is a sovereign God.  God’s ways are perfect.  The destruction in Japan may seem insurmountable, but God has a perfect plan for the entire world.  He knew this day would come even before we were born.  The storms in your own life may seem equally undefeatable, but rest assured, God has everything under control.

No matter what storm you are currently facing, God is greater than your storm.  Psalm 93:4 (NIV) says, “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty.”  The one and only true and living God is greater than all of the earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, fires, tornadoes, and any other natural disaster that may come upon His Creation.  Not only that, but God is greater than cancer, divorce, terrorism, and any other social, economic, political, or environmental problem in this world.  For every problem, God is the solution.

In life, there are no guarantees of tomorrow.  There are problems we must face.  There are tragedies to endure.  Nevertheless, we can find shelter in the arms of Jesus.  He has already walked ahead of us, and He continually prepares us for the difficult storms that we may encounter on life’s journey.  He will give us peace in the midst of the storm.  John 16:33 (NIV) says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  Jesus knows what you are going through.  He knows you will face storms in life.  He knows you may even wonder, “Why, God?”  These questions of why may go unanswered.  Even so, you can always find peace in the one true answer: Jesus.

In Christ's Love,

Jennifer