Comfort and Coziness Can Be So Trivial

Getting a good night's sleep is high priority for me so having the just right room ambiance, cool temperature, white noise playing, and several pillows to accompany me are all on my "must have", nighttime list. Last night, as I laid down in my cozy and comfy bed, I realized how blessed I am as I thought about those who are displaced and even homeless because of the tremendous disaster of Hurricane Harvey and how, not just a bed of comfort, but food, clothing and a roof over their head is so wanted and needed.

Yesterday I received these words from dear friends in the Houston area: "We seek for your prayers to ask God to command the hurricane to stop moving inland and the rain to cease. Our little house in the Dickinson Bayou is under chest level water and now we are staying with my daughter in Pearland. Please pray for us and those who are in harms way. Thank you all. Lord, have mercy on us."

Suddenly, this disaster became so real because it was affecting dear friends. Shame on me for feeling so distant and taking my own comfort for granted.

I heard it quoted by the head of FEMA "This disaster is going to be a landmark event -- a storm that the United States has not seen yet." The National Weather Service describes the damage as "unprecedented" and "beyond anything experienced." Over 50 inches of rain is predicted in the Houston area -- the highest amount ever recorded in Texas. Thirteen million people are under flood watches stretching from Corpus Christi to New Orleans. A FEMA spokesman warns that "the recovery effort is going to be going on for weeks, months, and probably even years."

Though I responded back to my friends in an email with prayers and offering any tangible assistance we can give them, it seems so inadequate. I know God has already shown up in the prayers, support and hands-on responses to the needs that are there. It's one thing to go through storms, but it's a whole other thing to know we're not going through them alone.

Our Father promises us, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isaiah 43:2). His word assures us, "There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

Rescuers have saved thousands of people across the Texas Gulf Coast. Donations from across the country are supporting relief agencies. My heart was touched when my pastor shared how one of his fellow priests' church in Rockport was devastated, so I helped support the relief efforts. We can't do everything, but we can do something. We can pray fervently, asking God to redeem this tragedy by using the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27) to share the love of Christ with millions in need.

Today may seem so dark to those ravage-torn Texas families, but tomorrow will come and lives and homes will be rebuilt, the healing will come to families and life will carry on once again. Beauty will be found, even in tragedy. We may not know what the future holds.....but we do know, WHO holds the future -- and the future is still very bright!

Yes, we may not know what the future holds.....but we do know, WHO holds the future -- and the future is very bright!

A man from a small town on the Texas coast was interviewed as he unloaded his boat. A reporter asked him what he was going to do. "I'm gonna try to save some lives," the man responded. Let's join him.

Lord have mercy! We ask for sustaining courage for those who are suffering; wisdom and diligence among agencies and individuals assessing damage and directing relief efforts; and for generosity to flow as powerfully as rivers and streams, as we, your people, respond to the deep human needs that are being experienced in the wake of the storm. Lord, have mercy!

When You Pass Through the Waters, I Will Be With You

I showed this map of the Sea of Galilee and the places of many of Jesus' miracles to my kids when I was sharing with them about my recent trip to Israel.

The question most of our tour group had was how could there ever be such winds and waves in this small body of water that could cause such fear in those who were sailing from one side to the other? Our guide told us that there have been waves that exceeded eight stories on those waters. No wonder the disciples were concerned for their lives.

Over the years, our family has enjoyed every water feature you could imagine. We frequented lakes and rivers all over the U.S. and Canada where we camped, sailed, fished, river rafted, canoed, and kayaked, and there are no adequate words to convey about the majestic oceans and seas that we cruised.

I recall my Sweetheart sitting back, delighting in the stillness and beauty of those moments in all of those water places. He loved taking it all in. He was "home" by the water. I'm quite sure he's made sure that our mansion in heaven is right by the River of Life.

What if life was like living by a pond or lake? A lake can represent stability and tranquility. A lake doesn’t change much from year to year. With the exception of a severe storm (we were at the lake on plenty of occasions when a tornado was coming through), a lake is a secure place with clear boundaries, stable waters, and a quiet shore. There is a sense of order, control, and safe predictability about a lake, with few major surprises from day to day.

I have found life to be more like traveling down a river. It's extremely unpredictable and filled with many twists and turns, highs and lows, rapids and calms, unseen obstacles and unexpected objects that go drifting by. But, it can also be filled with exhilarating experiences that are packed full of adventure. You can ride the currents of a fast flowing river in a raft or kayak, but you have to avoid the potential dangers which can be devastating to a rider. We know that for a fact – when, one time, our kayaks tipped over and we were pulled into the rapids, and but for the grace of God, could have lost our lives. Our kayaks went on down the river….without us in them. Thank God, we had on life preservers.

As we journey on, we want life to be safe and secure for us and our loved ones, like that lake with borders -- no big changes or surprises. But, in reality, life is more like a river as it is continually moving in ways that we cannot control, predict, or expect.

The good news for us is that our security, stability, AND sanity are not found on the rivers of our lives, but in the Lord of of our lives. Our hope is in Him who knows the way through the obstacles and the twists and turns. Our peace is found in the One who directs our course. Our hope is fixed upon the One whose hands not only created the waters, but calms them, and He is THE ONE Who causes the unpredictability of the waters to work things together for our good.

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you....."