Rain pounded hard against the roof of the house. The children wished it was snow. The adults were grateful it was rain. But uneasiness stirred in the household because everyone knew that later that day, the wind would shift, the temperature would drop and the rain would turn to ice, and then to snow.
Winter wonderlands are stunning to look at once the snow has settled into place and everyone is safe. But the dangerous conditions that precede this beauty can cause worry, fear, tension and anxiety. Nobody wants to be caught in the storm. No one wants to be cut off from help. Nobody wants to be injured.
So what do we do when we know the storm is approaching? Shelter and safety usually top the list. Food and clean water to drink comes next. But if we think beyond our immediate physical needs and remember the promises of the Lord, we will find peace in knowing that Christ is our Shelter, our Refuge, our Provider, and our Strength. He not only weathers the storms with us, but also protects us and provides for us. And as we turn our focus to Him, we become open to signs, wonders, miracles and other things that are beyond our imagination. For the Lord of the Universe has the power and the authority to lift us higher than the storm, to quiet our anxious thoughts, and to shelter us in His peace that surpasses all understanding.
May the wonder working miracles of
God's awesome love remove fear and doubts and surround you with courage and peace.
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The scorching sun glares down on the brown grass, the wilting flowers and the dry, cracked earth. With temperatures of 101 degrees in the shade, even the wind feels hot. But my mind is not on the weather. My thoughts dwell on something far more amazing.
Two weeks ago, the Lord was trying to teach me about allowing Him to be my shade from the hot, summer sun. And then, driving to a meeting, with no air conditioning in my car, God positioned a cloud over the road so my car was in its shadow for most of the drive. This past week, when hurricane strength winds ripped through this area, the Lord safely guided my car through the pounding rain, the fierce wind and the falling tree branches. Later, I found out that the wind speed was 88 - 90 miles per hour. These two incidents make me stop and ponder on how God is way higher, far greater and more powerful than the weather. He is indeed, our Shelter, our Strong Tower, our Refuge and our Strength.
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In the early morning light, a shadow rests beneath the paper that my pen is writing on. As the paper curls from the pen's pressure, the shadow lengthens. What mystery lurks behind the shadow? Will it bring hope or fear?
Shadows can create fear in our hearts when a dark silhouette races towards us, and we don't recognize the person or thing casting the shadow. Shadows can be good things when used to make paintings look more realistic or as a tool for direction. If the shadow is on the left side of our leg as we walk in the morning, we know we are headed north. Shadows can also help us tell time, like the sundials used in ancient times.
But did you know that shadows can bring comfort, relief and joy? Scripture tells us that we can "take refuge in the shadow of God's wings" (Psalm 36:7), and find rest, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Shadows can be a happy place, "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 63:7), and also be used to help describe our future as we trust in the Lord, "Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land." (Isaiah 32:2)
Whatever shadows are or have been for you, let them become reminders of God's grace and His promise to cover you, shelter you, refresh you, and draw you closer to Jesus Christ.
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As gentle, while flakes descend from the sky, a little bird rests on a snow-covered branch. It waits patiently, quietly and contently. The snow is covering the food it needs to gather, yet the bird seems unconcerned.
If someone took a picture of us while the storms of life are upon us, or when our dependable resources disappear under layers of unemployment or unpredictability, would we appear as unruffled as this little bird? Probably not. Yet we are called to be patient and calm during hardships, difficulties, or when chaos rises up around us. For we have a shelter in the storm, a hiding place from the wind and hail, and a refuge when we feel lost and weary. We have Jesus Christ who enables us to receive His amazing peace, His soothing calmness, and His delightful joy in the middle of our troubles, as we practice giving our burdens to Him.
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