A storm came through yesterday that left its mark on my property. My bird feeders were emptied of their contents and scattered hither, tither and yon. My 7 foot sunflowers are still 7 foot but their happy little faces are at 9:00 instead of 12:00. My beautiful gladiolas are a little worse for wear as well. They have bowed at the wind and because their stems are not supple, they have snapped. In fact, most of the garden is listing in one direction. The storm popped up out of nowhere and the weather radio missed warning us that it was coming. By the time is passed over us it generated a tornado warning in the next two counties. Not that I would have done anything to shore up the glads or the sunflowers had I known. I like my garden but not enough to stand in the storm to shield it from God's wind.
However, I do like storms. I know, I am weird. I also like earthquakes. Please don't get me wrong, I don't like that people get hurt or lose their property. Not at all. What I like about storms and quakes is that there is no doubt in your mind during one of these events that you are insignificant. You know that you are 100% dependent on the mercies of God when the earth is shaking or the wind threatens to blow your house down. There is nothing you can do to stop it. I wish I could duplicate that feeling in my day to day life occurrences.
When the Living God reveals Himself neutrality isn't an option. If you do a study of the Word and look at people who encountered our Lord, none of them remained the same. Either their hearts were hardened or they were compelled to worship. For some, the encounter turns their life upside down and like my yard, the effects are readily visible. For others the change comes at a slower pace, but it comes.
Yes, I wish I could experience each moment knowing I am 100% dependent on God's mercy and provision. I give intellectual assent to it but the little worries of life annoy me and make me think I can and should do something to control them. Every now and again God has to remind me that He is God and I am not. He is Lord of the little things too. Not an atom moves that God doesn't bid it.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are,
29 that no man should boast before God.
(NAS)
However, I do like storms. I know, I am weird. I also like earthquakes. Please don't get me wrong, I don't like that people get hurt or lose their property. Not at all. What I like about storms and quakes is that there is no doubt in your mind during one of these events that you are insignificant. You know that you are 100% dependent on the mercies of God when the earth is shaking or the wind threatens to blow your house down. There is nothing you can do to stop it. I wish I could duplicate that feeling in my day to day life occurrences.
When the Living God reveals Himself neutrality isn't an option. If you do a study of the Word and look at people who encountered our Lord, none of them remained the same. Either their hearts were hardened or they were compelled to worship. For some, the encounter turns their life upside down and like my yard, the effects are readily visible. For others the change comes at a slower pace, but it comes.
Yes, I wish I could experience each moment knowing I am 100% dependent on God's mercy and provision. I give intellectual assent to it but the little worries of life annoy me and make me think I can and should do something to control them. Every now and again God has to remind me that He is God and I am not. He is Lord of the little things too. Not an atom moves that God doesn't bid it.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are,
29 that no man should boast before God.
(NAS)
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Pastor Bill