We are coming out of an ice storm deluxe! Thanksgiving Day ended with rain, then freezing temps which then froze the rain as it continued to fall. Completely, calmed things down a bit until today…Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Temps are starting to rise, to melt and release us.
Tina and family stayed home as they had to be back at business on Monday and there were no guarantees that they could get back home. They stayed close to a warm fire and enjoyed their time together. We missed them. Tamra and family made it in and enjoyed the down time for rest and relaxation and family.
As they were pulling out this morning, I glanced across my front lawn at hundreds of the straggler leaves that were finally grounded by the freezing rain and sleet. As I turned to go in the house, my eye caught a leaf of a different color. Out of all the green and brown leaves laying about, stood this golden leaf. Standing upright with a base of ice holding it in place.
I took a photo of it and posted it to my Facebook page. As I was busying about straightening my kitchen, I could see it out there. Now, my eyes do not see the multitude laying all around it, but immediately goes to that one. That golden one. Standing there. Unfazed by the trauma it has endured. Oh, it has had some trauma. One edge is missing. There are some bruised areas. But, overall, it is recognizable as a leaf who once was flying high and is now sitting in ice, at the base of its home.
I can’t seem to look at anything anymore without seeing Jesus in it or at least a devotional message. I haven’t always been like this. But, things happened in my life that changed me. Things have happened in your life that perhaps have changed you. Things that used to be important? They don’t hold that place anymore. Things that used to seem very unimportant? They are right there at the top!
As I sit here in the quiet of my home. Ice barriers still all around me. Family going on about their lives. I am reminded of where I have been. I and without a doubt you…Yes, you, who are reading this right now. We are like this beautiful leaf. We have had our days basking in the sun at the top of life. We have turned and changed from season to season. We are not the same as we were when we started our journey. We have been affected by life. We have felt the stress of blooming where we were planted. Maybe, not in the prime location or climate we had desired. But, nevertheless, that is where God needed us to be. We strived to grow and do the best we could.
Then the winds came. The rains poured over our lives. The hail stones crushed and bruised us. But, let go! Never! We held on. We learned to give to each crisis. To weather the storms. To weep? Yes we cried. We cried tears of grief, tears of regret, even tears of anger at the situations we found ourselves in. Then one day, the storm overwhelmed us and thrust us down to our knees. We thought we could never stand again. But, God reached down in His mercy and lifted us. He anchored our souls in the power and faith in Jesus. The Master of storm navigation. The One who has known grief, experienced storms, knew rejection, knew hate, knew a love so great for mankind…It was worth dying for.
He died, so that we might stand. When the storms came and we fell, tumbling in a free fall to the ground. He lifted us back to standing, anchored us in His love, mercy and grace, much like the ice around the base of this leaf. We are able to stand. We move into a new state of being. A state of experience with storms of varying degrees. We understand, that just because we cannot see those who are gone from us, does not mean we will never see them again. It simply means they have removed to the place prepared especially for them. We will see them again. How do I know that?
The disciples stared up at their tortured and bleeding Master. They carried His broken and dead body to the tomb. They left Him there. They walked away, grieving over the loss of their precious Teacher. Three days later, they saw Him again. He prepared breakfast for them on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He talked to them. They saw His nailed pierced hands. They watched Him ascend. All but one of them died horrific deaths because they refused to deny Christ as the Son of God. All that makes me stand firm in the faith that what has been promised in scripture by Jesus, are promises that anchor me in whatever storm comes. Whether we are here or there. We are standing…firmly, anchored in eternity. I would be remiss right here, if I didn’t say, there is only one way to assure our journey into eternity. His name is Jesus. He wants our heart. He wants our belief. He wants our faith…That He died for our sins. So simple…It confounds the wise.
~Scripture For Today~
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (NLT)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We praise Your holy name. Thank You for the favor and blessings You have extended to us. This time of year we are reminded of the empty chairs Father. We are confident they sit around your table now. We are reminded of what they meant to us and the emptiness we often feel during family times. Father, steady us in the strength of faith that we will see them again, just as your disciples saw Jesus. Out of death came life. Out of our storms comes renewed strength and courage. Out of our wounds and bruises comes testimony of Your love for us. Your desire that all should come to salvation through Christ. That is our prayer too Father. Enable us to be Your voice in the wilderness. Forgive us our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.