Help us hear You in the thunder

Good Morning Friends!  Totally loved by HIM Tuesday!!!   Well, how about this crazy weather!  Most of you know that I hate driving in any kind of bad weather conditions….and ever since my accident, blinding rain terrifies me.   This morning as I was gathering up my things to come to work, I could hear it starting to rain, it was so dark and the wind was really blowing….oh gosh I thought…Please let me get to work before it gets bad….as I headed out the driveway, there was a huge flash of lightening…it was horizontal all the way across the sky…Oh no, is all I could think of, please let me get to work safely, was my prayer.   As I got closer to town the rain got heavier, but I could see just fine and there wasn’t much traffic, but I was still tense gripping the steering wheel for dear life.  I never heard any thunder, but that lightening….one flash was so big, so bright the whole sky glowed….but no thunder… so, it wasn’t real close, the rain was not very hard and the wind had died down….Hmm…Father, You are there aren’t You?  Oh yes, my goodness You are always there….when the storms are raging, You are right there lighting our way with Your love….the winds blow, but You provide shelter, thunder roars… help us to hear You in the thunder, to hear and feel Your power over the storms of this world….You are always there with us, but we are so weak…gripping the steering wheel instead of holding on to You!!!  I had an email from a friend early this morning asking me how my ride to work was.  I told her that is was ok, but I was just hoping to get here before the storm hit.  She said, “Oh is it storming?   There are no windows anywhere near me, so as far as I am concerned it’s a lovely, sunny day out there!”  She’s not worried about a storm because she cannot see….she’s trusts that the sun is shining…..Oh Father help us all to let go of the steering wheel and  trust in the shining light of Your SON to see us through the storms!

 

One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”  So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  “Where is your faith?”  He asked His disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, ”Who is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”  Luke:822-25.

Love you all!

April 8, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  So, remember a few weeks ago when I told you about the mouse in my house…..well, as a result of that story, a friend with lots of outside cats offered to give me a couple.  I jumped at the offer….she said if I could bring her a carrier she would catch a couple for me and we made arrangements to meet at the mini mart close to my church on Sunday.  However, one thing after another it wasn’t until yesterday that we finally managed to get together.  Church was a little long, so she was waiting for me while enjoying a sausage biscuit.  We sat and visited a minute and then went to our cars for the big transfer!  Poor cats were not happy about their confinement….there were three of them and they growled and hissed all the way home.  Kim had put out food for them in an old chicken coop…a really good place for them to call “headquarters”.   I stopped and unloaded them before going to the house….I knew they were ready for their release!  As soon as I opened the door out they came they all 3 scaled the wooden walls of their headquarters.  Well, that’s the last I have seen of my cats….Yep, it’s true, have not seen hide nor hair of them since their release….when it dawned on me this morning that I had not seen them, I thought, oh gosh….hope they didn’t run off…..but then I thought about the children’s sermon I had for the kids yesterday.  I put a glass ostrich in a box, told them what was in it (well I told them an ostrich)  and asked them if they believed me….without seeing the ostrich….did they believe it was in there?  The point being…..Thomas, without actually seeing our risen Jesus, did not believe his fellow disciples when they told him that Jesus was alive…….Jesus response when He confronted Thomas, “you believe because you have seen Me, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have not seen.”   Wow….I think our Heavenly Father sent me a little faith reminder….a little faith boost….perhaps a “practice what you preach” tap.  Yes, at times……I must admit, I am a bit of a doubting Thomas….Forgive me Father.  You know what!!!  Even though I have not seen the cats, I know that they are out there hunting….they are going to keep the mice out of my house!!!!!!  I am sure of it!  Father, sometimes I question my faith….question what’s going on in my life because I don’t see what I think I should.  Forgive me….help me to never be a doubting Thomas when it comes to Your will in my life!  And Father thank you for sweet friends that share their cats with me!

Then He (Jesus), said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my . Stop doubting and believe.”  Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Then Jesus told him, “because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded n tis book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.  John 20:28-31.  Though you have not seen Christ, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9.  We live by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7.

Love you all!

Kathie A. Johnson

Receptionist