Shelter In The Storm

Praying for all those trying to rebuild from Hurricane Harvey – loss of hopes, dreams, property, jobs, loved ones and even life itself. Praying for God to spare our nation from the devastating storm that is Hurricane Irma, and from those that lurk more distantly. For me personally, Hurricane Irma may strike even closer to home, threatening my family, home, church, business, state, and nation.

Yet God is in control, His thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and His ways are higher than my ways. He works all things together for good for those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Job said he would trust and praise the Lord even though He would slay Him. For reasons we can’t begin to understand in this life, God allowed Satan to inflict loss of property, family, and health on His faithful servant Job, yet He never allowed Satan to take his life.

When Job began praying for his friends, even though they were quick to accuse him and tear him down rather than comfort him and build him up, God restored all to him and even more (Job 42:10).  May whatever storm we are facing teach us not only to draw closer to God in faith, but to fight as prayer warriors for one another.

Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), lashing out in fury with wind, lightning and floods as he knows his time is short to deceive humanity before Jesus Christ returns to banish him to the pit of hell. But Jesus is the One who spoke “Peace, be still,” to the raging storm, and the storm obeyed Him (Mark 4:39).

Praise God that if we have trusted His Son as our Lord and Savior, no one and nothing can harm us unless He allows it for our ultimate good and His glory. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). Our earthly possessions can vanish in an instant, but the treasures we store up in Heaven last forever, safe from theft, destruction, or corruption (Matthew 6:19-20).

Our earthly life is but a vapor, gone as quickly as a puff of smoke dissipates (James 4:14). But once we place our faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), He gives us eternal life in Heaven with Him and our loved ones in Him, in a glorified body that will never sin, age, die, or experience sickness, pain or sorrow, in our own mansion He has especially designed for each of us (1 Corinthians 15:49-57).

Praise God that He is our Shelter in the storm, our Rock, our Strong Tower (Proverbs 18:10) to Whom we can run, knowing that He will protect us as a hen protects her chicks (Matthew 23:37), and that He will hide us in the cleft of the Rock (Isaiah 2:21). He alone can lift us from the miry clay and place our feet on the firm foundation of the Rock that is Himself (Psalm 40:2).

May all be safe from the storm, trusting in Him Who is our Shelter, knowing that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5) , but that with Him, all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26). We can endure all trials in Him Who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), for His grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

© 2017 Laurie Collett

 

God Notices Your Labor!

Photo by Fulton St_4039 2013

As we in the United States celebrate Labor Day this weekend, many may be in less than a joyful mood due to financial worries. For those looking for work, the long weekend may be no different from other days, and just a painful reminder that they are unemployed. Those affected by the terrible storm may have not been able to go to their workplace, yet may have been laboring intensely to clean up and repair their homes and businesses.

Many are working to make ends meet at a job that does not meet their expectations or qualifications. Others find that their job responsibilities have grown because fewer people are hired, but their pay stays the same or even decreases. Even worse, it often seems that our employers, coworkers or clients don’t notice our hard work or appreciate the good job we do.

But God always notices! He knows our hearts (Psalm 139:23), and He can tell whether we’re working in joyful service because of how He has blessed us beyond measure (Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:19), or whether we’re going through the motions grudgingly, doing the minimum we need to do to get by.

By forgiving our sin debt (Romans 4:7; Ephesians 1:7), by giving His only begotten Son to die for our sins, and by giving eternal life to all those who repent and believe that Jesus rose from the dead (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), God has blessed us far beyond what we could ever imagine.

And yet, He delights in heaping blessings on us even beyond that, and in great abundance (John 10:10; Luke 12:32; James 1:17). This gives us reason to find joy in all circumstances (Philippians 4:4) and to give thanks for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), even if our sin nature feels we have reason to complain rather than to be thankful (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

For every task we do at work or at home, no matter how menial or insignificant it seems, there is a reason to find joy in it and give thanks for it. If we are washing our dirty dishes, we can be thankful for the good meal we ate, the family we shared it with, and for running water.

If we’re losing patience because of customers’ endless complaints, we can be thankful that there are customers so that we have a job, and we can rejoice in the opportunity to bring them satisfaction and peace rather than anger (Matthew 5:9). In whatever situation we find ourselves, we can thank God by putting our whole heart, soul and might into glorifying Him, making each moment of our life a living prayer to Him. He will always remember and reward us for our service and worship even when no one else notices (Matthew 25:21-23).

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.… 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

As Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), Christians should give a good testimony at work and wherever a job needs to be done because we are willing to go the extra mile and with the right attitude. As the apostle Paul wrote to Titus, servants are to please their masters, or in today’s world, employees are to serve their employers with the same humility of spirit with which we serve Christ. He is our true Master, and in serving others, we are serving Him (Titus 2:9-10).

Even when we assemble for worship in God’s house, no good deed is too trivial to escape His attention! A kind word or smile for someone who is hurting may be exactly what God intended to encourage that person to be faithful to His will (Hebrews 10:23-25).

When Solomon built the temple to glorify God, skilled artisans spent countless hours decorating the tops of the pillars with sculpted lilies, even though none of the worshipers would even see them once they were in position! But God saw and rewarded them for their labor, even though no one else would applaud or praise their work (1 Kings 7:13-22).

When was the last time we gave thanks to the person who showed up early Sunday morning to turn on the air conditioning, or to the person who made sure there was toilet paper in the restroom? Do we even know who these people are? But God knows and keeps track of their faithful service to His children and to all who come to hear His Word.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Our labor is not in vain! Employers, coworkers, and customers, and even family, friends, and fellow Christians, may not always show their appreciation, but God faithfully keeps track of all we do to His glory. We are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). He will reward us in due time, if not in this world, then in Heaven (1 Corinthians 3:10-14) where we can enjoy the benefits forever!

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Love in Christ, and may you have a blessed Labor Day weekend!

© 2017 Laurie Collett