Weatherize Your Life

Geez- it seems like we've been getting a lot of weather these days. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and now a storm to hit the Gulf Coast! Even people with good sturdy homes may be nervous about what will happen.

But, cautions about weathering our lives not against the tropical storms or hurricanes... but against the storms of life.

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching... (Matthew 7:21-28)

In our readings of these scriptures, we often separate this into two pieces. But notice the 'therefore' linking the two distinct parts together. First is the warning that we must really know God. He must be the center of our lives, our thoughts and our prayers daily. It is not only what we do outwardly, but our personal relationship with Jesus inwardly that will allow Him to recognize us.

After the warning comes the promise, like sunshine after a storm. Whoever listens to Jesus' words and walks in a personal relationship with Him will be built on that solid foundation. This is all too vivid of an image after the hurricane. So many deaths, so much destruction. I continue to pray for the many families affected by such loss and hardship.

Jesus here, however, refers to the so-called 'storms of life' which do come in their season. If Jesus is our foundation, then we will withstand the storm. Yes, after a storm all homes usually show a little wear. We may have some tears, some suffering, some hurt... but we will 'not fall', because we have 'our foundation on the rock.'

These storms come in all shapes and sizes. Right now, my mini-storm which is really more of a rain shower is the fact that Brad and I have been apart for so long. I left for Brazil mid-June and he won't return until mid-September (which is soon! :oD!!!!). I'm so grateful that we got to see one another for 4 days in July... such a blessing God granted to both of us. But, it has been hard... to be married yet feel kind of single, to be on our own yet have married decisions and obligations to take care of, to miss each other and feel distant, to have our only form of communication be g-chat. In a first year of marriage, I know that we wouldn't have weathered this storm quite as well as we have if it hadn't been for weatherizing our foundation. The storms may come and go, but our relationship has its foundation on the rock.

And for that, I give God all the glory and praise and honor! I am so thankful that God provided Brad as a husband for me; we have built our relationship together on the rock... and even when we go thousands of miles away, our marriage is not going anywhere. Thanks be to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift!