The Wind Blows

Flagler Beach, Florida

"The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:8 NRSV

I was at the beach at sunset last night. The winds and the waves were really moving. The wind has been blowing pretty heavily since Hurricane Irma went through three weeks ago. There was no swimming or surfing in the Atlantic last night; but, it felt just fine. The wind will blow where and when it chooses.

And, so it is with the Spirit. The Spirit moves in unexpected ways when and where we least expect it. There are two things that humankind cannot control: the blowing of the wind and the movement of the Spirit of God. All that we can do is go with it, making the best of the experience. Regardless of the turbulence we might encounter as we ride with the winds; we know that wherever the wind blows or the Spirit moves; God has a plan; a good plan for you.

May God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit guide you in His way.

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Way Is The Right Way; Whether We Comprehend That Or Not

Street in front of our home after Hurricane Irma.

Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?
                                 (Isaiah 40:13-15 NIV)

Who can comprehend anything that the Lord has done. The question is often asked why God would let bad things happen to good people. Maybe, the question should be why does God allow good things to happen to bad people. In truth, none of us are good. Without the righteousness of Christ to cover us we are all sinful beings and deserve nothing. But, because he loves us enough to make sure that his righteousness will cover us we love him and strive to love and care for our neighbors as even God loves them.

Hurricane Irma has come and gone. My household has been truly blessed. We lost power for only a very short time. Most of my neighbors still do not have power. We still do not have water due to the very high water in the creek. Spectrum has not yet fixed the television or the internet so I have not been able to write any blogs for quite a few days. But, yesterday my granddaughter was over to clean my house and she mentioned that she didn't think Verizon was giving out hotspots to hurricane victims like they did when Matthew was around last fall. After she had gone, with nothing better to do, I checked if just maybe Verizon had gifted us with hotspots. They have. So I am back to it on my computer this morning. "Thank you, Verizon!"

Thank you, Lord! We cannot fathom His ways; but, we can be confident that He is quite aware of everything that goes on in the world; both the good and the bad, and He is with us working things out for the good. We may not be able to comprehend or know it. But, we trust that this is true. 

It is most difficult to keep up with everything that goes on in the world; let alone what God has in store for us. We know that God's thoughts or ways really are not our ways. His path is not our path. Our path would lead us to destruction. His will lead us to eternal life. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

                                          (Isaiah 55:8-9)

It will continue to be difficult (impossible) for us mere mortals to understand why God would allow bad things happen to good people until we can more fully grasp the idea that we are not such good people. 

May we be the righteousness of Christ cover us. May God help us to follow in the right path; in the path that Jesus has set before us: loving him and loving and serving our neighbors in time of need.

Gods Peace - Pr. J

Shepherd's Psalm

Psalm 23 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

As the storms brew; whether they are hurricanes or threats of nuclear missiles or something more closely related to your personal life may we all find peace in the knowledge that God loves us and that all who trust in Him will dwell in His house forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Irma And Decisions

Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.
                                   Psalm 16:1 NIV

There are a lot of decisions to make as Hurricane Irma gets closer to Florida. Shall we evacuate before we're ordered to evacuate? If we don't, there just may not be any place left to go and there also may not be any gas left to get there. What about the pets? If we don't leave now, how will my parent with alzheimer's deal with the stress of the move to a motel room two states away or a local shelter. There are a lot of things to think about. Even if you leave you still have to ensure that you have enough food, water, and other essentials when you do return because even if the storm has passed by you may not have power or water and sadly maybe not even a home.

We live in a mobile home in an area that usually gets evacuated; but, we've pretty much made the decision to stay home as long as we can. If it looks like a Cat 3 roaring by Flagler Beach and the evacuation orders come then we will most probably go stay in a shelter. We will see where the winds decide to blow and how fast they are whipping the air, land, and sea about before we make the decision. Yes, I know we're suppose to figure out what we're going to do in advance and we have stocked up on essentials. But, I just don't want to leave home. I don't want to sit in a motel room or a shelter in Georgia or South Carolina for days on end. There's stuff to be done here. Worship has not been cancelled this Sunday and I don't plan on cancelling it. If the hurricane is upon us, don't drive. Stay where you are. But, God willing, I will be there for anyone who feels the desire or need to worship and pray.

May God keep you all safe wherever Irma may travel and may Irma head out to the very deep sea very quickly.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Mighty Waters Will Not Reach Them

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
    will not reach them.
                                            (Psalm 32:6 NIV)

In time of trouble we pray. Well, not always. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the turmoil that we forget that we can go to God in prayer for comfort; for deliverance. With Hurricane Irma bearing down on the Caribbean and heading ever closer to Florida, we prepare for what might come to us. But, whether Irma decides to visit us in Flagler County or not; she will surely visit someone and so we pray for all people who will be affected by the strength of her power. We pray that God would diminish her power.

I received a prayer request from Chaplain Edward M. Reistetter of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office last night. He asked us to do what we Christians do best:  Pray. He asks that we keep in our prayers today and in the coming days the follow petitions and whatever else God places on our hearts:

"1. That Hurricane Irma weakens and causes little or no damage, flooding, etc
  2. The safety of our Sheriff Staly and his Deputies, and Bunnell and Flagler Police Departments as
  they maintain safety and order during the storm,
  3. For the safety of all First Time Responders who may intervene in perilous situations,
  4. For the safety, health, and welfare of all Flagler County Residents, and Florida State residents,
  especially the disabled and the aged,
  5. The safety for everyone's pets.
  6. Assistance to all those affected by Hurricane Irma who live in the Caribbean area,
  7. Anything else the Lord places on your heart

Let's agree in faith, knowing and believing that God does exceeding beyond what we can imagine or think!  Let's anticipate wonderful testimonies of answered prayers.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we ask that you guide us so that we might be filled with courage and with love so that we will think of and help all of our neighbors through and after this storm that threatens us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Peace In The Storm

Eastern Shore of Puerto Rico

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thess 3:16

One of the most peaceful places I have ever visited was Puerto Rico. The warm winds were blowing as they do all year. We made the journey a couple of years ago to visit a friend who was in hospice. We did not make it in time to visit him as he died before we even got on the plane. We were able to visit with his wife and sons.

In spite of the grief, there was serenity surrounding the visit. The wife, a friend of mine, is a very faithful woman. No matter what trials or tribulations she has faced over the decades, she has faced them with courage and with the peace of heart that only God can give.

Today we watch the weather as once again a mighty storm, Hurricane Irma, threatens the island as well as the many islands in the region. The winds and rain; the stirring up of the ocean will create much havoc. It is a troubling time for the people in these Leeward Islands. It may be a devastating time for not just those on the islands; but, for the people on the mainland coasts. Who can tell where that mighty wind will go!

We face many storms in life. They come and go. As we face the storms, whether they are physical or spiritual, may God grant us His peace at all times and in all ways. The Lord be with you all!

God's Peace - Pr. J