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

We Are One Church; The Body Of Christ

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

                                                                                                                       (2 Chron 7:14-15 NIV)

Yesterday, was the National Day of Prayer. I had the opportunity to attend both the Flagler County Sheriff Department's Prayer Breakfast and the National Day of Prayer in Bunnell. Since, I am relatively new to the area, it was a great opportunity to meet and connect with others of the faith community. I noticed that many of the prayers, including my own, referenced the scripture above from 2 Chronicles.

If those who are called by His name would only humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways is not a call to the atheist or the agnostic or anyone else who does  not believe the one true God. It is a call and a promise to those who say that they believe. If it is truly healing that we desire for the communities around us it needs to begin with a change in us; those who profess to follow Christ. We must humble ourselves and confess that we are a part of the problem when the Good News, that has been entrusted to us, is the answer. We often allow the devil to distract us with personal agendas leaving very little time or energy left to share that Good News either in word or deed. We often think so highly of ourselves that we cannot see anyone or anything else; but, the things and persons in our own little circle of friends or family. God's family is not restricted to our own little circle. He desires that all would be members of that family. But, how can they if they have not heard; if they have not been invited?

There is only one Church. With that one Church, which is the Body of Christ, there are many, many members. We are not all of the same congregation or denomination. We do not always share the same doctrines. But, we share the same faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and for all people. Let us learn to put aside our differences; our own egos; humbling ourselves so that we might serve together as many members of the one Church; the Body of Christ.

May God help us to turn from our wicked ways so that He may use the church on earth more fully to bring healing and wholeness to the people around us. God keep the church from being a stumbling block to others!

God's Peace - Pr. J