EXPOSING THE LEAKS

A couple of weeks ago we were in South Carolina celebrating Brooks' birthday.  Earlier that week the rain had moved into the Carolinas in full force.  By Sunday morning Laurens had gotten 10 to 12 inches.  As Alex, the pastor was welcoming the congregation, he made a powerful statement that the Lord used to impress a deep truth in my heart!

He was explaining that there were several leaks in the educational building and he said, "That's one good thing that 12 or 13 inches of rain will do - it will show you the leaks!"

WOW!  How true is that in our lives?  It is easy for us to live our lives as if we have it all together.  Our structure can appear flawless and at times it may be easy to put up a facade that shows no leaks.  However, when the rains of life come, and they will, they have a way of exposing them!

When we find our lives flooded by the storms that come, our leaks will be exposed.  But, there is great news!  We as Christians know the Master Carpenter who can rebuild our broken places and repair our leaky spots. We must let Him deal with the leaks before they cause major damage and our entire structure folds!  Patching our own leaks and trying to continue with life as usual is a dangerous thing and eventually we will find ourselves as rubble. 

So, let's invite Christ to show us our leaks, our weak spots, our vulnerable places and then He will show Himself as the Repairer and Restorer of our lives and we will get to watch as He Himself restores us and makes us strong, firm, and steadfast!

what a day!

One morning last week while at the beach, I got up really early to see the sun rise.  The beach in the early hours of the day with all the quiet and stillness is one of my favorite places to sit before the Lord.  The vastness of the ocean with the constant roll of the waves slipping on the shore brings about an overwhelming sense of awe and praise of who He is and His greatness.

There were a few clouds in the sky that morning so as the dawn began to break, there was no sun.  I found myself so disappointed and wondering why I had bothered to get out of bed so early.  As I continued to stand on the beach the words to the song "10,000 Reasons" began to scroll through my head.  The song says, "The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning.  It's time to sing Your song again.  Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes."

The Lord immediately spoke two things to me.  First, the sun did indeed come up.  No cloud could change the fact that the sun DID rise even though I couldn't see it.  I didn't see it, but it was there all the same.  The evidence of it was everywhere.  It was producing light,  it was quickly warming the sand beneath my feet, and it was burning off the fog and clouds.  The same is true in our lives.  Sometimes when we are looking for Him, the Son, we may not see Him or His hand because the clouds (our circumstances) are seemingly hiding Him.  However, based on the truth of His Word and His faithfulness in all my past experiences,  He is there all the same.  Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  No matter your circumstance, He is there!  You may not see Him, but He is working on your behalf.

Secondly, He reminded me that because it is a new day, no matter what the day looks like or how it starts, I am to sing His song.  I am to be grateful that He has given me another day to make Him famous.  When the sun sets in the evening, no matter what the day has brought my way, I will ultimately be blessing His name.  "Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore!" Psalm 113:2.

Be encouraged, just as I was, by the reminder that He is there.  He is in the middle of your circumstance, your day, your trial even though you may not see Him there.  He has your name engraved on the palm of His hand and He is standing at the right hand of the Father ever interceding for you, by name.  Now, that makes for a great day!

A RICH INHERITANCE

She would have been 99 today.  She was an amazing, loving, simple woman.  She was a woman of little materially speaking, however she left a very rich legacy.  My grandparents practically raised me.  They meant the world to me.  Everything I know about the Lord came from them.  Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children."  

An inheritance is defined as "the acquisition of a possession from past generations."  I am one rich woman because of the inheritance left by them.  No, I'm not talking about material things.  As a matter of fact, most everything in their home at the time of their death was borrowed from one person in the family or another.  They lived in a small two bedroom wooden framed house.  Material things were never important to them. Living an honest, humble life before the Lord, loving their children, grandchildren, and great-grands was of the utmost importance to the two of them.  

We must ask ourselves the question:  Is that the kind of inheritance that we are working every day to leave our children and children's children?  Or do we concentrate more on what we are building up in the bank account for them?...The things that moth and rust destroy...Or the things that will last forever?  Are we more concerned about what kind of house they will live in and how many square feet it will have or the impact that they will make on a lost and dying world for Jesus?  It is so easy to get caught up in the "practical", but I know that the desire of our hearts is to be remembered by all that come behind us just the way I remember my grandparents....

                                            THE HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT

There stands a little white frame house

In a yard that's always groomed

The occupants are not at home

It all seems doom and gloom

But at one time, not long ago

They were there, you see.

The place was such a haven

For Andy, the kids, and me.

The house was plain and simple

Just barely kept out the cold

But, oh, the love that the old place held

Was more than this heart can hold.

If only those old walls could talk,

I'd sit for hours on end

And listen to the memories shared

And wish for one more moment to spend.

They can change the trim or tear it down

Or move it down the lane

But the little house that love built

Will forever there remain.