Caught In The Storm

Scripture

“O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”

~Psalm 55:6

Quote

“The best way to endure a storm is to stay low–on your knees.”

~Paul Chappell

As humans, it is impossible to evade all the storms of life. Storms of grief, sorrow, heartache, anxiety, fear and suffering come to all. Like David, it is our instinct to flee the storm, to find shelter or a safe place.

As I mediated on Psalm 55 yesterday, this question came to mind: can a dove fly above the storm. There is an African vulture, the Ruppell’s Griffon, that can fly at 37,800 feet. This ugly birds has a wing span of ten feet but I doubt if a small bird like the dove has the capability to fly half this high. The average altitude of a dove in flight is 500 feet. Dove’s are low flyers. Thunderstorms can rise to heights of 70,000 feet which means, Jets don’t fly above them, let alone birds. When a storm comes, the smaller birds like the dove look for shelter in a bush or wooded area. The goal of the dove is safety and shelter.

We humans are a lot like doves. We are not that brave when it comes to storms. Our instincts tell us to run, seek shelter or find a safe hiding place. Noah found shelter in the midst of the storm. The Ark was his hiding place. Noah didn’t avoid the storm, he went through the storm in the safety of the Ark. Jesus is our Ark. He doesn’t always save us from the storm but through the storm. I seek His shelter daily. Jesus is my hiding place.

• June and I got home from the doctor at 8:15, we had to hustle from Cullman to Hartselle before Rite Aid closed. I have a ruptured disc in L-3-4 and it is pinching two nerves. The nerve going to my left foot and the one coming back. Dr. Ward is trying to schedule an LES Lumbar Epidural Steroid shot for immediate relief but they are backed up and his goal is sometime before Christmas. This means my life style, 8 hours up and 16 down is not going to change.  One thing to be thankful for this time is that I can sit up and walk a little whereas last Spring I couldn’t walk or sit.
• Sunday Schedule: Donuts @ 9:00, LCBS @ 9:15, CELEBRATE JESUS in worship @ 10:15, and Nursing Home Ministry at 1:00 [Summerfords].
• The YOUNG PEOPLE are great about sending old folks CHRISTMAS CARDS. Call me old foggy but I like the ones with the entire family. I walked by the frig tonight and said to June, “I don’t even know this kid.” She said, “Yes you do, it is so an so.” I said, “Why don’t the parents put themselves in the picture?” She said, “Because that is they way they want to do it.” But I am thankful for all the young families that send us cards. I like the ones with multiple pics and holiday colors and the word Christmas but I’m not complaining. Thank you for the cards.
• Today has been a question day for me: The government got half of my daughter’s Christmas bonus and she works hard for every dollar. How is that our government takes half of the tax payers Christmas bonus and yet give illegal immigrants, namely Muslims, food vouchers, Medicaid, and SS benefits when they have paid no taxes and do not give allegiance to the United States of American? Every Muslim is a potential terrorist. I am not profiling, I am telling the truth. “Is there one democrat with Integrity and is there one Republican with Courage?” Does anyone, other than the CEO and first Vice President of Genesis Construction, care enough about this country to lean on our congressmen? I contacted all three for the last two weeks. Shelby has never responded [I am beginning to wonder if he is alive], Sessions the first time but not the second. I think Mo will respond to the second but he has not to this point. Please, for the sake of my grandkids, let our congressmen know how you feel about this insanity of relocating Muslim in the U.S. Third and final question: what happened to France after they showed compassion and allowed the immigration of thousand of Muslims?
• By the way, for what it is worth: [1] Obama is anti-American. We have always had American haters but not in the White House. [2] Only a corrupt and morally degenerate political party would allow a man to run for President who was not born in the U.S. Obama isn’t the only trader: the democratic party is guilty of treason. [3] Our present state could not have happend if the majority of Americans were not selfish and indifferent. [4] Judgment is most likely right around the next corner and when it comes, there are going to be Christians, Jews and decent people regretting their neglect and indifference.
• YES, I DO KNOW THAT READERS DON’T LIKE LONG BLOGS but the ten who read my blog will forgive me. I am just sick and tired of the imperial Obama and the impotent congress.

Wake up Richard! Please wake up!

Our Help

SCRIPTURE

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

~Psalms 121:1-2, NASB

QUOTE

We are all born helpless.

~C.S. Lewis

I suppose we all strive for some degree of independence, it is our human nature but not only were we born helpless, many times we return to state of helplessness before we depart this world. A man is a fool to deny his need for help: we all need help and we all need to be helpers. Psalm 121 was my Mother’s favorite Psalm. It is what they call a Psalm of ascent. It’s a song the pilgrims sang as they neared the summit of Zion. To the ancient Jews, the mountains were a symbol of worship, refuge and strength.  Mountains are majestic master pieces of God’s creative power but the mountains are not our source of help. Our help comes from the Maker of the mountains.

• Dick and Laura wanted me to express thanks to the church for use of the facilities and for all the help: I know that Holly called on several of you to help with the food. Carrie Beth and Brett, Will and Chanda and Tracey Hill worked the entire visitation. A special thanks to Terry Cowart who ran the sound and stayed at the church all evening until all the flowers were picked up and he also stayed for the evening service and ran the sound. A very special thanks to Joe Fitzgerald and Rickey Fields for working through the LCBS hour to get our bathroom working. Last but not least I must thank all of those who are in His Majesty’s Secret Service [that would be my prayer warriors]. Thank you guys!
• I was totally shocked when I walked in last night: I expected 20 and we had three times that many. I was blown away. I apologize to the kids but we didn’t think we would have any and we ended up with a dozen. Big Mama didn’t bring the candy. We will make up for it next week.
• More good news: Our offering for the Dana Segars memorial was $1,372.00. That will buy 130 bibles. I was thrilled and so were Jimmy and Sandra. Way to go DBC.
• LORD willing, the entire Bailey bunch will leave for a retreat in Gatlinburg, Tennessee sometime March 24.
• The woman on the left [below] is Tinkerbelle, she is Len Cox boss. She told me that when she says “jump,” Len says, “how high?” She is also Rebecca’s Stephenson’s mother. Rebecca was Clayton’s fiancé.

Tinkerbelle and Sister