Shelter In The Storms

As I sit in my cold house bundled up like an Eskimo, my heart can't help but go to those that do not have a place to call home much less shelter...not only shelter from the elements but life's storms that happen. Storms happen in all our lives. Rich, poor, beautiful, ugly, fat, skinny...Storms are not discriminate.

Those of us that have Christ have the One to lean on, to leave our burdens at His feet...our job is to be strong to leave them there, not picking them back up again...to try to fix ourselves. Lord, give us the strength to leave it with You as You have got it under control!

What about those that don't know Him? What do they do? Who or what do they turn to? Drugs? Alcohol? Food? Violence because they don't have anyone to listen to them until it just boils out of them in rage?

Those of us that do know Christ we have an obligation to tell everyone we meet about Him. Not only did Jesus command it in the Great Commission, but wouldn't you want to tell everyone about how Great HE IS? How He loved you in spite of you? How He delivered you from the bondage that had you in the deepest pit? How your life was so bad that you wanted to die and He saved you from despair?

You would have to hate someone not to share the Good News with them. Everyone deserves a chance to find out about the One that gave His life for their sakes.

If you don't have the courage to start out with a simple, "Jesus loves you." Then how about fulfilling a need you see with your natural eyes.

There are homeless in every community whether you choose to see them or not - more than we care to admit. They need you to share the love of Christ. They need you to share some of you. They don't need your judgment of why they are there. They need your love.

As Christians we are to be CHRIST-LIKE. He wouldn't walk past them. He would feed them, cloth them and show them the love of the Father.

Imagine how great this world would be, if each of us helped just one person. There would be no want in this life.

I was asked, "What do you want for Christmas?"  Well if you ask my husband he will tell you that I want a new couch that I don't sink to the floor on. However my true Christmas wish doesn't cost a dime. My Christmas wish is for everyone to know and love Jesus. He is the Gift that keeps on giving.

Let's all give Jesus for Christmas. It is the celebration of His birth and I know that is the gift that He wants. Share Him and leave no one out. Storms come and storms go, but our Lord remains the same...in love with all of us.   He is our shelter in/out of the storms.  Seek/Share Him today and always.

Until Next Time, God Bless and Merry CHRISTmas.

Isaiah 58:2-12 (AMP)

2
“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight [superficially] to know My ways,
As [if they were in reality] a nation that has done righteousness
And has not abandoned (turned away from) the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me righteous judgments,
They delight in the nearness of God.
3
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You do not see it?
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’
Hear this [O Israel], on the day of your fast [when you should be grieving for your sins] you find something you desire [to do],
And you force your hired servants to work [instead of stopping all work, as the law teaches].
4
“The facts are that you fast only for strife and brawling and to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You do not fast as you do today to make your voice heard on high.
5
“Is a fast such as this what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself [with sorrow in his soul]?
Is it only to bow down his head like a reed
And to make sackcloth and ashes as a bed [pretending to have a repentant heart]?
Do you call this a fast and a day pleasing to the Lord?
6
“[Rather] is this not the fast which I choose,
To undo the bonds of wickedness,
To tear to pieces the ropes of the yoke,
To let the oppressed go free
And break apart every [enslaving] yoke?
7
“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?
8
“Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth;
Your righteousness will go before you [leading you to peace and prosperity],
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9
“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away from your midst the yoke [of oppression],
The finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and [every form of] wicked (sinful, unjust) speech,
10
And if you offer yourself to [assist] the hungry
And satisfy the [a]need of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
11
“And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12
“And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up and restore the age-old foundations [of buildings that have been laid waste];
You will be called Repairer of the Breach,
Restorer of Streets [b]with Dwellings.

Why?

We are in the middle of my most favorite time of the year.  It is the time that the 5 year old in me keeps the child like wonder alive within me and hopefully those that come into contact with me.  I love giving and this is the season that not only promotes giving, it is highly encouraged.  I kind of live by the verse, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  We are in my season!

Then why am I so sad?  For the first time in years, I have family coming for Christmas.  I am so excited that my cousin who is more like my sister is coming to stay with me during my loneliest time of the year.  I am downright Joela Joyful over her coming.  I have plans for lots of fun with my “seester”.  Then why am I sad?

Lord, I have so much going for me, but I am sad.  Why?  Why God, why? 

Lately that has been the question I have been asking Him…why?  I have NEVER in my life questioned God and to why things happen.  In my mind that would just be rude.  However this week, that “why” has been asked more times than I care to admit.

Why am I so far away from family?

Why do I have to be so isolated from my kids?  Why can’t I be there for them?

Why can’t I see my grandchildren?  Why are they growing up without me?

Why can’t everyone live closer? Why do I only get to see them for a few hours a year?

Why do I hurt so much when I see them experiencing life without me?

Why are people leaving me?  Why do I feel so abandoned? 

Why do I feel so left out?

WHY?

I have never questioned why I have been relocated.  I do believe that God moved me to another state to get me away from the distractions that kept me in a rut, stagnate.  I enjoyed that life.  I had gotten too comfortable doing the same ol same ol, that I needed the uprooting and being transplanted away from everyone that I love.  He removed me from the family that I focused on for Him to get my attention. 

Ok God, here I am.  You have my attention God, You have me Lord.  What are we going to do today?  Who are we going to bless today?  I love You so much Lord, tell me what You want me to do…but God, why do I hurt so much?  WHY? 

Do you ask Him why?  I have been told that He likes us to ask Him that.  I personally have never liked asking Him, “why”. 

I never liked it when my children did the “why” game with me.  You know where you tell them to do something and every word that comes out of their mouth is, “why”?  I always considered it disrespectful to question your parents.  At least that is what my elders taught me.

God is my Father, why would He want me to ask Him, “WHY?”  Isn’t that me questioning the Great I Am, that I Am who is Omniscient? 

All I keep hearing in my head is my mama (and then me to my children), answering with, “Because I the parent, told you the child to do so!”

As I am studying the book of Revelation, I see that (over and over again) John is asking Jesus, “Why”.  However Jesus didn’t get upset when John asked, “why?” – He was patient and explained to John, the why.  Jesus led John to a deeper understanding of the why. 

Wow God, You mean I can ask You why and You won’t think me disrespectful?  I am in such awe of You Lord, that You love me so much (even in spite of ME!) that it is okay for me to ask why?  I knew that You want us to ask questions about You to learn more about You but why would me asking You “why” be okay?

This morning as I sat here asking the “why” I felt His loving embrace.  My answer didn’t come in the form of words this time.  I just felt Him loving on me.  He wasn’t mad that I asked the why question.  He just comforted me as my Father, the God of all Comfort.  He loves me!

Which I will be honest with you, was exactly what I needed.  The feeling alone and unloved left immediately.  Words would not have consoled me the way His loving embrace did.  He is a Good, Good Father…it is who He is!

I pray that your “why God” questions are answered in the manner that speaks volumes.

Until Next Time, God Bless!