Being Neighborly

 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
"Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:25-29 NLT

Hurricanes and flooding and other so-called natural disasters don't pick and choose which side of town to wipe out. Devastation has no economic or social barriers. It doesn't care who you voted for or what color your skin happens to be. In the moment, it is a great equalizer.

We all know the story of the Good Samaritan. Once again, we're living it. People we don't know pitching in to help gut homes devastated by Ida, trucking supplies to neighboring states, hauling trash to the curb. Why? Simply because they need help. The kindnesses are both humbling and overwhelming. People connecting and helping each other, giving to one another, sharing whatever they have to share. People I know who have lost - out helping others who have also lost. Those who have not lost - out helping those who have. It's amazing. It doesn't matter who you are or where you live or whether or not the latest hurricane took anything from you, neighbors are helping neighbors.

Verses 36-37, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Prayer:

Father,
         Oh, how I pray this love for our neighbors will transcend storms and earthquakes and tsunamis! Lord, we are witnessing Your love poured out across (and in spite of) socio-economic-politico barriers. Help us to be ever mindful to Now go and do the same. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prepared to Go

The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”

Matthew 3:3 NLT

Hurricane Season is three weeks old. Since Harvey last year, everywhere I look, there are signs advertising this for hurricane preparedness and that for hurricane preparedness and the other for hurricane preparedness. Our corporate safety minutes for the month of June all have to do with hurricane preparedness. For three weeks, we've listened to the experts tell us all the tell-tale signs and what to expect to the point that I'm already tired of the hype. 

The truth is, if another hurricane should head this way (God forbid), I'll be looking for all that information. However, I'll be looking more for the way out of here. It's wisdom to be prepared, so, I'm prepared. I've got what I need: my car has a full tank of gas, new tires aired and checked, new oil change in the car - checklist of what needs to go and enough PTO that I can avoid the evacuation rush. If it happens, we're ready and we'll just go.

However, on my way home today, I was reminded of that same attitude of the world, regarding the end times of the world as we know it. I got to thinking about 2nd Peter 3: 3-4 where it reads, Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”  And they ignore the tell-tale signs of the times, and the warnings and the love message that they MUST be born again - because they're tired of hearing it.

They've had plenty of warning - centuries to prepare - and when our Father sends His Son to come get His bride, the only thing the news stations will be reporting will be after the event, when they're wondering where thousands of people went who just disappeared off the face of the Earth. Those of us who have prepared - who have repented of our sin and asked God to forgive us - who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, the only Way to the Father by His Blood that was shed on Calvary, and who believe that His death, burial and resurrection were all about redeeming us from our sin - that's who will go. There won't be any hurricane tracking charts to let you know how much time is left before the Evacuation, no immediate advance warning - other than a trumpet blast - and that will be too late to be already prepared. If it happened now, are you ready to go?

If not, I'll be happy to tell you how. 

Prayer:

Father,

       For that one who is lost, or the ones who have slipped away from their relationship with You and mistakenly think You won't take them back this many times later, release them from their fear, Father, or whatever it is that holds them back from the one True salvation. All roads don't lead to You, but I know You can find us and draw us to You from wherever we are. Please, Father. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen  

What's Your Source?

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Psalm 4:8 NLT

And for tonight, that is my testimony.

Hurricane Harvey managed to go from a tropical storm and the expected upgrade to Category 1 all the way to a Category 4 storm today. We prepared for the projected Cat 1, even Cat 2, but I was surprised when it got to Cat 3. Then around 6pm Central time, they announced Category 4. I couldn't believe it. Lots of people went into panic mode, listening to the latest predictions on the various news stations.

The great news is God wasn't shocked by any of it. He didn't start wringing His hands. He did NOT go into panic mode. God doesn't take His cue from the news stations...

The most important thing in any situation, but especially in crises, is to have the Truth. Not what-ifs, not potential disaster, not what could or might happen, or any other spin to grab a rating and to incite fear and dread. I went to the best source I know for this kind of thing - The National Hurricane Center. It's all they do. And sure enough, Harvey did truly become a Category 4 storm and is expected to adversely affect most of the Texas coast. However, in my area of the coast, the effects are expected to be tropical storm weather conditions, not Cat 4.

And I was reminded how much MORE important it is to have the Truth in our everyday life from the only trustworthy Source there is - Jesus - who declared, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. The enemy of our soul will ALWAYS come to incite fear, dread and anxiety with all the what-ifs, the potential for disaster, what could happen or might happen - or any other fear or lie he can get us to believe. But what does God have to say about the situation? What does His Word tell you about it? You have to be able to trust your Source. What's your source?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for opening our eyes and our hearts to the Truth of Your Word. Give us wisdom, Father, to be able to understand and rightly divide its Truths. Thank You for Your hand of protection and provision, and that for tonight, In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen