Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

Psalms 122:1-5

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David.”

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Reflect

PEACE IN THE STORM

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with
Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!
—Fanny J. Crosby

Fanny Crosby composed over 8,000 hymns during her lifetime even though she was blind from infancy. “Blessed Assurance”, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”, “To God Be the Glory”, and “Rescue the Perishing” are some of my favorites.

She wrote songs that uplifted and spoke to peace and security in our relationship with God. These hymns rang out of our small rural church, welcoming the weary and heavy laden. I went joyfully with my parents every time the church doors were open. The congregation in our little farming community was composed mainly of family members. Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and those who had married into the family. This was the heart throb of our life. After working hard all week, it was pure bliss to be in church with family and friends, praising God for His love and provision.

Then in 1960 a tornado ripped through our community destroying homes and livelihoods, along with our precious church. The splintered physical representation of the spiritual heart of our community was strewn across acres of farmland. It would have been easy to give up. So much destruction of homes and property. Who would have time or money to rebuild the church?

But rebuild we did! I remember our little congregation gathering round each other, helping each other clean debris, provide temporary housing for those who had nothing to live in, all to the background noise of saws and hammers as recovery began. Church members would work on their own rebuilding or helping others rebuild, but always take time weekly to worship together and work together to rebuild the church.

Finally, it was complete. What joy when we were called together again by the sound of the church bell hung once more. “Come, join in worship at the house of the Lord!” God’s peace and provision displayed for all to see, even in the eye of the storm.

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Pray

Dear Lord, Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider, thank you! I praise You, for Your love and mercy endures forever. You strengthen me and grant me life daily. Praise be to the God Most High! In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.

Go with God!