The Storms of Life

I stood and watched gray clouds roll over the snow capped mountains from my window upstairs. I saw the rough waters of Lake Tahoe darken with their shadows. What had been a beautiful sunny morning had changed in a matter of hours to a dark, cold, windy afternoon. The change taking place outside seemed also to be taking place inside of me.

I felt the darkness entering my mood like the clouds covering the sky. How quickly my attitude can change. How easily the storms enter into the calm of my heart. My joy seemed to disappear with the disappearing of the sun.

I thought of God and how He is not changed by the darkness, for there is no darkness in Him, only light. He sees through the clouds in our lives and uses them for His purpose. Without them, the rain would not come into the dryness of our souls. Without the darkness, we would not yearn for the light.

Though my plans for the day have changed due to the change in weather, it has taught me a good lesson about trust. I am reminded God commands the wind and waves within our lives just as He commands the elements without. The trust comes in the darkness, knowing that behind all the clouds He is still there in control of it all, and soon the sun will shine again.

Storms of Life

I feel the rain beating down, the wind blowing strong.

Standing in the storm of life, so many things seem wrong.

 In the dark I cannot see, how will this all work out?

Tested faith is holding on, and trying not to doubt.

 Are You still here with me Lord? Are those Your arms I feel?

I want to keep my trust in You; this darkness seems so real.

 I can’t see You next to me, but in my heart I know,

The bright light of Your presence, warms me in its glow.

 Showing me the way to step, to keep on solid ground.

Till the sun shines bright again, and renewed strength is found.

 You will never leave me here, alone and in the dark,

But let me questions just enough, for faith to leave its mark.

It’s in the dark and stormy times; Your light becomes so real,

A beacon calling out to me, to stop and rest and heal.

 You’re a shelter in the rain, a place to run in to,

Where life’s cold winds cease to blow - standing close to You.

 The clouds may hide the sunshine, yet for a day or two,

But You’re still here within the storm, helping me get through.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous run into it and are safe.

Psalm 18:10

The Log In My Eye

     This morning as I cleaned the bathroom and picked up other peoples things, I found myself getting irritated with their messiness; dirty towels, an empty collection of deodorant bottles, and a little pile of things dumped out of a pocket and left homeless on the counter. “The nerve of them” I thought, “To leave this mess here for me to clean up!”

      As I began feeling sorry for myself and wondering where I went wrong in my parenting, I came across another collection of debris – my husband’s! “Ah ha, the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?!”  And in my mind I began preparing a three point sermon on the importance of being a good example (for you-know-who) when I happened to round the corner from the bathroom to the bedroom, and what do you suppose I saw? Another mess! On the dresser right in front of me was a pile of books waiting to be given back to the lender, Easter candy still waiting to be given to one of our sons, borrowed videos, an old cell phone with all its accessories, and a pile of jewelry. I’m embarrassed to say…it was my dresser!

      I was just about finished forming that sermon (thinking it was pretty good) when somewhere deep within my heart, a still, small voice whispered, “You have a log in your eye. Why don’t you remove it first then talk to the others about their messes?” And just like that…my sermon was given a new title, and it was addressed to me!

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the log from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye."

Luke 6:41-42

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