On My Side

 Not sure how it looks at your house today, but at mine its gloomy, yucky, & at times, raining sideways. 

Rainy days are the best writing days...get a cup of coffee (aka manna from heaven...just kidding, but I do LOVE coffee), your journal & the Word of God and you're setting yourself up for a wonderful morning. I was sitting on my back porch this morning drinking my coffee, reading the word and listening to the rain and began to think back on a parable within the Bible. 

"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster." Matthew 7:24-27

If you grew up in the church, you've probably heard this preached on hundreds of times when discussing the sermon on the mount and the many lesson we can learn from the abounding wisdom within the profound words of Jesus...but, as many times as I've heard this used in sermons, I saw it from a new perspective this morning. 

Have you ever noticed the wording when Jesus described the storms that came against the two houses? He didn't say "another/different storm came against the second house"...not at all. He used the exact same words to describe both storms. "Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house." This life can throw some serious curve balls at you. I'm sure we each have our own that come to mind with that statement, but you have to understand who's behind those unexpected obstacles and heartbreaks. 

"Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

If satan can throw one punch that catches you off guard, giving him a small crack to sneak in through, that's all he needs. The Bible doesn't say he comes to pester you every once in a while. DEVOUR [to consume destructively]. He comes to destroy...completely! And all he needs is a small entrance; a little piece of bitterness that you've held on to; secrets done in the darkness of the night; a sliver of jealousy; a hint of complacency...a small crack that can lead to path of destruction. Take heed to the warning issued in 1 Peter: keep your mind clear and be alert! All he needs is a small crevice. 

The game changer within the parable of the two houses lies within the foundation of the house. Build your family, marriage, children, business, confidence and future on Jesus Christ and you're sure to stand. 

Our yard this morning as the rain continued to pour! 

Maybe you feel like you're drowning...like life has thrown one too many curve balls your way and you can't handle any more. Maybe you've tried to get up and the first step you take, something else hits you; another medical bill, another issue with a child, another unexpected expense, another death, another argument with your spouse that makes you question why you even continue. Do you remember the words of Jesus when describing the two houses? Both of them faced the same storm; both of them faced the rains that continued to pour, winds that continued to blow, and floods that continued to rise. You may not go up against the exact same battles that I do, just as I'm probably not facing the things you deal with...however, we're still standing on common ground. We both face storms coming from the same enemy: satan! 

So how do we overcome? What's the key to getting back up? To continuing when you've had just about as much as you can take? 

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes." Psalm 118:6-9 (ESV)

Take the first phrase and say it a few times:

       The Lord is on my side.
             The LORD is on MY side.
                   THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE! 

The God of all creation, who spoke this world into being, who supplies every breath you take in, who can identify every grain of sand on the beaches, every strand of hair on your head, who daily lavishes His love, mercy and truth on a very undeserving people, who knows the heart of every person, who holds the hearts of every president, ruler, and king of this earth in His hand, who pursues you even when you deny Him, who was willing to take on the brutal, torturous cross for those who mocked, spit and beat Him...HE IS ON YOUR SIDE! He is who makes you brave and gives you the courage to carry on. There is no relationship or marriage, status, financial security, rise of the stock market, physical appearance, or outcome of situations that can give you what God Himself can give. You press on because you've been called heavenward, seeking the day when we all bow before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, spending an eternity with the One who gave it all for us.

No matter what storm you're going through, always remember:

The wind & waves still know His name.