My Solid Rock

Photo by M. Jones

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, an the winds blew on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”  Matthew 7:24-25

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

No merit of my own I claim

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

–My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

(LSB 575:1)

“Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things, instill in our hearts the love of Your name, impress on our minds the teachings of Your Word, and increase in our lives all that is holy and just; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives an reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen”

–Treasury of Daily Prayer

Who or what is your solid rock that supports you when the storms of life blow hard against you?

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January 9 Watching Out

Genesis 20:1-22:24;  Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12;  Proverbs 2:16-22

“Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”  Matthew 7:15-20

“Test the spirits.”

If someone preaches

the “right” way to Heaven

but never mentions

the name of Jesus,

beware.

If a teaching

speaks only of

good works

to do,

but

fails to mention

what Christ

did for you,

for all,

beware.

Above all

pray for discernment,

fact-check

with God’s Word

and don’t let

“itching”

ears

lead you

away

from His truth.

June 9 Rock Solid

Photo courtesy of NSSL

1 Kings 5:1-6:38;  Acts 7:1-29;  Psalm 127:1-5;  Proverbs 16:28-30

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stay awake in vain.  It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;  for he gives to his beloved sleep.”   Psalm 127:1-2

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rains fell, and the floods came, and winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”  Matthew 7:24-25

“Easter Sunday will go down in the Womack family’s book of treasured memories.  Jimmy and Mary Womack of Mayflower, Ark. were confirmed and their three children baptized at Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in nearby Maumelle, Ark.

They had finally found a church home.

But the very next Sunday, April 27, terror and loss threatened to replace that joy.

An EF4 tornado packing 180 MPH winds shredded the Womack’s home in 15 seconds.  Three of the Womacks were inside at the time.

…The three Womacks ran into the walk-in closet in the the Master bedroom on the opposite end of the house from the tornado.  Womack stood over his kneeling wife and child.

“I started hearing the rumbling and shaking and felt the wind from under the door,” he said.  “All of a sudden the wall fell and all the clothes came down on top of us….”

The family believes that the tiled bathroom wall that fell across Jimmy Womack’s back saved them.  After the storm he tried to lift the wall.  It wouldn’t budge.  It was too heavy.

“I had help holding that wall up,” Womack said.  “God’s hands were there.”

While the Womacks decide where to live and whether to rebuild, a fellow member of Shepherd of Peace took her house off the market and invited the family to stay there.

“It’s a new beginning for us,” Womack said.  “It’s just another phase in our lives and that’s why God protected us.  No matter how bad it seems, there’s always light at the end, and your faith will get you through.”

(Story reported by Melanie Ave in the “Reporter” newspaper of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, June 2014)

Lord God, thank you for the rock solid faith you built into the heart of Jimmy Womack.  When his physical home was destroyed, his spiritual home remained strong, because it was built on the Rock Solid truth of your Son Jesus Christ who promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  No matter how badly the storms of life rage, keep our faith in you–our Rock Solid Savior–strong.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.