When the Earth Quakes

“When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundation firm.” Psalm 75:3

Not living in California, I don’t have any experience in an actual earthquake. But I do know that when you’re in one, you’re supposed to get into a doorway and hold on for dear life until the shaking stops. I think its because that is the strongest part of the structure at that point, not that you feel very safe there either, when everything you own is bouncing off the walls and crashing down around you. Then you clean up the mess and go back to life as usual, though I imagine at that point you have a lot less clutter and a thankfulness that you are alive.
In our lives as Christians, there are times when are lives are shaking and everything feels like it’s in turmoil, very much like an earthquake. We don’t always know why. We just know that it’s scary and confusing and you can’t always hear God clearly over the rumble and shake. But I think the scriptures give us a doorway to stand in….

Psalm 105:4 puts it like this…

“Search for the Lord and for his strength, and keep on searching.”

“When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundation firm.”

No matter what we go through, the Lord is our firm foundation in our lives. We need to keep running to Him when everything around us is bouncing off the walls. He is our strength and place of safety. I think part of the problem is when we are in times of turmoil we run around in a panic saying “Why me?” and don’t always stop to ask God what the purpose is in what we are going through. People in California know to expect earthquakes, it’s a part of their lives. They build their houses to prepare for them, they know what to do if one comes. Trials are a part of our lives as Christians, yet we don’t expect them and aren’t always prepared when they come. Yet trials clear a lot of the “clutter” out of our lives, the things that aren’t really important, and should send us running to our place of safety, our source of strength.

“His faithful love endures forever” (Ps. 106:1)

It’s earthquake-proof. Keep holding on to Him.

With love and prayers,

Cheryl

First Blog- Finding God in the Whirlwind

If you've read the Old Testament, you may remember reading about Elijah's mighty victory over the prophets of Baal. Yet in the next chapter, we find him hiding in the cave . I don't know about you, but I have days where I have just HAD IT and feel like holing up in a cave for some peace and quiet myself! But God didn't leave him there, any more than He will let us hide out and feel sorry for ourselves. Let's pick up the story in the Bible, using the New Living Translation.

1 Kings 19:11-13

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

There are days that my life seems very much like the mighty windstorm (or whirlwind) in this passage, I have trouble hearing the still small voice of God amid the flurry of activities. From soccer practice to school plays to church commitments and duties of job, home and marriage, life often feels like a hurricane with brief moments of surreal silence in the midst of the storm. So in this crazy, everyday, harried world, how do I find God in the whirlwind? I can't just hide away in a cave, I need to be able to find God in the whirlwind, to be able to hold onto him when the earth quakes, I need to draw from His strength. When His refining fires are shaping my character, I need be able to hear His gentle whisper speaking to me to give me the encouragement I need.

Join me on my journey as I try to find quiet moments with God in this adventure known as everyday life. May we grow closer to the Lord and encourage each other along the way!