Yesterday, in my own community, I witnessed a house burn to the ground…it was paralyzing watching the flames engulf a home. No words can express what it feels like…it was gone in 40 minutes…all gone. Reduced to ash and rubble a lifetime of memories…
“Overwhelmed”
“T” is a man that we served in what is known as ash out; where you clean up the debris and ash to give the owner a sense of “I can go on from here”. The first time I met “T”, he had come to the church seeking help with the clean up of his property. He was “overwhelmed”…and to add insult to injury…one year ago his wife had died. She was his helpmate and he missed her terribly, so much so, that prior to the fire he had left everything of hers exactly where she had left it, including where she had last parked her car. He had not yet finished grieving the loss of his wife, and now this…his home…with all of her memories had burned to the ground…it was all gone…“T” was shaken to his very soul. Furious at the circumstances that surrounded him, angry at yet another “hit” in this life.
With an edge in his voice that dared us to provide hope to his bleak situation, he resolved himself to ask for help with the clean up, not easy for an independent man use to doing for himself and his family…no home…a twisted pile of remains…desolation everywhere…how could he manage?
The team got to work removing the twisted metal piece-by-piece, cleaning up the ash…sorting through what was left.
Impression #2 God cares when you hurt
Have you ever been angry at your situation…shaking a fist at God…your shoulders sag in despair…deep sighs of discouragement surround your heart?
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (NLT)
God cares you know. He cares that our hearts are broken.
1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)
If you have never asked God for help, why not ask him to show you the way to new beginnings?
Proverbs 3:4-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (NLT)
A prayer of three words is sometimes all you need…”Help me Jesus!”
1 Peter 5:10, “But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.” (CEV)
Psalm 107:28-29, “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. (NLT)
Caprice <><
Don’t ever forget…
Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (NIV)
“Overwhelmed”
“T” is a man that we served in what is known as ash out; where you clean up the debris and ash to give the owner a sense of “I can go on from here”. The first time I met “T”, he had come to the church seeking help with the clean up of his property. He was “overwhelmed”…and to add insult to injury…one year ago his wife had died. She was his helpmate and he missed her terribly, so much so, that prior to the fire he had left everything of hers exactly where she had left it, including where she had last parked her car. He had not yet finished grieving the loss of his wife, and now this…his home…with all of her memories had burned to the ground…it was all gone…“T” was shaken to his very soul. Furious at the circumstances that surrounded him, angry at yet another “hit” in this life.
With an edge in his voice that dared us to provide hope to his bleak situation, he resolved himself to ask for help with the clean up, not easy for an independent man use to doing for himself and his family…no home…a twisted pile of remains…desolation everywhere…how could he manage?
The team got to work removing the twisted metal piece-by-piece, cleaning up the ash…sorting through what was left.
Impression #2 God cares when you hurt
Have you ever been angry at your situation…shaking a fist at God…your shoulders sag in despair…deep sighs of discouragement surround your heart?
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (NLT)
God cares you know. He cares that our hearts are broken.
1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)
If you have never asked God for help, why not ask him to show you the way to new beginnings?
Proverbs 3:4-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (NLT)
A prayer of three words is sometimes all you need…”Help me Jesus!”
1 Peter 5:10, “But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.” (CEV)
Psalm 107:28-29, “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. (NLT)
Caprice <><
Don’t ever forget…
Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (NIV)
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