Dorian Day 1

BIBLE READING: ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-7 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.”  NLT

BLOG:  Today is Labor Day and for most people they celebrated with parades, cook outs and family fun.  Here on the East Coast of Florida we are watching the slowest moving storm ever.

Now I am not making light of the situation.  What has happened in the Bahamas awful and we should be praying for them right now.  Even better, we need to prepare to give something in the way of assistance whether it be our money, resources or time.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

If you are not from Florida and don’t understand, please let me help you.  A storm will show up in the Atlantic.  We notice it.  It will move into the Caribbean and we will check it out.  Maybe in a couple of days we will revisit it and determine if we need to pay attention.  Over 90% of the time, we don’t.  They disappeared, go somewhere else or just float out to sea (our personal preference.) But once in a while there is a storm that peaks our interest.  There is a cone that is issued by the Nation Hurricane Center.  If you are in this cone then you really pay attention!  Usually in 3 - 5 days it’s game on!  

Dorian, not so much. It was suppose to be a Tropical Storm.  Then it was a Cat 1, then a 2,3,4,5 and now Mega 5.  It was going out to sea, then it was going to Miami, then it was going to North Carolina, then it was going to hit here.  It was supposed to be here a week ago, then 5 days ago, the 3 days ago, then today, now tomorrow.  Its’ called Hurricane Fatigue.  Yes, its’ a real thing. 

Everyone learns how to be patient.  Mostly from waiting.  It is a unique and powerful character quality that when used properly can be a life saver.  When you wait for the “right” person to marry, to lose your tempter, to make the right career move or some other important decision in life it is helpful to be patient.  

Paul tells us to rejoice in hope.  If you forget that you have a future filled with hope, you will become impatient.  Then he tells us to be constant in prayer.  Consistency teaches us how to be patient.  But then he says, be patient in tribulation.  

Paul understood this. He was stuck on a ship for 2 weeks at sea in a - (wait for it) - a Hurricane.  (Acts 27).  Finally his ship was wrecked and he ended up spending the winter on a remote island in the Mediterranean.  His patience in Christ paid off.  Be patient, Jesus will come through.  Keep your eyes on Him and not on the storm.  Especially storms named Dorian.  

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, I place my faith and my patience in You.  AMEN.