Wrather Thoughts

A daily journal of the thoughts, ideas, and life of Ed Wrather who is a pastor and writer of the Burning Bush Devotional www.theburningbush.net wrather@dobsonteleco.com

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Still Standing

The last couple of weeks have been difficult as an 18-year-old young woman from our church passed away. She was here one Sunday, full of life and the next week she is gone. We had known her for most of her life. This week the son-in-law of our chairman of deacons was killed in a plane crash. Today was the funeral and nothing easy about any of this for the family.

We have had the bricks replaced on our church that was blown off from the tornado. They were finished with this just a week or so ago. I've noticed that there are some imperfections in the brick work. However, the steeple that we had repaired and that is now back up on top of our church is not perfect either. I told everyone then and I think the same is true with the brick work - we need to remember that the building has been through a tornado. It has taken some hits but it is still standing.

Those who are a part of our church know that we have taken some hits in the past couple of weeks too but we are still standing. Most Christians if they have been Christians for very long know what I am talking about. You've taken some hits too but you're still standing. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." The apostle Paul knew whereof he was talking about because he had taken more than his share of hits too, but he was still standing firm for the Lord and we need to do the same.