When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

There are times in life when it feels like we will drown in sorrow. The losses, the betrayals, the failures threaten to overwhelm us. The intensity of the emotional pain frightens us in times like this. We feel ourselves losing ground as life swirls around us.

This text states with great clarity two central truths which are critical to our survival in times like this. First, God has made a very specific promise to us. God says "I will be with you." This may not always be what we want. We may want God to take the floods of life away. We may want God to build dams upstream in life so that the danger of flood is diminished. But, God's promise is clear. I will be with you.

Secondly, this text says very clearly "When you pass through the waters, they will not sweep over you." God will protect us and see us through. There are times when there just doesn't seem to be any way to make it. Nothing is more painful in these times than to have someone who stands at a distance express optimism about our pain in a way that minimizes the struggle. ["Oh, you're going to be fine. Stop worrying about it."] Conversely, nothing is more valuable in these times than to have someone with us who sees the danger clearly but who is able to be hopeful for us and protect us and see us through

For your promise to be with me in the floods of life, God,
I give you thanks.
Help me to sense your presence.
For your hopefulness about my recovery, 
I give you thanks.
Help me to share in your hope.
You are Life-Preserver to me, God.
Thank you.

Amen.

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
National Association for Christian Recovery

I was out riding my motorcycle after having just received terrific news.  Karyn just told me that I was going to be a father for the first time.  So, I was taking one last spin on my motorcycle around Lake Whatcom.  The plan was to sell the motorcycle to help with the new baby expenses.   Being so exuberant, I was probably traveling a bit faster than I should have been, so as I took this one curve the bike laid on its side.  There was some gravel on the road that I hadn’t seen so the next thing I know, I am laying on the road with my bent up bike.  As I lifted my bike and walked it to the edge of the road, I noticed that my one knee was bleeding badly and I thought I could see my patella thru my jeans. 

This part of Lake Whatcom was not very populated.  I started to walk to a busier road.  On my way a man in a white van pulled up and said, “Hey, do you need a ride to emergency?  I saw your bike back a ways.”  I told him, “yes, I need to get some help.”  I slowly got into the passenger seat and noticed that the man was dressed completely in white, looking like something that a professional painter would wear.  As we talked, I tried to look at his face as I leaned forward and he turned his face to the left.  He said, “I have a hard time looking at blood.”  

I don’t think that I was completely aware because I was in pain and in shock so I think I passed out because he shook me and woke me up once (I don’t remember him touching me).  We were approaching one hospital and he said, “Is this emergency room OK?”  I said, “it’s OK but if you don’t mind, would you take me to the other hospital?  This one does abortions and I don’t think that’s right.”  He promptly said, “yeah, I agree.  Let’s go to the other hospital.”  The other hospital was just another five minute drive.  As we were going to the other hospital, I said, “do you have a business card so that I can write you a thank you?”  He said, “nope.  I don’t use business cards.”  I said, “what’s your name then?”  He said, “you don’t need to know my name.”  He stopped at the emergency room and I slowly got out of his van.  I hobbled a few feet and turned to wave and the van was nowhere to be seen.  

Second story

We (Karyn & I and both of our sons) had been missionaries in Ecuador and returned back to our former church and in less than a year moved to another community.  We purchased a house that was near an elementary school and our boys liked to ride their bikes around the playground in the summer.  

One son  was not happy about the move and was feeling a bit down about life and was riding his bike alone at the playground one afternoon.   Suddenly, he came running back to the house, cheerful, and said, “hey Dad, I made a new friend!  There’s a boy up at the playground who said he was with me in Ecuador!”  I said, “that’s cool, someone we know from Ecuador!”  We rushed back up to the playground to find this boy and he was gone.  My son described him as a boy his own age and size and was very friendly.  I said, “if you see him again, have him come over to our house so that we can meet him.”  My son went up to the playground several times over the next few days and he never saw that boy again.

We have talked about these encounters with family and friends and most come to the same conclusion that I have.  Most believe that they were encounters with angels.

Whaddyathink?

BE HOLY.
BE AMAN.

Looking back on my life I realize how ill equipped I was under my own power. I knew God was powerful but in my mind I still put limitations on Him. I got into the habit of thinking that my sin bound God from using me for anything significant. Then, my life changing moment occurred. Soon after I killed a man, and subsequently dealt with overwhelming guilt, I had a very unusual encounter with God. He revealed himself to me in the form of a burning bush. I have, obviously, witnessed a bush burn before …it happens all the time in the dry areas. This bush, though, was not being consumed for some reason. It’s like it was being protected from damage and decay somehow. The voice of God was audible in this setting. I felt love. I felt peace. I felt like I was forgiven.

The word God spoke to me was rather odd and, at the time, I thought it was probably meant for someone else. God wanted me to lead an entire race of people (the Israelites) out of the captivity of Egypt. Egypt, by the way, was the most powerful empire in the world. Let’s face it; there was no way this was going to happen. Imagine how angry that would make Pharaoh. Millions of people who were used as the labor force of the empire….just walking out of the country? I think someone would notice that before the plan was implemented. Also, why did God choose me? I can’t even speak clearly. Great leaders have booming, and persuasive voices. Their natural charisma compels people to follow. This was not the way people would describe me.

As I looked into the burning bush, I realized that God had the power to protect me from damage. I also realized that He was calling me in the midst of my sin and inadequacies.  My obedience and dependence on Him would be my salvation. I did what God told me to do, and the rest is history.

As I reflect on my history there are things I observe about the current generation. The first observation parallels with my earthly call. The people of God still often act as if they are in bondage. They allow negativity, material possessions, selfishness, entitlement, and anger to hold them captive. They have a hard time embracing the freedom that is available to them. The last observation is that they think God can’t use them if they have sin in their past. I will be the first one to say that I as guilty of that same thought process, but I found out that God uses us….despite us.

Brothers and sisters…embrace your freedom today, and accept the fact that God has an enormous plan for your life. Don’t worry…He will protect you.

-Moses

This post is written by Rev DeCrastos.  For the original post with comments, you can go here:  http://otherwordsdotnet.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/moses-speaks/

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.