Tag: Abraham

Storm Shelters of Life

After several tornado watches and warnings in our area over the last few months, I began to think we should get a storm shelter for our property. I begged for one.  I nagged about it.  I requested it for my birthday.  I researched them. I organized the site visit. And then I ordered the shelter for delivery.  Once it arrived, I painted it and moved emergency supplies into the ginormous above-ground cement and rebar structure.  It’s rated for an EF-5 tornado wind strength and can hold 10-12 people…and then our inner circle started teasing me. They thanked me for purchasing the shelter in the thought that it would be insurance to prevent any more tornado storms from coming through our area.

It might give me peace of mind that we’ll have a safe location in the event of a tornado, but it won’t protect us from all the storms of life.

In fact, Jesus told us that we weren’t safe from the storms of life. He gave us the formula for how to withstand storms by building our foundations on God’s Word.  In Matthew 7:25-27 (NASB), we read “And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against the house, and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

Our storms may vary from person to person or from culture to culture.  They could be financial, marital, health scares, career or workplace-related, relationships at church…or they could be ones of gossip, lying, and stealing amongst dozens of other scenarios. 

No matter what our storm looks like, someone else has had a similar storm.

No matter how severe the storm is, others experience worse storms.

No matter when our storm appears, God can use it for His glory.

Think about it…Abraham had a storm.  All of Jesus’ disciples experienced storms.  David faced a storm. Everyone in the Bible saw storms and each had to respond accordingly.  Even Jesus faced a life-altering storm when accused and condemned to die on the cross.  It’s our response to the storm that is important.  We see Jesus ask God to remove the persecution, but he does it with the correct heart when He specifically prays for “God’s will to be done.”

It’s important to remember that God will not abandon us in the midst of these life storms.  Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB) re-states that promise. “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.”

Does that essentially make God our storm shelter?  I’d say “yes”!  I’m over the moon excited that my family now has a storm shelter on the property as protection against tornados, but I’m even more excited to know God is my personal storm shelter for those storms of life.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior…if you don’t have confidence that He’s your storm shelter, please contact us at Iron Porch. Erin & I would love to talk to you about how to get that assurance in your life!

~Emily

When Prayers Get Answered…Years Later

Garth Brooks once wrote a song about unanswered prayers.  The lyrics tell a story of a man who introduced his wife to his High School girlfriend.  Later in the song, he reflects on how he had prayed for his girlfriend to be with him forever, but alas, God had other plans for his life.  The chorus says, “Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers.”

I’ve had plenty of opportunities to thank God for unanswered prayers.  I’ve also had plenty of times where I’ve given up on a prayer request because I think God isn’t listening or that it’s going to be “just another unanswered prayer.” 

I’d been praying over a scenario for over 10 years…and then…yesterday the prayer was answered. 

Elated. Tearful. Ecstatic. Nervous. Happy. Surprised. Stoic. Grateful.

Those are all great words to describe the emotional rollercoaster when I realized something I had been praying for over a decade was about to come to fruition.

While I was journaling my daily gratitude list last night, I thought about women from the Bible who had also prayed for outcomes…often for a very long time.

Of course, Sarah came to mind first.  Sarah was childless until she was 90 years old, despite that God had promised her husband Abraham that she would be “a mother of nations” (Genesis 17:16).  She struggled with that promise and what appeared to be an unanswered prayer request. 

She struggled so completely that she gave her husband permission to sleep with her maid and subsequently have a child with her. She believed that her perceived barrenness was an unanswered prayer.  More than that, she believed it was a broken promise.

Until. 

Until God answered the prayer for Sarah to become a mother and fulfilled his promise to Abraham.  In their old age, Sarah and Abraham became pregnant with Isaac. 

Answered prayer.

Both Sarah and I continuously prayed over a scenario. Both of us lost the belief that God fulfills promises and hears our prayer requests.  It’s important for us to discern that unanswered prayers may simply be answered prayer that needs some time to be perfect.

I’d like to encourage you this week.  If you’ve been praying over a scenario, a situation, a child, a marriage, or a job…and it seems like the prayers are unanswered, please keep praying.  The unanswered prayer’s timing will surprise you.

Sometimes the answered prayer takes years.

~Emily

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

When God Calls Your Name Twice

All children fear the dreaded call of both the first and middle names.  I still think I’m in peril of getting a swatting if I hear “Emily Elizabeth!”

I knew I was in serious trouble if Mama yelled both names.  God help me, if it was my Dad yelling both.

That role switches slightly when you become a parent. The constant “Mom-Mom,” “Mama-Mama,” “Mommy-Mommy” is a double name call that takes on a whole new meaning. You become skilled at interpreting if the double name call is an emergency, boredom, or revelation.

God calls our names twice too. When he calls our name twice, there is typically a reason.  Perhaps it’s a test and trial of faith.  Sometimes it’s to grab our attention.  Sometimes it’s an emergency.  On multiple occasions throughout the Bible, God calls someone’s name twice. In each instance, a significant teaching ensues.

In Genesis 22: 11-13, we see God call “Abraham! Abraham!” as Abraham is ready to obey God in sacrificing his child, Isaac.  In this scenario, Abraham is faithful and has passed a trial of faith. God is calling his name twice to stop Abraham’s actions before he actually sacrifices his son.

When Jacob finds out that his son Joseph hasn’t died, but rather he’s in Egypt, Jacob has a vision.  In Genesis 46:1-4, the vision includes God calling, “Jacob! Jacob!” when he tells him not to be afraid.

In Luke 10:41, we read “Martha! Martha!” In Exodus 3:1-10, we see “Moses! Moses!” Within the text of 1 Samuel 3:1-10, we read of God saying “Samuel! Samuel!” Jesus calls Simon Peter “Simon, Simon” in Luke 22:31-32.  “Saul, Saul” is called when Paul is blinded by the vision of a risen Jesus in Acts 9. Even Jesus calls on the Lord from the cross, “My God! My God!”

No matter who is being called twice, it gets our attention.  Something significant is occurring if a name is called twice.  Immediately, the occasion is elevated when names are called twice.  The double call requires that we understand the significance and respond.

Consider this:

  1. Has God called your name twice? When? And for what reason?
  2. Are you paying attention to when God calls your name twice?
  3. Have you heard God call someone else’s name twice?

Much like being a young child with your first and middle name called by a parent, the calling of your name by God should get your attention…for any reason.  As a sibling, I would also pay attention if I heard both my brother’s names called.  Perhaps we should also be paying attention to when God calls twice to those around us.

~Emily

When God Calls Your Name Twice copy