Hurricane Florence – The Arrow Preacher

Grief

There has been times I’ve dealt with grief well, and then times I haven’t. Every situation I’ve been in where death was present was a new experience every time. When my grandpa passed away in 2010 I was at peace with it. Knowing he has passed peacefully, and where he was going gave me great joy. The dream I had just before his last moments of me being by his bedside and him squeezing my hand before he passed, being awoken by the phone I knew he was gone.

Loosing a loved one to an affair and watching a marriage end is also something in which we grieve. Sadly as I have gone through this twice in my life, I can say the second time didn’t go so well. I tried very hard to keep my witness. I tried to remain calm and not yell, and focused on repairing the damage that was done. As I watched as my efforts failed I couldn’t help but see that moment as a reflection of every failure, every hardship, every heartbreak I had ever faced. Left with a tsunami of emotions and unable to see myself out of the crisis I was in, I took drastic steps to stop what seemed to be the end of the line. I was a train headed for a brick wall and I needed to stop before I crashed. Instead of slowing the train my actions derailed it. I was so Ill prepared for the trial I faced and I was left with shame, regret, sadness, fear, hopelessness, and several other emotions to include a complete failure of self-esteem.

In the years that have followed I have grown and found direction and purpose. It hasn’t been without it’s ups and downs but I have found ways to manage the feelings I have. I have been thinking back this month specifically of all the grief I’ve had just in the month of September alone. I have faced death, divorce, near death personally and so much more. September every year brings up a mixed bag of emotions and can sometimes fill my cup with more then I can take. I think about those in scripture that have had to manage grief, and one place comes to mind. 2 Samuel 19:1-4“And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people [a]stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

It’s been at least a day since David learned of his sons death in battle. Absalom overthrew his father in a well-planned coup. David fled to avoid bloodshed. Absalom had every plan to kill his father and would have if he’d gotten the chance. David however wanted to capture Absalom but that’s not what happened. Due to Absalom being a politician and not a warrior the battle goes badly, and after Absalom gets stuck in a tree by his hair, he is executed by the order of Joab, David’s number 1 general. David’s actions as King demoralize his loyal soldiers returning home after at least a year on the run, and watching their King making a scene for all the city to see.

How do we act when we grieve? Do we act as if there is no hope in the world? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [b]sleep in Jesus.” Paul is telling us we should not face death with such a grievance attitude, instead celebrate the life lived because if we believe in Christ and all that He did for us, we know that for believers we will enter into the gates of heaven and feel no more pain or suffering. There’s a line at the end of Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2. Dumbledore says to Harry, “Do not pity the dead harry, pity the living.”How often I have seen people who’ve lost someone they were close to, and it’s destroyed their entire life. I knew a lady, mid 40’s, she lost her own mother to cancer. In the weeks and months that followed she turned to alcohol to manager her grief. Eventually it caused a divide in her own marriage and she was left alone. After two DUI’s the hope was she would seek help dealing with her drinking, and also her grief. Sadly before that happened she was drunk one night, fell and hit her head. She bled out and died alone. This story is completely true, but also a stern reminder how important it is for us as Christians to manage our own grief in a healthy way. There is no set way in scripture to manage grief, but if we are to walk with Jesus we know that we are to be different then the world. We of all people have hope in the risen Christ, and we need to be that reminder in our own communities as they deal with grief and loss.

In the wake of hurricane Florence we see families dealing with grief and loss on major scales. As homes have been completely lost, and families deal with the loss of loved ones, we as Christians need to go forth and show love to all those who around us. Christians need to be the guiding light of Christ as we show the world who Christ was. We cannot be a bright light if we fall to ruin any time something bad happens. There will be a time to grieve, but we must always remember the hope we have in Christ. Do not allow grief to steel your joy. Be grateful in the future and know that one day we will be in Heaven where there are no more tears, no more sorrow. We will all endure hardships in this life, loss of all kinds, from houses, to jobs, to loved ones, even our own health, but this life is only a temporary shell, our true life still awaits. The best is yet to come, and we need to remember that the next time tragedy strikes. Be a difference in this world, grieve when you must, and know that our emotions are given to us for a reason. It’s always important to make sure our emotions fit the facts of the situation. Make sure your emotions don’t control you. If you can manage that, and trust, have faith in Jesus Christ, you can be a big difference for those around you.

Rising Flood

In the last few days we’ve seen an enormous amount of water come from Hurricane Florence. We have seen record numbers and with that comes floodwaters. There’s been so many thousands of lives affected by this storm and while it’s hard to consider, we must try to find the good in this horrific situation. Lives have been lost, businesses and homes have been destroyed, and while it was take years to rebuild the opportunity for our communities to gather together, to praise Jesus, the accept the power of God and know that Jesus is healing hearts all over the East Coast. We must put our faith and our trust in Jesus that even as families start to return home to measure the destructive cost, all is certainly not lost. There’s no way to measure the heartbreak people will feel in the upcoming weeks as the shock wears off and the trust begins to set in. Many will be in denial, or feel the desire to give up. We as Christians must begin to love on these people, give, and grow showing the grace of Jesus Christ. This time of sorrow is a time of healing, but also a time of growth. Wherever two are gathered Christ is there. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

As Christians we are to follow the Great Commission, to go forth to all of the nations make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The greatest commandment given by Christ is love. So at the end of the great comissionsion Jesus says this. Matthew 28:20 (ESV)“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus is saying teach them all to love. People need to be shown love, now more then ever. Peoples lives are gone, destroyed and as everything they’ve known has crumbled before them, it’s time to show them what a solid foundation looks like so they may have hope in the darkness.

Not everyone is able to give money, or food, or supplies, but we can all give time. We can give time to pray for them. We can help move trash if you can get to the places most affected by this storm. Most importantly though, we can give love and hugs. Emotional support is the most important thing anyone can ever give. God will work out the details for the money and supplies, but showing people we care and they aren’t alone is the most important thing we can do. Compassion will be a high commodity in the weeks to come.

As Florence approached and pounded NC for days, fear was a major part of thousands of lives. As tornado’s touched down near by and affected homes, and lives, more fear floods the cities everywhere. While you watch the news you’ll find organizations such as The Red Cross that have volunteers from all over the country who are in North Carolina helping with relief efforts. With so much help, and love Jesus can be seen all over the area right now. Do not fear because we know that God is still in control. Isaiah 35:4 (NKJV)4 “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” In the eye of the storm, God is still in control. While rebuilding is difficult, as long as we breathe we are still able to live, to move forward. Joshua 1:9(NKJV) 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Facing fear in the rising tide is difficult, but we are truly blessed. No matter how bad it seems, trusting in the Lord to give you peace in these trials, because God will always give us what we need, and when we need it. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

As we rebuild and wipe away the debris to expose the strong foundation, the rebuilding stage begins. Let us start building from a place of peace, of love, and hope in Christ. Let us band together to show love and prove that people suffering the most are not alone. The peace and grace given to us by Jesus Christ need to be given to those who may not know Jesus, and those who are suffering so much to see signs of hope. While this was a devastating storm, it could always be worse. Love all, and have faith in God’s plan.