The brown roof of the church visible in the murky floodwater surrounding it, is the church we attended when our two gals were just babies.
Just wanted to give everyone a glimpse of what this part of the world has experienced in the past week.
The waters are starting to recede,
and folks will face days and days of hard work.
Cleaning, rebuilding, restoring.
I remember in 2008, when this same area flooded, not nearly as bad as this year, but nonetheless, my little Grandmother's apartment was flooded then She along with all the other occupants in this housing division, had been made to leave without any time to think things through, or time to pack things dear to them. She lost most everything inside her home, we were able to save her clothing, and kitchen items that were not porous. The family Bible had been spared, and also a few other memorable things that she had kept through the years, and the one thing that stuck out to me the most was a baby spoon, with the name of her youngest son engraved upon it, who had only lived a few short months.
Many families were forced to leave, in the same way last week, taking only a few necessities with them, because of a levee break, and they are just now returning to their homes, finding the mess the flood-waters
have left behind.
Grandma experienced a little sadness at her loss, but she was not overwhelmed by grief. Her heart had been established and content in the Lord Jesus Christ, for many, many years, and so the loss of physical items did not break her.
Things can be replaced, everything is temporary here on this earth.
Our lives are not, we face eternity. Where we spend eternity
is dependent upon whether or not, we have believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
And so, I ask,
have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the one who is your sin-bearer, who paid the price for you? The one who defeated death, hell and the grave?
And are you looking for that eternal city? Dwelling with the most High for all eternity?
From Hebrews 11:13-16
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
Hebrews 13:14 "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."
Words from an old southern gospel song, we sang many times at our first church home(the one pictured above) as a young couple so many years ago.
Verse 1-
"Here among the shadows in a lonely land,
We're a band of pilgrims on the move;
Burdened down with sorrows, shunned on every hand,
Looking for a city built above.
Verse-2
Here in disappointment we so sadly roam,
Friends no longer speak one word of love;
O we have found contentment, Jesus promised us a home,
And I'm looking for a city built above.
Verse-3
In this land of dangers going here and there
Trusting in the blessed Saviors love;
Tho' we may be strangers, in this world of care,
Looking for a city built above.
Chorus:
Looking for a city, where we'll never die,
There the sainted millions, never say good-by,
There we'll meet our Savior, and our loved ones too,
Come O Holy Spirit, all our hopes renew."
