Thursday 6 June 2013

Thursday - disasters and change

     69th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing in Normandy (Juno Beach)
Prayer:  Great God,   we know that our enemy prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour.   Provide for us the courage and wisdom to stand up to the enemy so that Your love may be spread throughout our churches.   Amen.

Read St. Luke 17: 26 – 37

The Kingdom of God  or the Day of the Son of Man will be like the time of Noah.  Everyone was living the way they wanted to right up until the rains started coming down and homes were flooded.  Only then did people open their eyes and say, “Humm,  something is wrong here.  We’ve got to do something”.   But by that time it was too late.
Jesus then gives the illustration of the time when Lot and his family lived in  Sodom.  People were living selfish lives and only thinking of themselves…. that is until a firestorm swept down upon Sodom and destroyed the town. 

Why is it that we only look at the way we live when a disaster strikes?   Any disaster means a change in our life.   A disaster or emergency or hazardous event means a disruption to the order in our daily life.  

This Spring in Manitoba with forecasts of rivers flooding,  many Sessions and Boards met to create an Emergency Disaster Plan.   An Emergency and Disaster Plan is created so that Sessions and Boards will know what to do in the event of an emergency.  The Plan covers a contact list so that police and emergency personal know who to call first in the Church,  what services the church can offer the community,  and if the Church is going to be flooded and destroyed what records and objects need to be removed and in what priority.   Churches that do not have an Emergency and Disaster Plan are like the people during the time of Noah who say, “Something is wrong here”  but by the time they figure out what is wrong,  the emergency is upon them.        

As Christians,  we must have an Emergency and Disaster Plan as well.   Our Emergency and Disaster Plan is life long learning about the love of God  through  reading scriptures,  prayer,  meditating upon God’s Holy Word,  and worshipping together.  

Prayer:  Holy God,  show us today how we can be a positive influence of Your love in our community.  When disaster strikes or emergencies happen,  grant us the ability to help out so that we can further Your Kingdom here on earth and in the hearts of all.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.     Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment