The Pastor’s Blog – SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM
Sorry but the picture this week is not very good. I took it from the safety of my living room looking out at the back yard during one of the blustery, wet days of autumn. If you look close there is a hummingbird sitting under the dome enjoying a meal of sugar water. The rain was pouring down and the wind was blowing but this little fellow was safe under the dome we installed over the feeder.
I could not help but think how necessary that is for our lives as well, a safe place to go when the storms of life howl around us. For many, this week has been very difficult. We have watched the turmoil in the United States due to their election. We have seen COVID cases rise across the province, and some creep onto the island. Some have had to deal with medical issues, others loss due to death. People seem to be getting cranky and tired of the new way of life we share, where distancing, masking and isolating have become the norm. It seems the storm will not end …
So as I looked at the peaceful bird and thought about the storms of life, I was led to hum an old song from our hymnbooks: “A Shelter in the Time of Storm” by Vernon Charlesworth:
The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm.
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.
My guess is the early Christians would have sung a different song. Theirs would come from Psalm 46:1; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Let me ask you, how are you dealing with the storms of life?
– Pastor Gary
So nice of you to create and afix a dome for the bird. as God creates a shelter from the onslaught of our enemy i e depression, self pity, hopelessness. gives us the oil of joy for mourning. so many places have more to deal with than here. If it werent’ for God and His faithful servants who pray and seek His face we would be without a shelter. press on and look to the hope of heaven because of the cross. Millie
Just like you to provide a shield for the humming birds God provides a shelter from the onslaught of our enemy ( depression, worry, self pity, hopelessness, impatients,) He gave us the oil of joy for mourning. But we have a body who prays for us and lifts us up to the Lord, our redeemer. Our future is a place made ready in heaven.