NOTE: For those readers who don’t know, the central Church of Christ was devastated during last year’s visit with Katrina.
Brethren:
Hello saints; Hello sinners. I receive and pray over many, many prayer request. Oft times the situations are alien to me as I have never been in some of the situations; I prayer over them just the same. Your situation was one that not only hit close to home for me; it stood knocking at my door.
Living in the north eastern part of North Carolina, on what is called the outer banks, I am no stranger to hurricanes. Though, I must say I have never personally experienced damage from one (knock on John Dobbs head!). I was a victim though, of a freak tornado that hit our state nearly 20 years ago. Like you my home was totally lost, though my family suffered no physical problems. My home was the only one destroyed, so I was only given a little glimpse into the world which you now live.
My brothers and sisters in Christ as Christians we are the lights of the world: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14).” It will take a wind much stronger than Katrina to blow out that light. Singularly your lights shine to those around you but collectively you have become a lighthouse for those of us who are praying for you. For those who wonder what Christian love is, you answer the question with your acts of kindness to those around you while you are still in need for your own selves. Your collective lights beam as if in the biggest and brightest of neon the answer to the question Jesus asks: “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? (Luke 10:36).”
When Katrina came into your lives you became victims of the first sin. God created a world without sin and death, yet through the sin of Adam all sin, all catastrophes, every problem known to man entered into a perfect world: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12).” The world God made did not include storms, sin, or death. It was perfect. Man was to live without death. Yet, with that one sin hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, drugs, abortion, AIDS, cancer, death every ill known to the Christian world was ushered into the wings of the world’s theater to await its turn on center stage. Your lives were turned upside down in a drama that co-starred Adam.
When we become Christians we are never promised a life free from such events as you have gone through. James said “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3). To the church at Ephesus Jesus said, “To him that overcometh…” (Revelation 2:7). To the church at Smyrna He said, “He that overcometh…” (Revelation 2:11). Five more times in the Revelation Jesus used similar statements. I said earlier that the co-star of your drama was Adam. Your drama stars Jesus. Each cup of food you give the person helping you, you feed to Jesus. The Pepsi you give the young boy who drags the tree limb for you the meal you provide to the man who restored your power you give to your savior. While you are still in need you are looking to give to others.
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” (Revelation 3:20). As your lights shine through this catastrophe that has upset your lives, it is a porch light shinning bright for all to see. It illuminates Him who stands there knocking at other’s doors. As a lighthouse you show the way to those who don’t know Christ, guiding them to the safe harbors of everlasting life.
Though many of us are separated from you by hundreds of miles, we are joined with you daily as we pray for your needs. If only one person comes to Christ through this devastation it is worth all it all.
Brothers and sisters, you are in my prayers as you have been. I pray that your lives return to normal and your walks grow stronger than they have ever been.
God bless and keep the congregation at Pascagoula.
(To read more about the needs of the congregation at the center church of Christ in Pascagoula, visit my Brother John Dobbs’ web site at http://remains.blogspot.com
If you can help them in anyway there is contact information on the page complete with what they need most)
bobbycohoon