Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Well, one week ago today, the sheriff came by and told my family to evacuate from our home because a major grass fire here in Granbury was only a couple hundred yards away. We went to the church, Mambrino Baptist, just 2 miles down the road. We were the first there, but soon after about 300 showed up because the Red Cross set up a shelter there and the road block was on our doorstep. The church just flat came out and served bigtime. We fed ‘em, helped ‘em, and loved on ‘em.
Wednesday morning I went to the church and someone was asking where they could donate clothing because no one in town was open—none—notta were open to give and help. My pastor, Paul, said, ya wanna? So I became the go-to for the donations. I had no idea what would happen over the next 30 hours. Over 70 donors (that we could sign in-many dropped off clothes and ran) gave to us clothing, toys, blankets, and food items. It was just unbelievable how the community came out. We were church to the community. Everybody that helped THANKS!!!
One individual told of how he lost everything, a home turned into a pile of 2ft ashes. The only thing that he found that was salvageable was a book mark that said Jesus is Lord. With tears in his eyes, he said, "This is all that I need."
This ties into the Sunday School lesson next Sunday, for you Mambrainiac Youth, which is from John 11: 17-44. It’s the story of Lazarus being raised from the grave. One thing that we want to focus on is how Jesus was concerned even with the needs and concerns of Mary and Martha.
In the passage one thing that jumps out to me is the fact of Jesus’ groaning. Why would He do so? Is it because He saw their distress? Some, yes, but there is more in the context than that. When Martha responds in vs.22 “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”. Now look at Mary’s response in vs.32 “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then Jesus groaned after seeing here and the weeping of those with her.
The crowd in vs. 37 asked “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus groaned again in His Spirit.
Why did He groan after Mary and the crowds response, but not Martha’s? It was in large part due to the lack of faith that they had in the ability of Jesus to do His Word!! But later on in vs.39 Martha questions His command again and He reminds her of the testimony she made and what He said in vs.25-26.
Take Him at His word, He does care for us when we feel the loss of loved ones. But it is the hope that He is the resurrection that can lift us beyond the fray of grief and sense of loss. Yes we may have lost someone we love, but don’t lose faith in the One who says “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (v. 25)
Often through our loss, He becomes most glorified, if we trust Him to keep us till that day and lay everything of this world at His feet for His glory.
Pray for Rain!!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Aaron “Tree” LandisPsalm 1:3
Wednesday morning I went to the church and someone was asking where they could donate clothing because no one in town was open—none—notta were open to give and help. My pastor, Paul, said, ya wanna? So I became the go-to for the donations. I had no idea what would happen over the next 30 hours. Over 70 donors (that we could sign in-many dropped off clothes and ran) gave to us clothing, toys, blankets, and food items. It was just unbelievable how the community came out. We were church to the community. Everybody that helped THANKS!!!
One individual told of how he lost everything, a home turned into a pile of 2ft ashes. The only thing that he found that was salvageable was a book mark that said Jesus is Lord. With tears in his eyes, he said, "This is all that I need."
This ties into the Sunday School lesson next Sunday, for you Mambrainiac Youth, which is from John 11: 17-44. It’s the story of Lazarus being raised from the grave. One thing that we want to focus on is how Jesus was concerned even with the needs and concerns of Mary and Martha.
In the passage one thing that jumps out to me is the fact of Jesus’ groaning. Why would He do so? Is it because He saw their distress? Some, yes, but there is more in the context than that. When Martha responds in vs.22 “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”. Now look at Mary’s response in vs.32 “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then Jesus groaned after seeing here and the weeping of those with her.
The crowd in vs. 37 asked “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus groaned again in His Spirit.
Why did He groan after Mary and the crowds response, but not Martha’s? It was in large part due to the lack of faith that they had in the ability of Jesus to do His Word!! But later on in vs.39 Martha questions His command again and He reminds her of the testimony she made and what He said in vs.25-26.
Take Him at His word, He does care for us when we feel the loss of loved ones. But it is the hope that He is the resurrection that can lift us beyond the fray of grief and sense of loss. Yes we may have lost someone we love, but don’t lose faith in the One who says “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (v. 25)
Often through our loss, He becomes most glorified, if we trust Him to keep us till that day and lay everything of this world at His feet for His glory.
Pray for Rain!!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Aaron “Tree” LandisPsalm 1:3
There are some good people in Grandbury.....FMZ being one of them.....Are you going to the Shephards Conference?