Peace - Be Still

There comes a point in time when we realize just how fast life can change. We watched in horror as the news rolled in after an 8.2 magnitude Earth Quake rocked Japan to its core, and 30 foot tsunami waves destroyed miles of its beautiful and fertile lands. As I sat in front of the television, from the comfort of my own home, surrounded by the warmth of a blanket and my family, I couldn't hold back the tears that started flowing down my face. In minutes the Japanese people watched their farm land, that had been handed down from generation to generation, drowned and swept away. Centuries of breath-takingly beautiful architecture came crashing to the ground. Families, the legacy of the Japanese people, were torn apart by death. When the video and photographs were too much to bear and I could feel the weight of the world bearing down on my shoulders I could feel a hand reach for mine, pull me up, lead me into the study, sit me down at my piano bench, pull out a dusty hymnal from the top shelf, and guide me to the page. I slowly lifted my hands to the keys and let my fingers make the music of my Lord as they sang "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."
Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm has bound the restless wave.
Who bade the mighty oceans deep, Its own appointed limits keep:
Oh here us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.
To me, this disaster has served as a reminder of my faith. A reminder of those times when I have been walking the path Christ has set for me, following in his word and commandments, and living his will when suddenly, in a quick second, my life can be turned upside down and rocked to its core. A tsunami wave of emotions overcomes me and I crumble. Much like the disaster that has struck the hearts of the Japanese people, when my faith crumbles before me, do I awake the next morning to only give up and surrender in defeat? When the sun came over Japan the morning after disaster struck and the people were given their first look at the damage did they turn around to go back into their shelter to sit in the darkness? They brushed themselves off, picked up one another, and looked into the future. Today, as you sit and meditate on your faith and those times when it was drowned by a tsunami wave, what did you do? What are you doing today? We praise a God who speaks to our hearts, is speaking to the hearts of the Japanese people, and spoke to the tsunami "Peace - Be Still." Today we praise a God of the future who will shed light, and grace upon the people of Japan. A God who will console those who mourn the loss of over 10,000 people who perished. A God of comfort and healing. A God of the storm.

Heavenly Reminders

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven."
My uncle Laurel was a man of perfection. He was a man of integrity. He was, most of all, a beautiful man inside and out. Yesterday was a hard day for my family, as we said farewell to a person who took a hand in shaping many of us. As I have spent the past 2 days surrounded by loved ones I have been reminded of just how blessed I truly am. I was raised on the principal, from the time I was born, that family comes first. And that is exactly what was proved to me this week. We sat along side one another as we told and listened to stories of how special Laurel was to each and every one of us. Stories proving that each of us, in our own unique way, now carries a piece of Laurel in our heart. We meditated on the lessons he taught us. Yes, we shed tears of sorrow, but we did what our family does best: we lifted each other up in a time of need and promised each other that together we would move forward - not forgetting Laurel but holding him close in our hearts and leading by his example.
Today I'd like for you to take a moment to meditate on the importance of your family. What part do they play in your life? All to many times I think we forget that we are who we are because of our family. It is with a joyful heart that I can proudly admit that I would not be the person I am today without my family supporting me every step of the way. There isn't a day goes by that I don't go on bended knee before my God and praise him for giving me these people to share my life with. These past few days have been a reminder of that.
My uncle Laurel was a gardener. He put his time, sweat, blood, and dedication into making this earth a beautiful place for all to enjoy. I take hope and comport in the words of Ecclesiastes 3 when it says that there will come a season to plant and uproot. This was the season for my uncle Laurel to be uprooted from this earth and taken home to rest in the arms of his savior. I take comport in the thought that my God rejoiced when Laurel entered the gates of heaven, like he will for each and every one of us. This was also, my dear friends, the season for reminding. A heavenly reminder about the strength of a family. A heavenly reminder to help us all meet the days ahead.