Rock or Sand?

Speaking of sand, Carey and I are headed to Biloxi to meet Adam and Leslie Gautreau (and others) to celebrate Leslie's birthday.  I think beach volleyball is on the agenda.  The thought of sand leads to me today's devotion.

"And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  And it collapsed and was completely ruined."   Matthew 7:26-27


Have I built my life of sandy ground so that when the rains fall, the torrents come, and the winds lash against my house, I collapse?  OR is my life solidly set on rock so that come  rain, torrents or wind, I do not collapse but actually put into practice the principles that I believe in. 


I feel like this burden fell on my parents, although they may not realize it. My life was shaped by a faith that was in turn shaped by my Grandmother's faith.  Although I feel like my mother trusted so much in God that none of the "rules" so to speak meant anything.  She believed what she was taught and trusted that it followed what God and the Catholic churched wanted of her.  She has always shaped her life around the faith and built it on solid rock.  My Dad feels a bit differently, I would call him Catholic, but I would definitely call him a stubborn Christian.  He constantly remind us that he read the Bibles (yes plural) and has a personal relationship with God, which is more than I can say for most Christians.  He may not flaunt it, like I do sometimes, but he does it in secret, which God asks us to do anyway.  Boy I'd love to be in on one of those conversations.  If you know my Dad, I'm sure you're thinking the same thing.

As for my life, I believe, my life is on Rock, because when the rains do come, I know where to turn.  I may ask for help and prayer from friends and family, but I ultimately know that what is happening in my life is God's will for me and that he will protect me from the storm.  "and I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands, for you are who you are, no matter where I am, and every tear I cry, you hold in my hand, you never left my side and now my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm."  I remember these lyrics when I am hurting or needing God's presence. Casting Crowns has helped me through a lot with that song.  In reality, God sent me that song.  I always say, we could never appreciate the sunshine if didn't have rain.


So bring on the rain...cause it won't move me.  I'm got a rock underneath!