A TIME TO REMEMBER

85 days ago I lost an awesome best friend. This loss is difficult for me to wrap my mind around. Perhaps it's so incomprehensible because he has always been there: my first tooth, my first word, my first step, my first time ad infinitum.

I'm writing these words from my mom's house in my home town, Boise, Idaho. So many memories of dad are flooding my mind. I have spent a great deal of time thinking of what dad would do or say in various situations. As mom and I spend time talking with each other dad is frequently in our conversations. He is just so unforgettable with his loving smile, his playful teasing, his affirming words, and frequent hugs.

How do you describe this kind of loss? I would have to say I feel stunned by the magnitude of this bereavement. And yet I can't begin to imagine how deep the pain and anguish is for my precious mother. She has lost the love of her life, her best friend, her soul mate, and her prayer and Bible reading partner. Dad and mom were constant companions who loved and cherished each other in a manner many couples never experience.

I have been so impressed with my Mom's response to this life altering ordeal. She has followed the words of the Psalmist who said, “When I'm overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” She has made the commitment to go deeper into His love and grace, to seek Him more intently, to surrender even more fully to His purpose.

Several times my mom has said, “Mike, I don't know what people do in a time like this who don't know the Lord.” While all the pain doesn't suddenly disappear, we have a comforter, the Holy Spirit who abides within us, and offers us His amazing comfort and strength.

Difficult times are great times to remember that God is the source of our life!

A MIGHTY WIND

Here it comes again, the mighty Taku winds whip over the mountains and across the channel crashing into our house on Douglas with astonishing velocity.   Deenie repeats her mantra:   “I hate the wind!”, as we watch our windows flex and feel the force of 60 mile an hour wind gusts buffeting our walls.   The thick salt spray residue from the channel on our windows testify of the power of these winds.

I have had ample time to reflect on the Taku’s because they have been our constant companion several days this week.   A couple of weeks ago when the winds (clocked at 88 miles an hour) hit our house, Deenie and I braced ourselves waiting to hear sounds of damage.  We Thank God for His protection knowing that hurricane force winds can wreak havoc on homes.

How amazing that on the Day of Pentecost the Spirit’s entrance came with the sound of a roaring mighty wind.   It should be no surprise because wind has been a type of the Holy Spirit throughout scripture.   When the believers in the upper room braced themselves from the sound of the wind, they had a marvelous surprise.

Acts 2:2,4 state:

Suddenly, there was a sound from Heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.   And everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

How awesome, when God flexes his powerful force He brings blessings not curses, provision not destruction, life not death, hope not despair and He gives mercy not judgment.

Even more awesome, this same power from Almighty God is available for us today!

BRACE YOURSELF FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS AND FAVOR.
THE WIND OF GOD IS BLOWING!