Thursday, October 25, 2007

How Christians Deal With Tragedy: So Cal Fires

While a good part of Southern California is engulfed in flames and many of our neighbors are being evacuated from thier homes and losing everything....this is what Christians do....(or at least what the amazing people of San Clemente Presbyterian Church have done over the last couple of days!):
- we welcome in strangers who show up in their parking lot, give them shelter, food, a place to rock their babies
- we line up with relief items like food, blankets, clothes, hygeine care, diapers, wipes, baby formula
- we compile a long list of people who are happily waiting to take a displaced family back to their home to provide them with a bed, shower, food, support
- we gather together in the evening, pray and pray for familes who are displaced and afraid, sing songs of worship, pray and pray for firefighters, governments officials, people in leadership making tough decisions, listen to the word of God, pray and pray as a whole congregation, pray n silenc, pray in small groups. We know that God hears our prayers. "If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among you." Mattew 18:19-20
- we don't pretend to understand, to have answers for why these things happen
- we put our faith in God, knowing that He is a good God, a loving God and righteous God. We remember that He has promised that He has a plan for this world, that He is in control, "we know that God causes everything to work together good." Romans 8:28
-we somehow find a quiet ad faithful peace in all of this tragedy. "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all that he has done, They you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand." Philippians 4:6-7

1 comment:

P said...

Kim, beautifully crafted and well said!
GE