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A Nor’easter hit the Jersey Shore over the weekend and did some damage to our area.  It was our first experience with a storm since moving to Belmar.  My wife, son and I drove to see the water splashing over the sides of Shark River and also drove along the coast to see the high waves from Ocean Grove to Avon-by-the-Sea.  It was wild looking.  Not many people were out in the water except a couple of people in a rowboat on Shark River near the Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea bridge.  We pulled over our car to get out and see the waves crashing along the rocks that protect the inlet from the usually calm seas.  It was beautiful, yet scary.  It reminded me of the time the disciples were afraid when their boat was being tossed to and fro in the Sea of Galilee.  Water was swamping over the boat as the disciples tried to navigate their ship to the shore.  Finally, in distress, they woke the sleeping Jesus asking if he cared about the fact that they were about to all die.  Jesus in his majestic way, woke up, and calmed the wind and the waves.  Then Jesus said to them, “Where’s your faith?”    

I believe we can all relate to the disciples. When we are in scary situations, it is normal to call out to God for help.  “Jesus, Save me!” Peter cried out as he found himself sinking into the Sea of Galilee after having begun to walk on the water toward Jesus. Water can be our best friend and our worst enemy.  The Hebrews cried out for more water as they crossed the wilderness toward their destination of Canaan.  Moses tapped his staff on a rock and water burst out.  In our recent Nor’easter, I found too much water coming down around our house.  The water table could not handle the saturation and our basement and the church basement, began to spring water.  Many in our area experienced flooding.  The beaches of Bradley, Manasquan, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Absecon all had tremendous beach erosion, some the worst since Hurricane Sandy.  In Long Beach Island people were seen kayaking down the street and a shark was reported swimming in Surf City.

What advice would Jesus give us today concerning the storms that batter our lives?

Jesus said,

I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.  It is like a person building a house who digs    deep and lays the foundation on solid rock.  When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.  But anyone  who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation.  When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins. Luke 6:47-49NLT

Let’s build our houses on the foundation of Jesus Christ as we begin our new fall season here at Calvary Baptist Church. Come, get involved in all of our ministries:

Monday Night:  ‘Pause, Pray, Reflect’; Men’s Group 1st Sat. of the month; Bible Study every Sunday after church until Nov. 1st; Choir Practice every Sun. morning.

In Christ, Pastor Dwayne