Pastor Rob Norris, The Crossings
BY PASTOR ROB NORRIS
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on a rock,” (Matthew 7:24).
In the 1870s, when the citizens of Swan Quarter, North Carolina, began looking for a piece of property for a new church building, their sights fell on a nice piece of elevated land where the structure would be reasonably protected from coastal flooding. But the landowner had more lucrative plans for the property and declined their offer.
So the church was built on another site and dedicated on Sept. 16, 1876. Within a matter of days, however, a monster hurricane reached landfall at this precise location. One casualty of the storm was the brand new Swan Quarter United Methodist Church, which was lifted up off its pilings by the surging tide of storm water and carried north—floating, intact—and then inexplicably east, eventually coming to rest on the very tract of land its leaders had originally requested. As legend tells it, the property owner came with trembling hand to sign over the title deed to the church.
Yes, God is in control. Since 1994, as I have attempted to walk with God, on more than one occasion I have had to admit that I don’t have the foggiest idea about what He is up to. He is God and I am not. I don’t understand the loss of a child, a chronic or terminal illness, the death of a young mom or dad, and a thousand other things that make zero sense, humanly.
What I do know from the Scriptures is that God has a unique purpose for every person and for everything that happens to us. He made us to trust Him, regardless of the circumstances. And that is reflected in the new name of that Methodist church in North Carolina that God moved to solid ground: Providence United Methodist Church.
Live it: What are you or a family member facing right now that is testing your trust in God? What are your alternatives?
Pray: Confess any lack of belief in God that He is in control, and express your faith that you want to trust Him because He does know what He is doing, even if you don’t.
The Crossings meets Sundays, 10 a.m., at River Heights Intermediate, 7227 Scholar Way, in Eastvale. For more information call (951) 847-6836, or visit www.atthecrossings.com.
