On the weekend of March 12-14, our area was hit with one of the worst winter storms on record.  Despite the fact that there was no snow, we lived through about 5 inches of rain and 50 mile an hour winds.  The result was hundreds of trees down and 90,000 homes without power in Bergen County. 

In my driving around the area, some verses that come to mind are Matthew 7:24-27 which says,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

I have yet to see a house built on sand in Bergen County (as it would not pass inspection), but I have seen many trees without a strong enough root system to survive the recent storm. 

We all need a strong root system for the storms of life.  The Scripture notes that our foundation is to be on ‘hearing’ and ‘practicing’ the words of Jesus.  Attending church, studying the Bible and participating in church life all help us hear the Word of God.  The practicing part is up to us. 

There is an apartment near where I live that lost three tree in the recent storm.  It appears that one tree fell on the other two and they all went down.  People, places and things matter when it comes to cultivating faith and building roots.  Many of us know people who lost their way because of their choice of friendships. 

In my driving I also saw trees where the roots were in tact, but the tree trunk snapped at 10 or 20 feet above ground.  I expect that there were issues of health that caused these trees to break.   We also need to pursue health in all areas of life– physically, mentally, emotionally– so that we can be healthy spiritually.

The Easter season is a great time to renew our commitment to building our spiritual root systems.  Are you doing a good job of ‘hearing’ God Word?  Are you ‘practicing’ the truths of God’s Word?  Only God and yourself truly know where you stand.  May God strengthen each of us in this beautiful spring season!

-Pastor Rick

Surviving Life’s Storms

Fort Lee Gospel Church

1625 Palisade Ave.      Fort Lee, NJ 07024           (201)947-1465   

Pastor:                        Rev. Rick Spenst                       

Web site: www.fortleegospel.org

E-mail:                     fortleegospel@juno.com

Fort Lee Gospel Church                                                           April 2010

  Gospel News