Now that might have caught the attention of some of you — whether out of judgement or with a smile. But no, this blog is not about cocktails.
I am a native Californian. I have lived in some part of California all of my life (save for a couple of very early years in Missouri) and as a Californian you learn to live with certain realities: droughts, wildfires, and earthquakes.
Of the three, only one comes without any warning—an earthquake. Most are mild, ranging from 2.5 to 4.9, and cause little damage—just a slight ground shaking though at the upper end dishes might fall and the windows might rattle. But no danger.
But the more severe earthquakes can cause much damage. Besides buildings collapsing, water and gas mains can be damaged, landslides, fissures, and fires may develop, and tsunamis can cause destruction many miles away from the epicenter.
Earthquakes can have devastating and far-reaching affects.
We live in a world of earthquakes: political, moral, communal, familial. Our world is not stable as we all can attest, and to trust or seek our security in anything whose foundation is on this earth, no matter how “earthquake-resistant” we believe it might be, is futile.
King David knew this as he wrote Psalm 62 when he was dealing with false friends and political upheaval during Absalom’s rebellion and he himself was extremely vulnerable. Yet, he doesn’t turn to money or help from other powers. Instead, he recognizes that God is the only stable foundation — God alone — not God and something. And because of that he could stand firm and not be shaken. While everything else would be affected by the quake — could be shaken — God could not.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2
Likewise, we can claim that same stability. Instead of being shaken by these outside forces, the Holy Spirit stirs within us, giving us power, love, self-control — not fear (2 Timothy 6:1-8) The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all that Jesus said (John 14:26), and help us to rejoice during difficult times, knowing that trusting in God alone leads to perseverance, character, hope, love. (Romans 5:3-5)
We have the promise of being stirred by the Holy Spirit not shaken by a volatile world.
I am a native Californian. I have lived in some part of California all of my life (save for a couple of very early years in Missouri) and as a Californian you learn to live with certain realities: droughts, wildfires, and earthquakes.
Of the three, only one comes without any warning—an earthquake. Most are mild, ranging from 2.5 to 4.9, and cause little damage—just a slight ground shaking though at the upper end dishes might fall and the windows might rattle. But no danger.
But the more severe earthquakes can cause much damage. Besides buildings collapsing, water and gas mains can be damaged, landslides, fissures, and fires may develop, and tsunamis can cause destruction many miles away from the epicenter.
Earthquakes can have devastating and far-reaching affects.
We live in a world of earthquakes: political, moral, communal, familial. Our world is not stable as we all can attest, and to trust or seek our security in anything whose foundation is on this earth, no matter how “earthquake-resistant” we believe it might be, is futile.
King David knew this as he wrote Psalm 62 when he was dealing with false friends and political upheaval during Absalom’s rebellion and he himself was extremely vulnerable. Yet, he doesn’t turn to money or help from other powers. Instead, he recognizes that God is the only stable foundation — God alone — not God and something. And because of that he could stand firm and not be shaken. While everything else would be affected by the quake — could be shaken — God could not.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2
Likewise, we can claim that same stability. Instead of being shaken by these outside forces, the Holy Spirit stirs within us, giving us power, love, self-control — not fear (2 Timothy 6:1-8) The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all that Jesus said (John 14:26), and help us to rejoice during difficult times, knowing that trusting in God alone leads to perseverance, character, hope, love. (Romans 5:3-5)
We have the promise of being stirred by the Holy Spirit not shaken by a volatile world.
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