Thoughts from Jamie Parker

FOUNDATIONS

In Matthew 7:24-27 says “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Here in Chad they make their bricks out of mud, some are sun dried and others are fired so they are stronger. They build their houses and walls out of these bricks putting more mud in between for the mortar. As you walk through the villages you can see where the rain and the winds have been beating against these walls of the houses and the walls that surround their little compound where their houses dwell. The wind and rain have broken down the sun dried bricks. Some of these walls are half fallen down or they have just abandoned the houses where it is just too far gone. But you can tell when they have a good foundation and bricks that have been fired dried. Their houses and walls stand up nice and straight. Not affected by the rains or the wind beating against them.

The Lord wants to refine us with fire. Maybe putting us through trials, temptation, situations, and places are the refining we need to build a strong foundation. The promises that God gives us is the rebar (metal) in our foundation so that we may stand tall and not falter. We must go through this fire whatever that might be. And when we come out, we will be ready to stand on a strong foundation. Standing straight and tall reflecting Jesus in us. Not reflecting ourselves. Where the trials of this old world will not break us down. Where the winds of strife will not prevail. Where they will know that we are Christians by our love, by our unconditional love.