A Shelter is Everything in a Storm

Breath taking

This was a photo of the day at the Weather Channel, taken in Canada. Two thoughts came to my head in rapid order: (1) Wow how awesome (2) "Auntie Em open the cellar for the Love of God!" When you are in a safe place aren't storms beautiful. I have watched storms come in from the ocean that were breathe taking. One winter there as a blizzard and snow thunder that was great to see in a warm house. But I have been through earthquakes, tornadoes, blizzards and hurricanes where my shelter was in danger. The perspective changes instantly. Instead of a work of art and beauty our focus narrows to moment by moment survival. I have been on walks caught in the storm. Once I was in a sail boat in a storm that sunk. I was the captain of a small sun sail and was no match for the weather that came so quickly. Many times out in the open where I squatted down to be as small a target from the lightening as possible. I have been in cars where the storm was so bad you had to pull over. If you are secure in a shelter the storm is fun to watch. But there are storms that threaten our lives. Storms are also a metaphor for the trials and struggles of life. Many problems we can deal with rather easily and we become the better for it. Other struggles take all of energy and resources just to survive. We may have to repair and recuperate to recover. Sometimes scars and results of the trial remain for years or life.

Shelters are everything in a storm

We can look at a picture and see the beauty, but if we are in the middle of such a storm it is a whole different experience. Out on a walk and a storm comes up and we have to find the best way to survive. Not a whole different when something comes in our life where we do the best we can to live through it. If the problem is big enough we call out to God.  He is our shelter in the time of the storm. "A Shelter in a Time of Storm"
Ira Sankey (song leader for D. L. Moody) wrote the music of a hymn many know. He said, "I found this hymn in a small pa­per pub­lished in Lon­don, called “The Postman.” It was said to be a fav­o­rite song of the fish­er­man on the north coast of Eng­land, and they were oft­en heard sing­ing it as they ap­proached their har­bors in the time of storm. As the hymn was set to weird minor tune, I decided to compose one that would be more practical, one that could be more easily sung by the people." A pastor who also ran an orphanage, Vernon John Charlesworth wrote the words:

Charlesworth, granted he lived a while
back but he provided shelter for kids,
that ain't bad.

The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes afright,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain

The raging storms may round us beat,
A Shelter in the time of storm
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our Helper ever near,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

NASB© 4:6 "There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain."