Sunday, February 25
PEACE! BE STILL!
Page 221 (African American Heritage Hymnal)
Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is over shadowed with blackness,
No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish?
How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threatening
A grave in the angry deep?
The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will.
Peace be still! Peace be still!
Peace be still! Peace be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be
No water can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will!
Peace! Peace, be still!
We, personally and as a nation, are going through some turbulent times and are in need of a spiritual movement that heightens our faith in God and to know that He is always there to guide us if we only listen. When I think of the lyrics of “Peace! Be Still!” it makes me look back at all the storms that have been endured in 2017:
• The tempest is raging – Hurricanes: Harvey, Irma and Jose
• Billows are tossing high and the sky is over shadowed with blackness – California and Montana fires
• No shelter or help is nigh – Immigrants being turned away or returned to their countries by the USA
• A grave in the angry deep – Migrants drowning in ships trying to seek refuge in the USA
Whether our storms are financial, racial, political, ethical, cultural and/or climatical…God is still God. Through all the storms of life…God is still God. He is with us and guiding us but we just need to be still and listen.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for allowing us to see one more year and for calming the storms in our lives as we strive to be better listeners, parishioners, and followers of You. In Jesus’ name we pray.
– Lolita Neal