Sheltering in Peace

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:18-22)  
 
Back when Christians were still being executed on crosses, believers often used the image of Noah’s ark and a rainbow to represent salvation and new life in Jesus. Peter tells us that Christ descended to proclaim victory over sin, death, and the devil to the spirits of those who rejected God in the days of Noah, so that even the most skeptical would have to concede His mercy and mastery of human history. In addition to foreshadowing the grace we receive in baptism; Noah’s ark is a reminder of God’s patience in fulfilling His plan. To this day, congregations sit in a part of the church called the “nave,” meaning “ship,” so that as we look back on Jesus’ resurrection, we do so with the same awe, gratitude, and trust in God’s promises that Noah and his family did.
 
“Heavenly Father, thank You for rescuing us from Your judgment and giving us new life through our baptism into Jesus. Increase our awe, gratitude, and trust, especially as we endure this storm, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
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 CRISIS MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM NOAH’S ARK:
 1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
 2. Stay fit. You may be asked to do something really big at 600 years old.
 3. Don't listen to your critics -- do what has to be done.
 4. Build on the high ground--morally and literally.
 5. Bring two of everything you really need.
 6. If you want to survive, travel in pairs.
7. There are more options than fight or flight. You could also float!
8. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.
9. Speed isn't everything. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
10. Remember that you and your family are in the same boat.
11. During the storms, stay below deck and hold on tight.
12. Remember that woodpeckers inside may be a bigger threat than storms outside.
13. When you are in deep doo-doo, don't sit and complain -- shovel!
14. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
15. Even if you have to start over, give thanks for the opportunity.
16.No matter how bleak it looks, God can provide a rainbow on the other side.
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The LORD give you courage and wisdom this week!
 In Jesus, Pastor Kirk