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On Solid Ground


When we moved into our house nearly a year ago, we knew we had some things we would need to repair. Our driveway, for one, had a few dips and cracks that we thought we could just fill in with some asphalt. We ( by we I mean Jim) bought bags of gooey tar like stuff he poured into those dips to attempt to level it out. The dips continued to sink in. The rainy season and the winter storms came and they got worse. Forget bringing a cup of coffee to go, I would  be wearing it before I hit the street. 

So we had it looked at by an asphalt company thinking they could just put a layer on top to fix the problem. They informed us that, although that would temporarily fix the problem; we would most likely have to do it again in another year or so. The best solution would be to rip it all up and start over. Super! 
 
A few weeks ago we made the decision to bite the bullet as they say and have it replaced. The pavement people showed up with a dump truck and a large size bobcat tractor. Once they got the old asphalt  up in a small area they were able to determine the problem of why our driveway  was sinking they way it was. Turns out, according to our contractor, that out of 100 driveways they have to rip up, one will be missing the very important component needed for stability. And that is a thick foundation of gravel and rock. Ours was the one out of 100 that only had sand. So when the rain came, over time  it washed away the sand causing the asphalt to dip, crack,  sink and eventually give way like it did here.



This painted a perfect picture for me of the story Jesus tells us about in the book of Matthew. 

“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 doesn’t obey 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.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)

I have a choice to follow Jesus' teaching. Listening to a sermon isn't enough. Knowing what the bible says isn't enough. Just as reading a cook book doesn't make me a great cook. I need to do what it says. So where God's Word says to respect my husband I need to look for ways to show him respect. Where it says to forgive others just as Christ forgave me I need to do that. Where it says to love others as myself, I need to think of others first and show them love. There is wisdom in doing what the bible says and God promises that a life lived with and for Him will not come crashing down when the storms of this life happen. Unlike the driveway that gave way, my life is secure in Him. Because He is my Rock, my foundation. I can confidently place my life in the hands of Jesus, knowing  that He will hold me up in times of trials and storms. 

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22 NLT)

-Pressing On 

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