April Showers
What
do you need to protect?
Day
1
It rained all day.
The water started seeping into Marlena Wilson's basement
in the usual places. The national weather service was
predicting 10" of rain and severe flooding. Marlena
knew that it would definitely get worse before it got
better. Across the way, the Concord river was beginning
to rise.
At the end of the day, 6 inches of water was in Marlena's
basement. This was bad, but Marlena knew that God would
take care of her. She knew this in her heart.
Day 2
The rain got heavier and the river got higher.
The electric company turned off power to the street. The
basement had a few feet of water when a knock came at
her door. A police officer spoke with her urgently. For
safety reasons, they recommended that she evacuate. She
could stay with family or the police could take her to
the emergency shelter.
But all her belongings were here. She couldn't bear to
leave them. Instead, she bid the men in blue parkas farewell,
and she moved her memories up to the second floor.
The rain kept coming down and the water kept coming up.
Up, up, up. She moved upstairs.
The water had reached the second floor when a small rescue
boat knocked at her window.
"Ma'am, you need to leave."
"No," she told them, "I'm staying. God
will take care of me."
And so she prayed.
Day 3
On
the third day, Marlena was on the roof, sopping wet, and
the torrential rain was still pouring down. And yet, she
never lost faith. A helicopter circled and droned overhead.
A man with a bull horn called down to her.
"Lady! You must leave now!"
"NO. God will help me. The rain will stop."
Day 4
God was eager to meet this Marlena person himself. So
instead of Peter, He met her at the pearly gates.
God said, "What in the world were you thinking?"
"I prayed and prayed. But you never came. I was so
sure you would help me. The rain kept coming, but you
sent no help."
"For goodness sake, woman! I did send help. I sent
a police officer, a row boat, and a helicopter. What other
possible help could I have sent??"
If
this were a musical, God would have broken into a song
Steve Winwood style:
"When
you see your chance, TAKE IT!
Don't you miss the boat!
There are tons of free things that you can use to market
and help your business.