Wow! I can’t believe the rain we have experienced this year! Actually I am surprised at the rain we have experienced the past few days! I do have to say that I am thankful that we are on the upper edge of the bad storms and not down in the heart of them. Our prayers are with those folks from Baton Rouge and surrounding areas that have been hard hit by the storms.

Yesterday my wife came in to tell me we had some leaks in our bedroom, so I know what I am going to be doing this weekend. However, it did get me thinking about the last place we lived and I was thankful for a leaky roof!

I woke up early one morning to a funny noise. I had contacted a bad virus and was coughing non-stop. To keep from waking Melinda, I had gotten up in the night and went to sleep on the couch in the living room. At the time we were pastoring a small church and had made an apartment in the basement of the church. We lived there for four years and I was feeling like a gopher before it was over. This particular morning I was awakened by the strangest sound, a sound that was completely unfamiliar. It was the gurgle of water.

I reached up and turned on the lamp so I could look around. Unable to see anything, I arose and when my feet touched the floor I realized what I was hearing. There was water running out from under the couch and the gurgling sound that I heard was water gurgling from under the wall! It was quickly spreading across the living room floor.

It was pouring rain outside and running water inside. We had over 10 inches of rain in just about 20 hours time. We quickly made sure there was nothing on the floor that would ruin. I emptied all of the books out of my office. We picked up all of the throw rugs and area rugs. Then we grabbed a couple of wet vacs and began to vacuum water.

It wasn’t long until the five gallon vac needed emptied. Nor was it long until the second five gallon vac needed emptied. There was a floor drain in one of the bathrooms where we were able to empty the vacs. We made trip after trip. It went on for hour after hour. We vacuumed it up five gallons at a time, hundreds of gallons of water. I couldn’t believe how much water we vacuumed up that day. At 2:30 A.M. we finally realized we had to get some sleep. We had been at it for over sixteen and a half hours and it was still coming in.

We went up stairs and each of us grabbed a pew. It wasn’t long until we were asleep. It had been many a year since I had slept on a pew and just like I remembered, they were not comfortable. The following morning, we were back at it early. The water was ankle deep, no matter how hard we worked. Finally, about three that afternoon I lifted a barrier that was by the floor drain, what inspiration, and water began to drain on its own. I then realized the floor had been slanted in that direction from the whole building and it drained on its own.

When we had first come to the community we weren’t there very long until there was a bad rain storm. Just as we were leaving church on Sunday night (this is before we moved into the basement) I was making sure the lights were all turned out and found the basement was flooding. We quickly moved things and began to fight it. My wife called for help only to be told that they just let it flood. I must admit I was taken back! Just let it happen! Well now I know why, there was nothing to do but let it drain out the floor drain; you can’t keep up with it. While we were living in the basement it happened one more time. This time we were experienced. We picked up what few items laid on the floor, we didn’t take chances now, and made sure the drain was open, and then we let it drain!

How many times have I experienced a flood in my life? I was raised in a part of the country where the river flooded often. In fact the year before we moved there the Eel River had flooded and took out the bridges on each end of town marooning people for weeks. I have stood on the banks and watched houses and cars go down the river. I have been awakened in the early morning hours to the sound of dynamite going off as they blew up the log jams against the piers of the bridges so they wouldn’t collapse. I have been sent home from school early because there were flood warnings. I have known the devastation of floods. You just can’t stop them!

I have also witnessed the flood of guilt and shame in lives. I have seen the devastation condemnation can do to an individual. There is no stopping it. You can’t reason with it. It can’t be explained away. It is too personal! It is too private! No one understands like I understand how guilty I am. No one knows how disgraceful I have been! You can’t understand!

The shame guilt and condemnation come in the middle of the night. The house is quiet and all are asleep. Down the hall they creep. They slowly opened the door and stealthily approach your side of the bed. Oh, they are careful not to awaken the rest of the house; they want everyone else to remain asleep. They know that guilt, shame and condemnation work the best when you alone are awake.

Guilt lays down on one side, shame on the other. They snuggle in real close. Condemnation puts the DVD of the past into the player in your mind and presses play. Instantly you are taken back to the days and the hours of your deed. All three of your late night visitors keep a running commentary for you. They remind you of every dastardly deed that you have ever done. They have a high-light reel of all the reprehensible actions of your life. Every dishonorable word, every low thought are shown over and over again. Each mistake is magnified; it is ran in slow motion and viewed from every angle. Don’t worry if you have missed something tonight because they will be back tomorrow night to do it all over again.

Forgiveness is given to us freely. It is not something we have to buy or earn. Forgiveness was given to us freely from God; it just has to be accepted. John said, “If we confess our sins, He is just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9. The hardest part of forgiveness is believing that God will forgive us and then accepting that forgiveness for ourselves. It is easy to accept forgiveness as being for someone else, but how about for me?

In the thirty-second Psalms the Psalmist said when the flood waters of guilt, shame and condemnation comes over us, confession of our sins stops the flood from destroying us. In fact he says that God becomes our hiding place, that place of refuge where we can find safety. I will never forget how tired and discouraged we were at 2:30 A.M. We had spent hours fighting against the flood. We were drained in body and spirit. We went into the sanctuary and found rest and refreshing. I have done the same so many times spiritually. I have taken the mistakes and sins into the sanctuary and laid them on the altar. I have confessed to God my sin and received the assurance of His love and forgiveness! A Sanctuary in the Flood!

The beautiful thing is, late at night, when all are asleep, so am I. If I am awakened by the squeaking sound of a floor board or the door swinging open. I just remind guilt, shame and condemnation they are not welcome in my home any longer. I can tell them to take their movie away. I have found a Sanctuary in the Flood!

God Bless!