Everyone who comes to Me

and hears My words

        and does them,

I will show you

     what he is like;

he is like a man

building a house,

who dug deep and laid

the foundation on the rock.

And when a flood arose,

the stream broke against

the house and could not

shake it, because it

     had been well-built.

           Luke 6. 47-48

(As they say in the South,

"Lord willing

and the creek don't rise."

But it does.

Because when, not if,

that cute little creek rises

and the floods overwhelm,

on Whom or what we have

staked our lives

         will be revealed.

"Hears My words

       and does them"

is not just a set of beliefs,

but a life-giving

            relationship.)

O LORD,

May we not just

      read Your Word

but build our lives

  on Your truth and grace

  and love.

Reveal to us today

not just what to do,

but how to follow You

faithfully on the

         ordinary days,

that we would know

how to trust You

      in the storms

      and struggles

      and floods.

Help us to

bring the name of Jesus

with us into this day,

not just for our strength,

but that others may come

to know You are God.