Jonathan Moore
Psalms 32:1-5
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. (Interlude) Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Interlude)
I have spent the last week helping to man a warming center, here in Grenada, one of the worst affected areas in MS following the devastating ice storm. Who knew that in the midst of feeding, sheltering and aiding our 'residents', we would see God move in multiple hearts and lives! God often uses the messes of life to unfold the mystery and mercy of God's salvation and grace. This has been a messy maelstrom of a week filled with miracles!
Prayer from First Presbyterian Church Grenada Heavenly Father, we know that wind, water, rain , sleet and snow àre yours. This Sabbath we come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your protection and grace.
We pray you will place Your mighty hand over this storm and calm its force. Shield us from the fury of the wind, rain, snow and ice. Care for those in the grip of the storm and keep them from harm. We pray for the safety of every person, home, and community at risk. We lift up all rescue workers, police, firefighters, and utility crews, asking for clear minds, steady hands, and safe passage as they heroically assist others in dangerous situations. Calm the anxious thoughts and steady the restless hearts of those filled with fear. Remind them of Your constant presence, that even when life seems dark and stormy, You are with us, guiding us to safety. In the wake of the storm, we pray for swift recovery and restoration. Provide essentials like water, food, and adequate shelter, and inspire communities to come together in support and care for one another.
We trust in Your unfailing love and mercy, knowing You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen
📘 A Parable: The Lanterns in the Ice
After a fierce ice storm, a small Mississippi town lay silent. Trees bowed under the weight of frozen branches, and power lines sagged like tired shoulders. The people felt the cold not only in their homes, but in their spirits.
In the center of town lived an elderly woman named Miss Alma. Her house was small, drafty, and dark like everyone else’s. But each evening, she lit a single lantern and placed it in her front window.
A neighbor asked her, “Miss Alma, why waste your oil when the whole town is dark?”
She smiled gently. “A lantern doesn’t melt the ice, child. But it tells the darkness it doesn’t get the last word.”
The next night, another neighbor lit a lantern. Then another. Soon, the whole street glowed with small, stubborn lights.
The storm hadn’t ended. The power wasn’t back. The cold still bit at their hands. But the town felt different—warmer somehow. Not because the ice had gone, but because the people refused to let it freeze their hope.
And in time, the thaw came. But the light they shared stayed.
Moral: Hope doesn’t remove the storm. It carries us through it—and it spreads.