Tossed to and fro

8 of us from Firestorm had the privilege of ministering in Charleston West Virginia last week. What a joy to touch the hearts of children and adults in that Appalachian city with God’s love. Our hearts were touched by the Father also as we chose to give of ourselves.
On Saturday, when all the mission work was finished, we took advantage of our geographical surroundings by taking a white water rafting trip on the New River. For 5 hours we happily braved the white water while taking in the breath-taking view of the mountains. At one point, our guide directed us back upstream to “surf” in the rapids. When water pours over the rocks it creates a hole on the other side. Gravity wants to fill the hole so it borrows water from the river, creating a current back towards the rock. When the raft hits the point where the current and the hole meet, “surfing” takes place.
When our raft hit the hole, the craziness began! First, the left side of the raft flipped up sending me flying into Ben, who immediately fell over the right side into the water. The raft recovered for a few seconds but soon started flinging us again. As it was tossing us to and fro I looked to my left and noticed that Carissa and Tommy were no longer with us. My reaction was to grit my teeth, tell myself that I was staying on regardless, and hold on tighter to the ropes on the raft. A few seconds later, Amy flew off the side too! That left me, Rick and Ashley.
As I thought back on that experience, James 1:6-8 came to my mind. It says, “…a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do”
If I had climbed upon a rock before we’d hit the hole, I’d never have been tossed around. Are you being tossed around right now? Is your mind filled with worries? Perhaps it’s time to get out of the white water, climb upon the Rock of Jesus and watch in safety as everything around you is tossed.
-Pastor Doug

Mission Trip!

Here's the river we'll be white water rafting on!

We're about to head out into the mountains- to hillbilly country to minister in the hollers of Charleston WV. we can't wait to sink our teeth into the work God has called us to. Be praying for all of us: Pastor Doug, Mary, Carissa, Ben, Tommy, Ashley, Rick, Amy.