Many years ago, I lived in Huntington, West Virginia. The Ohio River separates West Virginia and Ohio; normally that mass is calm, wending its way northward and staying within its banks.
However, one year we had an abundance of rain. As one who grew up in New Mexico where we measured our rainfall in drops, rather than inches, the idea of a flood was something new. There were flood walls here and there to contain the outrageous excess of water that accumulated from a flood.
I remember being in total awe of God in that man really thought he could contain billions of gallons of water with flood walls. And to this day, man thinks he knows better than God what can be controlled and legislated and ruled.
Along this same thought process of flood walls, I am reminded me that God had the foresight to set up a system of “flood walls” for His children. He called it ASSEMBLING (gather together, fellowship, meeting, church).
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” KJV Hebrews 10:25 and in The Message: “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the bid Day approaching.”
Think about the enormous Ohio River! One lone brick (one Christian) will be swept away with a normal river flow (everyday life), not to mention FLOOD waters. But put a number of bricks (saints) together with good mortar (prayer) and the flood (adversity, pain, fear) will be pushed back or held at bay.
Jesus didn’t command us to get together on Sunday morning for His sake; He said if for ours.
Are your flood walls in place? Do you share your burdens with your brothers and sisters, or do you sit home alone with your problems and thoughts and let the flood of misery overtake you?
Are you denying someone the ability to share his or her gifts of faith or prayer or encouragement? Or …
Do you want to find Peace that passes all understanding? Call a friend. Reach out. Ask for help. Give the family of God the opportunity to be the bricks and cement in your wall.
One or two bricks have no strength against a flood (of problems, concerns, fears, doubts), but a huge wall (your Christian friends) against this flood will help the one brick to stand strong, resist the flood and deflect the crash of waves of _______ (you fill in the blank).
© 2015 Cat Brennan (all rights reserved)
collateral grace 
This is beautiful! And even though I gather to assemble, once a week is often not enough. OH how important further relationship is, but not always easy to come by, even within church family.
Really good analogy, Cat–thank you for stepping up to stand against the flood of evil that is pushing its way into every facet of life in our country. Jesus followers have always been a distinctive element in whatever culture surrounded them. My concern is that we let our ‘flood walls’ fall into shabby disrepair, and trying to rebuild them in the midst of the current raging against us today will absolutelly demand God’s direct interention and our own best efforts. Come to think of it, that sounds like what should have been standard operating procedure all along.
In any case–thanks again for your timely piece, your faithful witness, and your constant encouragement–and keep writing!
Aww, Ron, Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful encouragement. I agree with everything you have said above. These are bad times and in the face of evil, we MUST stand together. Hugs to you and yours.