Flash flood in Manila: a call for prayer

[chetm]

Friends, this email just came in from TMC Youth's global team member in the Philippines' capital city, Manila:

I'm writing to invite you all to support all of us metaphysically and join us in prayer today. A flash flood caught Metro Manila and neighboring provinces unaware. It doesn't seem like this has really reached international media yet.

The rains we received today took a greater toll than expected and accumulated an amount within 6 hours that we would otherwise only accumulate in a month. All of us who are safe at home are supporting our church members in prayer. Some of the cities in Metro Manila are fully submerged in water by the time of this writing and our major expressways have become rivers. One of our church members have been sitting in her roof with her dog since noon waiting for a rescue team and two of our church members have already lost their houses (I will not say home, because our home is in God!). One of my Sunday School students is still inside his house in waist-deep water. In spite of all this, the faith that came through the communication I've had with these people have been truly inspiring. I am still waiting to hear back from someone from the Pateros church because the news says that Pateros city has been submerged in water as well.

I do not want to cause any alarm, and I, for one, have been doing my best all day not to "stand aghast at nothingness", but I felt impelled to write because I know that prayer has power, and even more so collectively. All the support you can provide in your own prayers will be very appreciated by all of us here.

Love from the Philippines,
Camille

[chetm]

What comes to thought right away is this verse from Revelation, "...and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood..." Mary Baker Eddy writes about this in Science and Health, pages 570-572. Here are a few relevant lines: "The waters will be pacified, and Christ will command the wave." "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you."

Jesus spoke of building our lives on the ROCK of Christ - the Truth he lived and taught - that would be secure when the rains and floods came. This rock is present right now to save, deliver, calm, protect everyone in Manila.

[Annette D]

The story of Elijah in the lesson comes to mind. Divine Spirit is not in destruction, but is present as the still, small, voice. Harmony, peace, truth, are potent enough to be seen and heard above the roar of chaos. God is omnipotent, chaos has no power.

Those dear ones in the Philippines are in the secret place of the Most High.

[testdrive]

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Ps 139:9-10

Love is present right where your church family members are. Where all are.

"The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace." Ps 29:10-11

Truth is supporting each one with needed courage and strength to face any storm.

ELIAS. Prophecy; spiritual evidence opposed to mate-
rial sense; Christian Science, with which can be discerned
the spiritual fact of whatever the material senses behold;
12 the basis of immortality.
"Elias truly shall first come and restore all things."
(Matthew xvii. 11.) S&H 585:9

Mind is already at work with Christ showing the restoration of all real things.

You are all in our prayers.

[Ginny C]

Hymn 123:2

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to
stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand;

[JennyL]

God’s ideas are safe. Nothing can harm them. As hymn 33 says, they are in “His secret habitation”.
And the Christ reaches those who are suffering seeming loss and brings comfort, reassurance and restoration.
Our prayers and love are with you.

[speakgently]

Christ's arc of safety is protecting, guiding, comforting.....
"In heavenly Love abiding, no change my heart can fear
And safe in such confiding for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?......................................... .................................................. ...................My Father has my treasure, and He will walk with me". Hymn 148
Thinking of you and praying with you. Love meets every need. The Christ stills the angry waters. You are safe in God's loving arms.

[Moving Forward]

I felt impelled to write because I know that prayer has power, and even more so collectively.

Thank you for writing, Camille, and you are so right – the Bible shows us that prayer can turn the tide of evil no matter what form it takes. Since we know that God is the only cause and creator of the universe, we know that She is present and providing everything each one of Her children needs to respond intelligently and compassionately to any situation. She is guarding and guiding each one of us always, providing the wisdom that will keep us safe and comfortable. The law of God is always in operation, and that law is Love; it leaves no one out of God’s omnipresent care. There is in reality “no lapse from nor return to harmony” (S&H 471), so no picture of natural disaster can keep us from seeing the continuity of Life and Love, unlimited peace, and infinite goodness.

I’m loving the many wonderful ideas that have already been shared by others. One more that comes to my mind is the one Robin Hoagland closed her recent talk on spirituality.com about how to prayerfully address the threat of hurricanes with. It’s from Miscellaneous Writings and we can certainly see that this must also be true for all those in Metro Manilla as well. It says,

“When storm and tempest beat against the sure foundation, you, safely sheltered in the strong tower of hope, faith, and love, are God’s nestling, and He will hide you in His feathers until the storm has passed.”

[ccubed]

Chet, thank you for posting this on the forum.

Hi everyone, thank you so much for the loving thoughts you wrote and your prayers. It's important to embrace everyone in our prayers and know that God is really a very present help in trouble, and all of us, no matter what the human picture shows, are in the "secret place of the most High."

[francesca]

Big hugs to all of you in Manila.