Scripture
Text: Psalm 40:1 I waited
patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up
from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to
our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Happy are
those who make the LORD their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those
who go astray after false gods. 5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your
wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I
to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted. 6
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said,
"Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to
do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." 9 I have told the
glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained
my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I have not hidden your saving help within my
heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not
concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great
congregation. 11 Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me; let your
steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.
Who
is the Father to me?
He
listened for me and to me.
He
picked me up and made me safe and secure.
He
put a new song in my mouth.
He
made me happy.
He
has done many wondrous things for me.
He
has delivered me.
He
has been faithful to me. He has
never let me down.
He
has always loved me.
He
will keep me forever.
LA CONCHITA, Calif. Jan
13, 2005 — Jimmie Wallet went
out for ice cream, and when he got back, everyone and everything he had left
behind were gone. On Wednesday, he identified the bodies of his wife and three
of his daughters, pulled from a tangle of homes smashed by a mudslide. Driven
by the frantic hope of finding his family, no one was as quick to claw through
the debris and help pull out survivors. Wallet dug for hours in the rain
around where he thought the family might be. He helped rescue two people
before he stopped and waited. Early Wednesday, after 36 hours, his wait ended.
His wife, Mechelle, was the first to be found. Around 2 a.m., firefighters and
several of Wallet's friends carried her to the makeshift morgue at the town's
gas station. Wallet went in and identified her, then returned to the porch of
a peach stucco house where he had been staying, put up his feet and sat
without a word. Two hours later, his youngest daughter, 2-year-old Paloma, was
taken out on a stretcher. Her sister Raven, 6, was next, soon followed by
10-year-old Hannah. The three girls were found next to each other, apparently
sitting on a couch when the slide broke apart their house, pushing it for
about 100 yards and covering it in muck. "They never had a chance to get
out," said Scott Hall, a battalion chief with Ventura County Fire
Department. His fourth daughter, a 16-year-old, had been in nearby Ventura
when the slide happened.
Wallet, a 37-year-old
carpenter who has thick dreadlocks and is nicknamed "Gator," worked
construction jobs with Womack and was staying with him to help save money,
said Larry Gallardo, another friend. Wallet said they played music and hung
out on an old bus with a rooftop patio. Engraved over the home's front gate
were the words "Music is love." Residents of La Conchita said Wallet
sang with his kids, took them to the beach and walked around town with Hannah
on his shoulders. His wife stayed home with the children and was
"powerful, such a rock," said Vera Long, who lived three houses
down.
"They were incredibly
beautiful children. They had these sparkling, intelligent, deeply soulful
eyes. Just incredibly loving," Long said. "The only comfort I can
derive is that they were all together." Raven and Hannah shared Wallet's
affinity for the arts they took dance lessons and played piano. Jimmie Wallet
had been returning home Monday when days of soaking rain triggered the
mudslide. He watched the torrent curve toward his block and ran home, only to
find it smothered. Officials said the house was broken apart, pushed for about
100 yards and covered with about six feet of mud. Instinct took over and he
began to dig. Fire officials credited him with helping map out likely
locations of destroyed homes. "The most frustrating part was that he
couldn't do more," said fire Capt. Conrad Quintana. When Wallet returned
late Monday night with six friends, rescue workers let them dig five hours in
the rain around where they thought the family might be. After leaving to rest
Tuesday morning, Wallet returned to dig, but was stopped by authorities and
handcuffed after he crossed police lines. Rescue workers had changed shifts
and did not recognize him. He was released after authorities realized who he
was.
How
have I responded to the Lord?
I
waited for Him. I cried out to
Him.
I
reached up to Him.
I
placed myself in His Hands.
I
set my feet and stood upon the rock.
I
sang a song of praise to our God.
I
put my trust in Him.
He
made me happy.
I
have received your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards me, which are more
than can be counted.
I
am listening to you. Here I am.
I delight to do your will. I
have put your law in my heart.
I
have told the glad news of your deliverance, your faithfulness, and your
salvation. I want your forever.
The
Heavenly Father stands, looking, waiting, and longing for you to give yourself
to Him. Let Him pull you out of
the mud of this earth. Give
yourself to the Father who searches for you fervently.