I remember when I was fairly young I wanted to build a club house, and so I went to the garage and grabbed a hammer, and a saw, and a couple screwdrivers. I then went out and found some nails and some wood, and I began working away. I don't remember how much time I spent trying to build my fort/ club house, but I know I spent most of the day on it.

Now I have never been a very good carpenter, but I watched TV with my dad and I saw that all you needed to build a club house was wood, a saw, a hammer, and nails... or so I thought. After a long days work I stepped away and looked with pride at my wonderful fort. I then went inside, ate supper, and watched a little bit of TV before going to bed. As I layed in bed, I couldn't help but think about what I had accomplished. I was very proud of myself, and thought I might even start a fort making business... but all of a sudden my thoughts were interrupted by a flash of lighting. Sure enough, that night it stormed.

I walked outside the next day only to find that my wonderful fort was now a pile of broken lumber. I couldn't believe it! I went inside angry, and devastated, until my Dad asked me what happened. I told him the story, and he knew exactly what I had forgotten. He knew that a hammer, nails, a saw, and wood weren't the only things you need to build a fort... you also need some blueprints. You need a plan so that you build it in such a way, that when a storm comes the fort will stand strong.

As Christians we are no different than my fort... we may have all the material things we need to survive, but without the right blueprints a stiff breeze can shatter our lives. Of course I am not talking about wind, but rather trials and tribulations. We need the right blueprints, so that no matter what comes our way, we cannot be shaken; just as Paul rejoiced in the Lord even while being imprisoned.

God has given us those blueprints, He has given us His Word. He tells us, that whoever builds their life based on His Word will not be destroyed, because His Word is a solid rock. He tells us that His Word can over power the rains and the floods, and keep our lives going steady and strong.

Today's verse reminds me a lot of the story of the Three Little Pigs. The first two pigs quickly built their houses, without paying much attention... just as the foolish man did. The wolf came by and with a huff and a puff destroyed all of their work. However, the third little pig took time, carefully securing each brick until his house was completed. And when the wolf came, no matter how hard he huffed and he puffed, he could not destroy the third pig's house. He could not shake the solid rock.