Empty shelves in Corpus Christi Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
- Proverbs 6:6-8
As I am sure everyone is aware of by now, the good people of the Texas Gulf Coast are weathering a horrific once in a lifetime event: a hurricane that hit land as a category four and has already dumped over twenty inches of rain in some places. It's hard to imagine twenty of inches of rain in one day and the prognosticators show no end in sight until at least next Tuesday. In an area which is largely low and populated with alligators and water moccasins, even those not facing severe property damage have to be on guard because wild creatures will be seeking dry hiding places until the water recedes. Now we don't know how long this will last, but we do know that the clean-up and recovery may take years and many people who woke of yesterday in a nice home with a good life may face months of agonizing stress and worry as they try to rebuild their lives. But there is comfort knowing that Americans are the most generous people in the world and they will once again rise up to help those in need as necessary.
So what can we learn from Hurricane Harvey and what it has done to tear asunder good people and their lives and dreams? Well, first and foremost, we can use it to highlight that all the things we are given on this earth are temporary, including life itself. When things are going well and all is secure, we just take our blessings for granted, but when they fall apart suddenly, as is the case of those facing Hurricane Harvey, anxiety, fear and worry can creep into our lives and make us unable to function effectively. And when that happens, not only are we incapable of dealing with what must be done, but we actually set ourselves back.
But if we only remember that God is always there for us, ready to help us and lead us back to a better future and if we only put ourselves in His hands, asking for His guidance and following it, we have the capability to rebuild things better than they ever were before. We don't know why people are subjected to things like hurricanes. Perhaps in the case of some it's a form of punishment, or maybe even a way to make us see what is really important, but we do know that God has allowed evil to exist on this earth and it will always be here among us until that appointed time when Jesus returns to rule the world. We don't know when, but we do know, if we open our hearts with faith and believe, that He will and it is our job to weather whatever burdens we face with love, determination, and the will to do all that we can to live as He would have us do.
And the picture posted with this blog was designed to bring home a special point. If we want to weather a hurricane when one is approaching, we must prepare and, of course, one of the most important needs is adequate food and water until help arrives. Those who prepared well can weather the storm. Those who don't will be hungry and thirsty, possibly even to the degree where they can't survives.
And our faith is the same way. If we want to weather the storm of life and ultimately inherit the Kingdom of God, we must prepare. We must keep our hearts open, pray, read the Bible and join in fellowship with others. This will provide us the spiritual sustenance to sustain us through bad times like the hurricane. Are we up to the challenge?
Dear Lord, We thank you for your love and grace and all the many blessings that you have given us and we pray for you to look over the people suffering in Texas this day. Help us to use it as a building block for always being prepared for what awaits us, known and unknown. And help us, through faith, to use our faith in you as a main building block in those preparations. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
- Proverbs 6:6-8
As I am sure everyone is aware of by now, the good people of the Texas Gulf Coast are weathering a horrific once in a lifetime event: a hurricane that hit land as a category four and has already dumped over twenty inches of rain in some places. It's hard to imagine twenty of inches of rain in one day and the prognosticators show no end in sight until at least next Tuesday. In an area which is largely low and populated with alligators and water moccasins, even those not facing severe property damage have to be on guard because wild creatures will be seeking dry hiding places until the water recedes. Now we don't know how long this will last, but we do know that the clean-up and recovery may take years and many people who woke of yesterday in a nice home with a good life may face months of agonizing stress and worry as they try to rebuild their lives. But there is comfort knowing that Americans are the most generous people in the world and they will once again rise up to help those in need as necessary.
So what can we learn from Hurricane Harvey and what it has done to tear asunder good people and their lives and dreams? Well, first and foremost, we can use it to highlight that all the things we are given on this earth are temporary, including life itself. When things are going well and all is secure, we just take our blessings for granted, but when they fall apart suddenly, as is the case of those facing Hurricane Harvey, anxiety, fear and worry can creep into our lives and make us unable to function effectively. And when that happens, not only are we incapable of dealing with what must be done, but we actually set ourselves back.
But if we only remember that God is always there for us, ready to help us and lead us back to a better future and if we only put ourselves in His hands, asking for His guidance and following it, we have the capability to rebuild things better than they ever were before. We don't know why people are subjected to things like hurricanes. Perhaps in the case of some it's a form of punishment, or maybe even a way to make us see what is really important, but we do know that God has allowed evil to exist on this earth and it will always be here among us until that appointed time when Jesus returns to rule the world. We don't know when, but we do know, if we open our hearts with faith and believe, that He will and it is our job to weather whatever burdens we face with love, determination, and the will to do all that we can to live as He would have us do.
And the picture posted with this blog was designed to bring home a special point. If we want to weather a hurricane when one is approaching, we must prepare and, of course, one of the most important needs is adequate food and water until help arrives. Those who prepared well can weather the storm. Those who don't will be hungry and thirsty, possibly even to the degree where they can't survives.
And our faith is the same way. If we want to weather the storm of life and ultimately inherit the Kingdom of God, we must prepare. We must keep our hearts open, pray, read the Bible and join in fellowship with others. This will provide us the spiritual sustenance to sustain us through bad times like the hurricane. Are we up to the challenge?
Dear Lord, We thank you for your love and grace and all the many blessings that you have given us and we pray for you to look over the people suffering in Texas this day. Help us to use it as a building block for always being prepared for what awaits us, known and unknown. And help us, through faith, to use our faith in you as a main building block in those preparations. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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