By now, unless you have succeeded in existing WAY off the grid, you know that our coastal Texas region was devastated by Hurricane Harvey.
By now, you have been bombarded with images of people being carried out of flooding waters, lifted by helicopter after narrowly escaping through rooftops, and waiting for bare necessities in overcrowded shelters.
By now, there are those, generally from far away, who have formed their own opinions about what could’ve, would’ve, and should’ve happened to make this disaster less, well, …disastrous. Perhaps the most insensitive op ed I have personally seen goes something like this:
‘Why on earth would people choose to stay in a location where it floods all the time?!!’
I suppose it is the same question we ask about people who continue to build homes in areas where forest fires are an annual occurrence, or blizzards, or tornadoes, or constant rain. Well, the truth is that no place this side of Heaven is paradise. The truth is that someone has to work at all those big oil companies that refine your gas. The truth is that when you live here long enough, phrases like “tropical storm” and “high water” are commonplace; you buy water, a few extra eggs, milk, and batteries. You never envision that, not long after watching the news, you would look out the window and see this.
As we endured the storm, we ate, we cleaned, and we slept. Yes, we even had school (what else was there to do)? Mostly, though, we walked from window to window to front door, watching the water.
As bad as it looks, the truth is also that the highest water level our house saw was this.
In a little more than 24 hours, we stepped out on the front step and saw this.
And by mid-week, that same view looked like this.
It is only by the hand of the Lord Himself that we were shown such grace. I know that was not everyone’s testimony. Indeed, it seems almost foreign to go about our daily lives as though nothing happened while riding by so much destruction. As we move about in trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus, I feel as if I am in some never-ending dream.
So what is the point of writing such a seemingly mundane Harvey story when so many have lost everything? I simply wanted to say that each day is a new day, and that every day is another opportunity to trust God. We may not understand His ways, nor are we expected to (Proverbs 3:3-6).What we can rest assured upon is that there will be trouble on this earth, but we need not fear tomorrow. God is always for us, and always knows what is best for us. Take heart, whatever is your circumstance. It may not look like it right now, but you are blessed and highly favored.
‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.’
Psalm 34, KJV
I did not know u lived in Houston I thought u lived in Dallas area. Blessings.
No, we are in the Houston metropolitan area. Thanks for the visit and the blessings, Michelle!!
I have been thinking and praying for your family. I thought you were in the Houston area. I am glad you were spared.
Blessings, Dawn
We were blessed, and now we are just working hard to bless those around us, Dawn. Thanks, as always, friend, for keeping us in prayer, and for stopping by.
You and your family are indeed blessed, and I thank God for it. I know you’re doing all you can to help others. I can imagine that just being around the devestation would be difficult. I’m still praying for you and all of Texas, knowing that God will manifest himself to many in the midist of the circumstances.
Yes, Phyllis, your prayer is on point. Past “religious” activities, past denomination, past church culture, we need to minister as Jesus did. Thanks for your words and your prayers.