I Remember When

Her name was Eloise. As she rose up out of the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico she sent before her a wall of water sixteen feet high and winds of one hundred and twenty five miles an hour. Just hours earlier it had been predicted that this hurricane would hit land closer to Louisiana and as a category 2 storm, but a sharp turn to the northeast and a growing intensity sent her to Panama City, Florida as a category 3.
It was September 23, 1975. We were living in Enterprise, Alabama, about 90 miles from the coast. Like most of the residents there we weren’t worried about the storm as we went to bed the night before. Mom was in the hospital because of a diseased gall bladder and dad kept making the commute from the hospital out to the house to check on us kids. He had gone early on the 23rd to be with mom when the news came out that Eloise’s path would take her directly over us and the wind and rain had already begun. The electricity went out first and then the phone lines so there was no communication. Four children from the age of sixteen down to five years old were sitting in the house watching as the pine trees in the front yard would bend over and touch the ground with their tops. Sitting on the sofa holding my dog I asked my brothers and sister what we should do. We all agreed that we should pray. So we did. On the highway officers stopped dad and said he couldn’t go on because of the dangerous winds, but he explained to them that his children were home and he was going there, they let him pass.
As the eye of the storm came over there was a very strange calm that came with it. We knew the calm was only temporary and that after the eye passed, the back wall of the storm would come, and then it would be over. So, we accepted the calm and kept praying. Soon the wind and rain began again but there was peace in our house and we knew we were ok. After the storm, the devastation around town was unbelievable. Trees that had stood for centuries were blown out of the ground, and roads were completely blocked from the debris. Every chain saw in town was busy and every person who was able was doing their part to clean up.
I was recently reminded again of Eloise and the devastation that storms in our lives can bring, and the most important thing I can tell you is this. Teach your children to pray. When they can’t reach you they can still reach Jesus. Jesus spoke these words in the gospel of John chapter 16 and verse 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

What's My Motivation?

Different people respond to different motivators. One thing that moves me to action faster than anything else is pain. I can be hungry and wait for a while to eat. I can be sad and still function. But, when I am in pain, get out of the way. This was really proven to me this past week. When the soreness in my side suddenly became excruciating burning ripping pain. My body was trying to pass a kidney stone. Emphasis on trying. After a week and more x-rays the Dr. said the stone hadn't moved and something would have to be done. My response was, "your going to put what up where?" I don't think so. Then the pain came again and I didn't care what they did, I just wanted it out. During that time when the pain medication wasn't helping I would pray. More specifically I would praise. I would praise God and rejoice because he knows me. And as I praised then I would have the strength to bear the pain. God is so good. Pain may motivate some to become angry or bitter, but I have learned a long time ago that anger and bitterness only makes the pain more intense and less tolerable. So, I will always praise Him through the pain.

Overflow

Luk 6:45 A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

Recently my son wanted to wash his cap, so he put it in a frame and stuck it in the dishwasher. But he didn't want to use the regular dishwashing detergent because he was afraid that it might bleach the cap. Instead he used liquid detergent that is used in the sink not the dishwasher. It wasn't long before the dishwasher was filled with foam from the detergent and it had to go somewhere. Wrong detergent, wrong results.

It's really a very simple concept. When there is too much of something inside a container some of it has to come out. When you're happy everyone around you knows it, and when you're angry everyone knows it. Those emotions show through because that is what is overflowing in your heart at the time. Anxiety, depression, worry also shows on your face and in your words when they are abundant in your heart, as does compassion and joy. Sometimes we aren't even aware of what is flowing out of our mouth or heart. Complaining and bitterness flow so easily, yet what does that show is in your heart. Put the right stuff in and the right stuff will come out.

God on the Mountains

It's easy to praise God when life is good. When we're looking at life from the top of a great mountain and we can see the beauty of creation all around, praise just seems to flow effortlessly. Maybe an awesome service at church blesses you and you are on top of a spiritual mountain basking in God's presence. Mountain top experiences bring such a great relief and refreshing. On top of that mountain Satan knows that you are too close to God for him to reach you, so he waits. Like King Ben-Hadad in the old testament, Satan thinks that God is only God on the mountain. He will wait until you are in the valley or on the plains. Surrounded by life's struggles and hindrances we find ourselves looking at circumstanses instead of praising God and we make our way off the mountain down to the valley and into the traps set by the enemy of our soul. But, just as King Ben-Hadad found out, God is still God in the valley and on the plains. And, God is with you in the valley like He is on the mountain. Sickness may bring you down, debt may bring you down, family difficulties may bring you down, but God is still God. When you call on his name he will deliver you from your enemies. Praise him when you are on the mountain and when you are in the valley because he is there.

Beauty For Ashes

"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."
How cool is that? God is good!

Broken Pieces

Jesus had been teaching a crowd of people and the time was getting late and there was no where for all the people to go. Being concerned that some might faint along the way home he decided to feed them. All the disciples could find was a few loaves of bread and some fish that a young boy had brought with him. But, Jesus knew that was enough. He had all the people to sit in the grass, he took the bread lifted it up to heaven and gave thanks for it and then he gave thanks for the fish. He broke the bread and gave the pieces, and the fish, to the disciples to distribute to the people. When it was over about five thousand men plus women and children had been fed and were satisfied. Then Jesus told the disciples to pick up the broken pieces and there was twelve baskets full left over.
1. Jesus broke the bread and made provision for the people. He took a little and met the whole need.
2. Jesus is the bread of life. His body was broken and through it He made provision for all of mankind to be saved.
3. Sometimes our lives are broken. Whether by life in general or by God trying to get our attention, we still feel fragmented. But, and get this good, Jesus does not leave broken pieces behind. We don't know what purpose Jesus had in gathering the fragments but he definately had one. He also has a purpose for every broken life, or broken spirit, or broken person. He can take a broken life, gather up all the pieces and use it.
I once had a very special person tell me that we minister out of our pain. The deeper our pain is the deeper we can reach down and touch some one elses life. God has a purpose for us, even the broken parts.

Focus

Some days it's hard to focus on the work at hand. I find myself doing the things that can wait and waiting on the things that need to get done. When I need for one of my children to really pay attention and get their work done I can look at them and make blinders with my hands and tell them "F O C U S"and it seems to help for a little bit. With school almost out for the summer it's getting harder and harder for them. Well, for me too. I would rather be outside, on the motorcycle, or anything other than sitting behind a desk. But my desk needs some serious attention. I'll do it later. lol.