The stories are all different but the results are equally life changing here for so many of our friends. But one dear sister in our small group shared this verse from Habakkuk that encouraged her this morning.
Though the fig tree should not blossom nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 Esv
Habakkuk sees trouble everywhere he looks, and since he is surrounded by problems he looks up and sees the Lord. We are so blessed to be on the edge of the devastation untouched, but our hearts go out to so many who are struggling today. We do not know the answers or have the solutions, but we can have hope and even joy because our Lord remains the God of our salvation, our helper and friend in time of trouble!
We are thankful for having made it through Hurricane Helene unscathed, but friends, just a couple of miles away have lost everything due to storm surge. I can’t take time right now to go into detail but please keep people on the Gulf Coast in your prayers. Those who experienced that tidal flooding are told that there may not be power restored for a couple of days. I hope that will be sooner as all the food will spoil, if it hasn’t already. Also, living without AC, at the end of September in this part of Florida means dealing with 91-degree temps with rain again in the forecast tomorrow and Sunday. Please keep all of us, but especially the exhausted first-responders in your thoughts and prayers. If your church is doing a collection or you can donate blood, anything you can do will be a blessing. I have to go to check on some folks, but will update tomorrow, maybe with a few photos.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV
Though we lost power last night at around 7 pm, we made it through the night safe and sound. It’s funny how without lights or television that we were able to get to sleep early with no problems! Rather than being a fearful situation it was actually kind of peaceful. Of course we spent the time to text our kids and keep our close friends updated but then we just packed all our essential food in our big cooler with lots of icepacks and went to bed. Thank God also for our Youversion app on our phones that allowed us to read our Bibles in the dark, before praying and then peacefully drifting off to sleep.
Yes, Jesus left us peace…His peace and He adds to the promise a challenge. That is to not let our hearts be troubled. Notice, He gives the peace unconditionally, but He tells us that it is our job to manage our emotions. He will keep us always safely in His hands…no strings attached….but for us to enjoy the full benefit of His gift our part is to guard against fear. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled!” Like the command that stills winds and waves (and we had plenty in Florida yesterday!), the words of Jesus will calm our hearts. He has promised that when we ask, seek and knock, that He will give us all we need. Now Jesus is asking, seeking and knocking at our hearts. We mustn’t allow fear to keep the door bolted! If we just trust the voice that is asking for us to open, if we allow the one who is seeking after us to find us and when we open our door, He has promised that His peace will carry us through whatever Hurricane is shaking our world. Now that’s a peace we can use, not only in hurricanes but every day in everything we face. Have a blessed day all. Now if I could just find a way to make coffee!
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