Peace in the Storm

I was reviewing my daily FB “memories” yesterday and I ran across this post from eight years ago:
“Sitting in my hall bathroom -- no windows or outside walls, following the warnings of the newscasters -- surrounded by blankets and pillows -- waiting out the tornado warnings and thanking God that I'm sheltered in His arms and knowing Jesus is on board my ship! Peace.....be still!”

Yes, I’ve been there – right alongside those of you who are weathering the storms where you are today. After all – we lived in tornado alley for many years. We witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath. We watched our barn roof be taken off, trees being ripped apart, and damage to our home that backed up to Lake Keystone -- the path of the tornado. We took to our under-the-stairs closet and prayed for safety each time when the winds were at ferocious velocity. Yes, it was scary.

Also at Lake Keystone, a tornado brought devastation to our International Faith Bible College. Dad, the president of the college, and Mom heard the reports -- they were in the line of the monster twister. They made their way to the commercial shower stalls. The twister hit strong and almost leveled the entire building, save the area where Mom and Dad were standing and praying for God to be their refuge and strength. They came out without a scratch. They knew where to go in the time of trouble – to a central area in the building AND to God.

In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything, anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, conflicts and any other force that comes against us. We have the choice to cave and yield to the chaos and prevailing winds and storms of our life or we can take the storm by a conquering, overcoming spirit through Christ Jesus. "We are more than conquerors." (Romans 8:37). We've been notified that WE WIN and "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world," (1 John 4:4) We can take the offensive position against the enemy of our souls instead of cowering down to his tactics that try to paralyze us with fear of what the storms can do to us. We can find peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness.

Sincerely, our thoughts and prayers go out to those in harm’s way today. Our awareness of hurting people gets stronger in times like this and we realize the need and urgency to pray for their peace, comfort, and resilience. We know that homes can be rebuilt. Healing will come and life will carry on once again as they place their trust in the Prince of Peace, Who brings peace and comfort and joy once again. We will all carry on -- and we'll even find the beauty that is found, even in tragedy.

Maybe life seems overwhelming to you today. I've been there. Each time I was there, I found my answers in the One Who is our Solid Rock. I came to realize that the overwhelming circumstances were ultimately for my good because they drew me to my Source of all answers and my Solid Rock. I urge you to go to Him today. In Jesus' words to the tremendous storm when the disciples were reeling in fear and despair, we pray He speaks to the storms in our lives today: "Peace, be still". In the meantime, let's praise Him in the storm!

Take the World By Storm

I saw this sign on the chapel entry at Concordia University where Payton and Alexia are in their Regional Speech & Debate Finals. I'm sure it's referring to their team's name, The Tornadoes, but I believe the second connotation is to live our lives by taking this world by storm in our "can do" actions and attitude.

I had been thinking about the storms that have raged havoc in so many states over the last few weeks. What made me think that because I moved from Tornado Alley in Oklahoma, that they didn't have a Tornado Alley in Texas also?

The most notorious thing about Canton, TX to me was the First Monday Trade Days held there. They are the oldest, largest continually operating outdoor flea market in the United States. But now, Canton is also known for the devastating tornado that raged through there on Saturday night, April 29th. Homes leveled that looked like tinker toy pile ups, many lives lost and injured. A community in mourning because of the nightmare they experienced.

I'm well acquainted with living in "tornado alley". Over the years, we witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath. We watched our barn roof be taken off (yes, I said "watched"). The tornado worked its path down Keystone Lake and our home and acreage backed up to it. We took to our under-the-stairs closet for safety when the winds grew to such ferocious velocity. My husband's parents lost their home in a tornado, but they were safe in a bathroom shower stall. They came out with not a scratch on them.

A few weeks ago, my new home in Frisco encountered damage from a severe hailstorm with tornadic winds that hit the area. My kids and hundreds of other homes had damage also.

Bottom line -- that's why, on a daily basis, I've come to realize that I must stay connected to my survival source. "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in Him I trust." That's always my emergency 911 number. Psalm 91:1 that is. I pray and speak safety and protection to all of us in the pathway of storms -- whether they are weather storms or life storms. I pray and speak to the storm and tell it to cease and desist. (God's Word says we can do that: Mark 11:23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.") I quote my Prince of Peace's words as I speak to the storm -- "Peace -- be still." And, personally, MY peace is still.

But, here's what I surmised from that sign at the chapel here at Concordia University. We have the choice of being stormed inside and outside by the prevailing winds and storms in our lives -- those natural storms, as well as those we face in life's circumstances and adversities, or we can TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM by being in a conquering attitude to everything that comes to steal from us. We've been notified that WE WIN and "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world," (1 John 4:4) and "We are more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).....so shouldn't we be on the offensive with the enemy of our souls rather than cowering down to his tactics that try to paralyze us with fear of what the storms can do to us. We can still make it through any and everything by finding peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness. We might as well realize that storms, of any kind, are no surprise to God and so let's just TAKE THE WORLD ON BY STORM! After all we know the maker, creator and peace maker of the storms!

Where DO YOU Hide When Storms Come?

Yesterday, I heard a news commentator say, "We are in World War III." I don't think that was an "official" statement, but in the light of the literal wars against human lives all over world, it makes sense that World War II could be declared.

As a kid, I remember the Duck and Cover drills we had for personal protection against the effects of a nuclear attack which could have come at any time without warning. We got in the fetal position, face down and covered our heads with our hands. Then, I remember the Vietnam War well, as it was a time when my young husband could have been drafted, but wasn't.

There have always been wars and rumors of wars since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, that hasn't changed, but what has changed is the thought that at any moment and in any place, we could be a casualty in an attack from an enemy.

Yesterday, there were countless tornadoes in Oklahoma and other states. I live smack dab in the middle of Tornado Alley. I have been in many tornado warnings, sightings, and alerts. I have never run to a Storm Shelter until yesterday, when I had my granddaughter and her friend here. I knew I had to take extra precaution because they were my responsibility, so we ran across the street to a neighbor's Storm Shelter. Tornadoes have hit, and can hit almost anywhere and at any time.

In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, wars and any other force that comes against us. Bottom line. We don't need to fear. God is our rock, our refuge, our shelter in the time of any storm or war.

If ever there was a time to find peace, security and hope in our Father, it is now. He wants us to prepare and rise above these storms of life whether they are storms within our families, the storms of wars around our world or literal storms. It's time for us to pray...passionately for the peace and presence of God in our lives. We need to pray for our world and the uncertainties that face mankind. We need to come back to our CENTER and find our peace in Him. Our peace is an incredible testimony in hard times and will help those around us to find Him as their Prince of Peace. He wants to make Himself known in the middle of the present shaking. I can't think of a better place to go to, and place to be than in God's shelter.

This chapter is one I've prayed over my family for years. It is still relevant and precisely the "Word" for us today:

Psalm 91:1-16 -- "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Day 85 of Photo Inspirations -- Peace in the Midst of the Storm
Dark clouds looming.  Tornado warnings. Hail warnings. Heavy rains and flooding warnings. News reports kept urging those in the path of the storm, to take cover.  Family calls to check on  me.  I'm in the toy closet with pillows over and under me.  Granddaughter wants me to go to a storm shelter.  I'm quoting scripture..." I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in Him I trust."  That's always my emergency 911 number. Psalm 91:1 that is.  I pray and speak safety and protection to all of us in the pathway of the storm.  I pray and speak to the storm and tell it to cease and desist. (God's Word says we can do that:  Mark 11:23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.")   I quote my Prince of Peace's words as I speak to the storm -- "Peace -- be still."  And, personally, MY peace was still.   Just a short while later, I heard on the news station, "Cold front is pushing the tornado activity out of the area."  While there was calamity and devastation from yet another Oklahoma storm, it could have been so much worse.  I'm so grateful that it wasn't.

I'm well acquainted with living in "tornado alley".  Over the years, we witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath.  We watched our barn roof be taken off (yes, I said "watched").  The tornado worked its path down Keystone Lake and our home and acreage backed up to it.  We took to our under-the-stairs closet for safety when the winds grew to such ferocious velocity.  My husband's parents lost their home in a tornado, but they were safe in a bathroom shower stall. They came out with not a scratch on them.

And, with natural storms, as well as those we face in life's circumstances and adversity, we can still make it through by finding peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness.  Wednesday night, I was singing an old song.... "So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise. They don't worry me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me, and not of earth shall harm me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God."

After being in the toy closet for just a few minutes, and hearing the "all clear" report, I got up and turned around and looked at that closet and realized it's still Spring cleaning time around here, and since I'm here, I might as well get this toy closet all organized and cleaned out.  "All things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28.  "Thanks, God, for the light-works, wind-works, and water-works Wednesday night.   You definitely got our attention."

Is Your Home Built on Solid Rock or Sinking Sand?

We were just kids when we married (I was 17; he was 18). Funny the dreams we had back then. Often, we'd go “looking” for our dream home…. the newest mobile home models, in hopes of owning one someday. That was pie-in-the-sky dreaming back then, because my husband was a college student, and I was working my first $1.25/hr clerical job. Our “dream” changed when his uncles, who were in construction, took in a home on trade, and sold it to us. We purchased that cute little home in 1967 for $7,000. Our house payment was $67 a month which seemed astronomical at the time. A couple of years later, we sold it for $14,000 – we thought we had struck it rich! How far we came over the years of maturing, growing our family and depending on God more, as we took many more steps of faith”. And, each step continued to solidify our foundation.

In the 70s, we moved to Oklahoma, and, before we knew it, our young dreams came true. We purchased a mobile home that backed up to Lake Keystone. And, you’re probably thinking, “Are you kidding me? You bought a mobile home that backed up to the water in "Tornado Alley"?” Indeed we did. And we encountered many opportunities to stretch our faith, especially during every one of those tornados that came barreling down the lake. Thanks be to God -- we weathered them all. And with each one, whether it was a literal storm (tornado) or financial storm, or illness storm, or relationship storm, our HOME's foundation grew more solid. It was with each storm, that our HOME and our lives, became more secure and blessed.

Jesus likened the person who hears and keeps His teachings to a wise man who builds his house on the ROCK (Matthew 7:24). Not even the fiercest storm can bring it down. So I ask you today....solid rock or sinking sand? On what foundation are you choosing to build your life, and the lives of your family, today? If we want life’s truest treasures -- say "NO" to sinking sand, and say "YES" to building upon the Rock of Ages. It sure does make for a blessed, secure and comfortable home AND life!