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!

Be AnxIous for Nothing (No-Thing)!

Notice the letter in the middle of the word "anxious" -- it's an I. When I am handling MY affairs, when I am the one in charge, when I rely on myself for the outcome of MY decisions and plans, then I can easily get ANXIOUS about every-thing!

Yesterday, I practiced those words “Be anxious for NO-thing” -- without the I. This follows my blog from Tuesday about handling life's stuff that comes our way with freedom from anxiety. I was taking the next step on my faith journey of hopefully moving the closing process for my new home, but because of the hailstorm damages, couldn't close today as was originally planned. I, along with Larry, my son, and the repair guy were to meet the insurance adjuster at 3:00 pm. We waited and waited....for over an hour, but he never showed up. More delays on this process. I'll admit I said things like "Whatever happened to quality customer service when you call and let people know you are running late or delayed?" But, then I realized, maybe, once again, this isn't an adjuster issue, it's an opportunity issue for me to "Be anxious for nothing (no thing)". Realizing he wasn’t going to show up, I went home to the Wallace's and Denise asked, "How did it go?" My reply was "I am anxious for no thing! And this is just a THING."

Here’s some very good teaching from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He gives us one of those “DO NOT” commands (certainly NOT a suggestion) to be anxious for nothing (no thing). By the way, let’s put his words into perspective. He wrote this letter from the dingy, wet, cold confines of a prison cell but rather than be whiny, wimpy, cranky and sulky, he dismissed his reasons for anxiety and was able to find the peace of God. How could he do that when he had all the reasons in the world to be anxious about every-thing? If we would apply Paul’s words to our circumstances, whatever they are, then we would get the results he had. This is what we can expect for ridding ourselves of the anxiety issues that stress us out, make us angry at others, and keep us from joy and peace. Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8 "Do not be anxious about ANY-THING, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Paul lived by example for you and me. He showed us how to trust God in all things….even in a prison cell or having a flat tire, or a missed appointment, or a bounced check, or a negative health report. He said "Do NOT be ANXIOUS about any-THING!" When we have the mindset “It’s nothing but a thing,” we take on a heavenly perspective and eliminate needless anxiety and can settle in to our confidence in God’s words in Romans 8:28 – “ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” So I’m declaring “These THINGS may be just things, but in God's grand scheme of THINGS, they all have have purposes for blessings ahead!”

Change of Plans: Hail -- No!!

When I posted on Monday (the day after the major hailstorm here in Frisco), about the opportunities that can come from a storm, I didn't realize that it would apply to not only my grandkids and those friends who get extra work when storms come, but it would be applicable to me, too! Here's what I've come to know: more often than not, when I post my blog messages each day, I may be pointing at you, but four fingers are pointing back at me!

If you've kept up with me, and my whereabouts, you'd know that my plans were to be closing on my home in Frisco on March 31st and moving in on April 1st. That was before the hailstorm that turned out to be considered a catastrophic disaster to homes in the area because it came with tornadic winds that shot the tennis ball size hail, like bullets, into roofs, vents, guttering, windows, air conditioners, garage doors, and pergolas. I just described the estimated $30K to $40K of damages to the home I am buying.

I'll admit I'm disappointed that the closing date and move to my home is now in a state of uncertainty. I've been counting the days and I had everything neatly organized -- utilities, movers, internet, TV, security system, and several other components of the move were all set, but now they've all been postponed.

I've said that I'm a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind-of-gal, but this time I was organized with a precise plan. And now, I'm preaching a sermon once again with one finger pointing at you and four more back at me. No matter who we are, life can throw some crazy curve balls....er....hail balls at us that completely takes us off course and off our perfectly laid-out plans. It really can jar our faith when stuff happens that we didn't plan. But, what I've learned through this current status of change, and many before now, is we don't have to understand the plan or the changes to the plan to know God has a purpose for it all, including hailstorms. He is always ahead of us and proving time and time again "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

Sunshine or Hailstorm -- keeping our hearts open to the opportunities that God provides us, as well as trusting in His sovereignty -- that He knows what's best for us, is the best plan. The good news to my story is blessings. The sellers of the home had to file a claim on their insurance, and hopefully, all those items I mentioned in the 2nd paragraph above, will be replaced and they'll all be brand new -- another one of those blessings in disguise. Yes, blessings sometime come through raindrops.....in my case, HAIL....YES!! Proverbs 9:20 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Indeed, sometimes our plans don't work out because God has better ones.

Opportunities Often Come in the Storm

I thought about this Christmas cartoon when I witnessed a Texas-size hailstorm last night. LOL! Actually, it was a sight to be behold, and hear pounding on the roof of my kids' home. Just as it was starting to come down (pea-sized), Larry quickly put my car in the garage. Soon after that, the sizes were way over golf ball size as seen in this second photo. Larry timed the hailstorm by recording it. It lasted over 8 minutes with 2 inches reported. It is suspected that many homes' roofs will have been damaged because it came down in heavy winds. Sirens were also going off as a tornado watch was out and one of the kids' friends came upon the hail as he was driving on the highway, lost control of his car and ran into a concrete embankment. Fortunately, he is okay, but his car isn't. Whew! And I thought Oklahoma had weather excitement!

I understand that hailstorms are frequent here in Texas which means that roofing companies get plently of business. A good friend of Larry and Staci has a roofing company and immediately, he was saying, "Thank you, Lord", along with posting his business info on FB. Cominic just might be saying: "Opportunity comes in the midst of difficulty." That is what It's like for a good friend of mine who is a funeral home owner and mortician says "We never pray for anyone to die, but we do pray "When they do, we're here to serve them!" I think Dominic must say the same thing "We don't pray for a hailstorm, but when one comes, we can serve you!"

Dominic, knowing Payton and Alexia are working very hard to earn the funds they need for their Guatemala Missions Trip in July, gave them a call and said, "I'll give you $200 for every referral you can get me to come out and do an inspection and then repair their roof. You should have seen those two kids going into action -- on social media, calling, text messaging and emailing every homeowner they knew! Blessings often come during times of difficulty -- times of storms. Mercies in disguise.

This reminded me of a beautiful song, "Laura's Song". It speaks of the blessings that come during trials of our lives. I know it will bless you to hear it, too. The link is below:

What if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights,
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0