In The Midst Of A Storm

READY… “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”  Psalm 107:28-29 NIV 

AIM…  Frankenstorm Sandy just moved through our nation with vengeance this week.  What did you do to prepare for the storm?  How did you handle yourself in the midst of it?  Life sometimes hands us our own Frankenstorms. When that happens, how do you respond? What do you do?  

We all know seasonal storms and the storms of life are going to occur whether we want them to or not.  Some folks like to be well prepared to withstand a weather catastrophe with water, food, gasoline in their vehicles, a generator, candles, batteries, etc.  Others don’t get too excited and tend to wait to see what really happens and then approach their circumstances in a more reactionary mode - if anything happens to them.  I find that the same is somewhat true about personal storms. Some folks like to be emotionally prepared by surrounding themselves with supportive friends, reading self-help books, praying and trusting God to assist when life will inevitably get ugly.  Others, however, wait for the difficult situation and then find themselves in the middle of a crisis.  Suddenly, because there was no self-preparation, these ill-equipped folks go into panic mode and stress out over life’s attacks; oftentimes they spiral out of control.

I think we can all learn a lesson or two from this week’s wicked storm.  First, when the authorities tell you to evacuate – you pack up and leave!  If you are in a harmful or difficult situation in life and God nudges you to make a big change to save your sanity or your family’s circumstances, then listen, pack up and leave.  Second, be prepared!  We all know the storms of life are coming.  Whether you are in the midst of a storm, dealing with the aftermath or heading into the next downpour, you can do a few things to make the journey a bit easier.  You can heed the advice of trusted friends and family members who can speak from past experiences.  You can read books, watch shows, attend classes, and take action regarding your specific circumstances to prepare, prevent and be productive when your storm strikes. And finally, you can lean on the one who created you, who knows your storms and when they are coming, and who can be ultimately trusted with your life.  Just ask God to help.  After all, He alone is the one who has calmed the storms in the past and is fully capable of calming any storm in your life in the future as well.

FIRE!   Create emergency plans this week.  Work on putting together a plastic tote with things like water, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, etc.  Then prepare for your personal storms by putting together a support system of trusted friends and daily prayers.  By preparing for both storms, you are setting yourself up for success when the next storm decides to strike.  

Be Excellent!
Lori

Please God...

READY… “LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.” Psalm 88 NIV

AIM… In times of crisis, we cry out, “Please God, help me.” When others are struggling, we cry out, “Please God, help them.” If we are scared, we cry out, “Please God, protect me.” When there’s more month left than money in our bank account, we cry out. “Please God, provide for me.” On the occasions when our child is sick, we cry out, “Please God, heal him.” We want God to do so much for us and we want His grace, peace, and deliverance immediately.

What about God’s cry to us? Truthfully, God’s cry is a simple whisper. He only asks for two things: “My child, please love Me” and “My beloved, please love others.” That’s it. God only asks us to do two things, yet we ask Him to do SO many more things for us. It hardly seems fair that the scales are greatly tipped in our favor. However, that’s just how He wants it. God wants to bless us abundantly. He wants us to cry out to Him when we need Him. Most of all, He wants us to know there is someone who loves us and will love us right back no matter how often we need His help or need to cry to Him. Are you crying out to God today or are you loving Him and those around you?

FIRE! Find time to be still and bask in the presence of silence today. Listen to God’s quiet whispers. Pray for wisdom and follow your heart. God will be waiting to hear from you.

Be Excellent!
Lori