Waiting Upon the Storm (Ike)

As I sit here this windy Friday afternoon awaiting the arrival of a storm named Ike, many things are rushing through my mind. I can’t help but think of the only other storm this size that came ashore when I was only 14. That storm was named Carla. She was vicious and took her toll on our Gulf Coast (Houston area). As I reflect over those few days our family and extended family came together and wondered what would happen to our home and friends as the winds increased that fitful night. Through such turmoil outside as that storm raged, how wonderful it is, so many years later, to remember the good times our family experienced being together through that ordeal. My favorite cousin, aunt and uncle were there with us. Even her grandmother had come with them. My older cousin was there with her 2 yr. old son, another aunt and uncle from E. Texas had just come down for a visit, were there as well. The total number of folks in our little 3 bedroom house was 14. What could be better than my most favorite people in the world had come to weather the storm at our house?

The power was one of the first things to go away, a sudden and sharp reminder of how much our lives and communications, even then, depended on that constant flow of electricity. I think of the source of all power, my God, my Heavenly Father, my Savior, and my Jesus. How empty and void my life would truly be without His power. Isn’t it comforting to know that through His power and mercy, we will endure this storm through this night as it approaches. It is through His power that we will trust and cling to Him for our strength. I will think on the words in the book of James. When our Lord God tells us about these trials, v.2 consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. My friends, this is a blessing from our Lord as His child.

When all else in life pales in the face of a pending storm of this magnitude, isn’t it a blessing to stop and be still and just talk to Him? How He speaks to us with His still small voice. How He encourages us to phone those we love the most and tell them of our love and just to let them know we are thinking of them. They too, express their love for you. A day like today is a good reminder of just how busy our days become and schedules get so crowded. We set far too many things of this importance on a back burner for another day. Today is that day that God has given us to make all right with Him, and with our loved ones. What will you do? Will you glorify Him today, will you make a difference in someone else’s life? Will you reach out to your family and friends. Will you be still and listen for that still small voice? God gives us these opportunities, we need only to recognize them.

So, as the trees begin to sway with God’s breath upon them, I rest in the peace that all of this show of the nature that He created is being directed by Him. How much I’ve enjoyed this afternoon, with all the preparations that we know to make are completed. Now we wait upon the Great Director and trust in Him.