Monthly Archives: March 2012
Black White OR Grey
Image via Wikipedia
Remember the days of black and white television? I remember watching television in black and white and the day the big color console television was delivered to our home. Now, for those who remember watching black and white television, do you remember the lifestyle people lived back in those days?
Years ago, when our parents and grandparents were coming up there was more than just black and white television. Even in some of us in approaching the wonder years of 50, remember such days. Everything was black and white. What I mean by black and white is that there was right and there was wrong. People lived by the Ten Commandments and understood that there were just that commandments and NOT suggestions! If a child showed disrespect or was unruly, they were punished. Children were raised to know that there were consequences for every action.
These days, it seems the colors black and white are becoming more and more blended and there seems to become an increasing amount of shades of grey. For example, in our media world, we see more and more people justify what they do despite the fact that it is wrong. Morals and values are becoming more and more things of the past. You can turn the television on anytime of the day and be exposed to things that should not even be on television. In today’s society, whatever it takes to bring in top ratings takes priority. Over the course of time, we become more desensitized and the boundaries get pushed a little further.
Not only is our media guilty of surrounding us with more shades of grey but in society today it seems that the rule book has been tossed to the side. It has become a society of people caught up in what they want for themselves and don’t care who they step on to get what they want. If someone hurts another its okay but revenge can be sought. When someone gives someone something such as a gift, the receiver has the mentality; “I deserved this and it didn’t come soon enough.” Then, the giver walks away with the mentality ”now you owe me.” And, forgiveness. It hardly exists anymore. Instead, it seems to be more fun to go on a smear campaign against the one who hurt us.
Every day, we are each confronted with issues where we have to make choices. These choices are not the choices of what we will eat, wear or what we will do in our career but these choices are what are we going to expose our hearts, minds and spirits to during the waking hours of the day. For the Christian, this is becoming more and more of a challenge. There are places in the world where Christians are being arrested for their beliefs. The morals and values are not gradually diminishing but they are on a fast downward spiral.
With this scripture from Isaiah in mind, we as Christians need to be asking daily for discernment, wisdom, and staying in step with God. It is our responsibility to stand firm on the foundation that we have established as Christ’s Church. We need to begin leading by getting back to the basics of black and white and realize there are NO shades of grey. It is those areas of grey that we all have lived in at one point and time where we will have to face our creator one day and will be held accountable. Is there any real honest explanation for living in the grey?
Remember the days of black and white television? These televisions had only three basic channels and a small screen? Well, this is our template of how we need to walk our Christian walk. It is our responsibility to live out loud the black and white. We live this mentality of black and white by obeying not only the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses to give the people. We must obey all instruction from the bible. The three basic channels we must live out loud are a life of prayer, including God in ALL that we do, and stick with the basic instruction book, the Bible. Because in the bible, there are no grey areas. It is all black and white and those who tried to live in the grey did not fair so well. For the small screen, may we limit how we allow the world’s attempts to pull us over into the areas of grey.
My challenge for all of us is to begin each day asking for God’s guidance, asking for discernment, and wisdom. We must take heed in what Jesus said to His disciples as He talked about the End Times. His instructions to the disciples and to us today were this; Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew: 24:4 Every day we are confronted with deception but we have the choice of buying into that deception and living in the grey. Or, we can make the choice of standing firm on the Word of God and His instructions.
What’s it going to be today? Black and white or grey? If you don’t already, I suggest you begin reading the Basic Instruction Book Before Leaving Earth better known as the Bible! And, each day, remember those commandments God gave Moses were not mere suggestions they were instructions for ALL people.
Blessings
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What Is Your PR?
Drew running in middle school...College View Middle, Owensboro, Kentucky
My son, Drew is a runner. He began running when he was in seventh grade. I will never forget the first practice I took him to. It was a very hot August morning. It was not going to surprise me if he got in the car after practice and say “this is not for me.” But, he proved me wrong. Drew hopped in the car and said; “practice tomorrow eight sharp!” As each day of practice came and went, Drew’s endurance and times would improve.
For those of you who run or ever ran cross-country or track know that you are not only competing with your team to beat the competition but you are competing with yourself. It is the goal of every runner to improve his/her PR (personal record) times each time he/she competes. This competition against self is even greater in 5k’s and marathons.
There were races where Drew would run and he would feel like he was running with weights around his ankle. These races were frustrating for Drew because he knew what his personal best could be and should have been. However, at the end of the day, Drew would put that race behind him and look towards the next start line/race. Even though he would put the bad race behind, he would evaluate and note where he made the mistake, look to see where he needed to improve. The questions Drew would ask himself were; “Did I start out too fast?” “How well did I actual pace myself.” ”How focused was I on the race?”
In my post Don’t Give Up..Finish the Race, I share how we each run a race. The race we run is the day in and day out of living. There are good days and there are bad days. In other words, we have good races and races we would like to forget. This post also expresses how God and his angels are on the sidelines cheering us on to the finish.
Every now and then we all look back on days past. Sometimes, we think to ourselves; ‘What was I thinking?’ Yes, we all say hindsight is 20/20 and the best teacher of all. Yet, in those moments when we look back, we need to see the lessons learned and how these decisions were all a part of God’s molding us. Each one of us has personal goals and things we want to achieve each and every day. Yes, we all have a PR(personal record).
There are some days where we meet our PR or even exceed the record. Then there are other days where we wish we could just go crawl in a hole and hide. It is on these days, where we need to evaluate our day and see the mistakes made. Next, we need to learn from those mistakes and move on to the next start line. In other words, we move on to the next new day with our personal record and with knowledge of how to go about the day a little better.
Yes, I know that all of us encounter a moment where we wish we got a do over but life does not work that way. God does not give us do over but he gives us a new slate each day. It is the Lenten season and we are encouraged to stop and evaluate our race strategy. We can ask ourselves similar questions that my son, Drew would ask after a race.
“Am I starting out too fast?” In other words, am I starting the day in such a hurry that I forget to ask God to come along with me?
“Am I pacing myself appropriately?” When I am asked to do things am I doing it out of obligation, or are these things God is calling me to do?
“Am I focused on the race?” As I begin each day, do I focus on God and stay tuned in to His voice. Do I see the goal at the end of the day?
Every day we are placed on a new start line. No matter if we did or didn’t meet our PR the day before, we are given another chance to improve. My PR is to allow Christ show through me in every step and action I take each day. Yes, there are days when I meet this PR and then there are others where I just want to crawl in a hole. But, I know I must evaluate, surrender to God and be ready for the next start line. So what is your PR?
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Unexpected Blessings
Written for Drew March of 2011. Since this was originally posted, Drew has married the love of his life, Megan. As March 24th comes this year, Jim and I feel doubly blessed. One, Drew being our son and two, Megan becoming a part of our family.
Megan and Drew
Wedding Day
August 6, 2011
Happy 25th Birthday, Drew!
Unexpected Blessing
April & Jim @ Grand Canyon August, 1986
August, 1986 Jim and I were in Arizona. Jim had signed up to attend aPhysical Therapy Seminar in Phoenix, Arizona. As Jim made preparations to attend this seminar, he decided he would take me with him and we would go out a week early. He saw it as an opportunity for us to vacation and possibly see the Grand Canyon.
After being in Phoenix a few days, I became very sick. I was so sick that Jim thought I ought to go to the hospital and get checked. The doctors thought I had just picked up a bug and gave me something that would relieve the nausea. Within a few hours, I did feel a little better. Jim signed us up for a tour that would take us to the Grand Canyon for the day. We ventured out with a tour group and had a wonderful time enjoying scenery and meeting other people on the tour from other states as well as from around the world. Needless to say, it was wonderful memory for a newly married couple.
After an outing to the Grand Canyon, it was time for Jim to start his classes and I began to get sick again. Jim jokingly said ” I just can’t take you anywhere!” Then, he got wise to the situation and went to the local pharmacy and picked up a pregnancy test. Yes, the results were positive. But, Jim would not believe it and so we did a second and a third. It was obvious that a little Hawkins would arrive in about nine months. Yet, newly married Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins were in total shock. This news of a new one coming into their lives did not fit into their five-year plan of waiting to start a family. They both asked each other and thought to themselves “what are we going to do?” and ” are we really ready for this?” Of course, as Jim says “we had commitment” and ready or not we were going to be Mom and Dad. An unexpected blessing was expected to arrive in March, 1987.
On March 24, 1987, from the delivery room window, all you could see was the dark sky of rain and storms rolling in one after another. In the delivery room was a weary mom to be becoming more tired and weary from being in labor for over a day. Along with the weary mom to be, was dad to be who had only slept a few hours in a hospital chair. However, the time finally came for the newest Hawkins to enter the world. As Andrew Mitchell Hawkins entered the world, the storm clouds broke and the most beautiful rainbow appeared outside our delivery room window. I knew then that no matter how unprepared Jim and I thought we were, God had a plan for us by placing this beautiful baby boy in our lives. Drew was God’s promise to us.
Andrew Mitchell Hawkins
As I reflect on what began as a stormy day that turned bright and sunny, I reflect on the days and the years that followed. I see a dad and a son not only bonding as father and son but as best friends. Up and at it at five in the morning, Jim would get the paper to read before going to work. On those early mornings, I would awake and come to the living room to see Drew in Jim’s lap reading the paper with him. As Drew got older, they would meet in the kitchen Jim with one section of the paper and Drew with another section. They were like two old men talking about what was in the news and the weather.
Drew and Jim Vero Beach, Florida
Along with early morning reads of the newspaper, I reflect on many vacations that we took with Drew. When going to the beach, Jim and Drew would design a sandcastle and would spend all day together building it. If we were at an amusement park, they would find the fastest and most daring roller coasters to ride together. Fun was and is still not an option it is mandatory with Drew.
Jim and Drew’s Masterpiece
Along with roller coaster rides, reading the headlines, and building sand castles, there were tears shed at times. The memory that holds close to my heart is when Drew was nineteen. He had to let go of his best friend that had been in his life since he was six. Abby was his dog and companion that waited for him to come home from school to run and play. She was the friend that had watched him grow up.
Drew’s Childhood Dog Abby
I will never forget watching Drew and his dad spend an evening in the rain, digging a grave for his best friend. It was that evening, I saw a little boy who had grown into a fine young man with a lot of character. I saw the message that God had sent me on that March afternoon of 1987. This message was that there was a young man who no matter the circumstances stood true to his faith. He was and is not afraid to show what he feels and is loyal to his Christian walk.
Megan and Drew
August, 2011, another blessing will happen. Drew will take the hand of a lovely young lady by the name of Megan to begin a new life with her. On the day he stands at the altar awaiting to meet Megan there, I will not only be reflecting on the joys and blessings of what Drew has brought to our family. But, if only in my mind, I will see that beautiful rainbow I saw on the day he was born. I will be thanking God for the unexpected blessing that came to be in August, 1986 and arrived on March 24, 1987. For, it was that unexpected blessing that has been nothing but a wonderful blessing to his dad and me.
Drew, much love and happiness is wished to you today. May you experience the joy of an unexpected blessing one day. Happy Birthday!
Drew’s First Birthday
We Love You,
Mom and Dad
PS May you always have a ‘School Boy Heart.’ Dad and I always think of you when we hear this song:
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Prayer? Bah... what use is prayer?
Prayer? Bah... what use is prayer!
A boy, 16, is temporally blinded in one eye. He is a superior athlete, a baseball player. As his sight returns, it is not what it was. The doctors say he will not be able to see well again. But he does! There is no medical explanation.
A man in his 50's is diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Anticipating Our Destination
This DID NOT happen in Kentucky this year.
Last Fall, Jim and I decided we would book a cruise since it had been a few years since our last cruise. As we looked at our calendar, Jim and I thought March would be good time to go thinking we would be tired of snow and winter weather. Yet, as we prepared to leave for our trip, we had the air conditioner turned on at home and laughed about the “winter” we were trying to escape.
When we booked this cruise, Jim and I asked our son and daughter-n-law if they would like to go along with us. Of course, it did not take them long to reply with a big “YES!” and clear their calendars.
Monarch of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
As the days drew closer to our departure, the anticipation began to build. Jim and I were excited that Megan and Drew were going with us. Drew had cruised with us one other time but this was Megan’s first cruise ever. We could not wait to see her reaction as we would board the ship, tackle the endless amounts of food and just savor all the people and scenery we would take in while on vacation.
Drew enjoying his entrée of duck
The day finally came where Jim and I pulled out of Kentucky and headed for Georgia. We were driving to Georgia to meet up with Drew and Megan at their apartment on Saturday morning. Then, the four of us would begin our journey to Florida. Our trip would include an over night stop in St. Simons Island, Georgia. Again, we were excited to share and show Megan our favorite places in the Golden Isles. As we enjoyed walking in the Village in St. Simons, eating at our favorite places and touring the Golden Isles, anticipation and excitement built even more among the four of us.
Megan and Drew
Taken at the Jekyll Island Club
Christ Church
St. Simons Island, Georgia
After taking in our favorite sites and flavors of the Golden Isles, Sunday afternoon we ventured on to Cocoa Beach, Florida where we would lodge for the night and then head for the ship early Monday morning. Late evening, we arrived in Florida where we did a little shopping at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and enjoyed a local fare of Italian cuisine. After a casual dinner, we ventured on to our hotel. As we unpacked the car and ventured to our rooms, there were nothing but big smiles on our faces because we knew that in a few short hours we would board our ship for a few days in paradise.
Sunrise at Sea
Thursday morning 3-15-2012
Monday morning arrived and we were all up and ready to go. After a quick breakfast, we headed to the Port where we would board our ship. Then, that magical moment came. We were welcomed aboard the ship that would be our home the next four days. As we walked the gangway and entered the lobby of the ship, we were greeted with smiles from the ship’s crew, and it was like all the weights and burdens of the world just fell off of us.
Megan and Drew
Relaxing at Coco Cay
Jim and me at Coco Cay
When thinking about the anticipation and excitement that took place as we prepared for our vacation, I realize that our daily walk with Christ is very much the same. Each day we wake up, we should look at our day with excitement and anticipation because God has planned great blessings for us each day. Also, each day of our faith walk brings us one step closer to our destination. This destination is our eternal home and known as Paradise. It is without a doubt that when we approach those pearly gates that there will be smiling faces to greet us and all the cares of the world we left will be no more.
My challenge to you today is to live your life with excitement and anticipation every day. I also encourage you to be aware of God’s goodness and blessings He has planned for you every day.
Sunrise at Sea
Thursday morning 3-15-2012
This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
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Unplugging To Charge Up
Unplugging To Charge Up
Twenty years ago I would not have thought that I would be re connecting with old friends, connecting with new ones, and talking to someone via internet. Now, every turn there is another app, advancement or way to stay in touch with people. It never fails that when I am out and about that I will see one or more persons on their phones either texting, checking Facebook or having a phone conversation. It has basically become the norm for our culture these days.
Now, don’t get me wrong and think I have a real issue with our modern technology. I think that it is great that we have these many ways to communicate with one another and to conduct business. However, it is so easy to get caught up in the technology world to the point we tend to run on overload at times. Thus, when we hit the overload mode, we forget about the simple life God had intended for us.
From time to time, you may not see me on twitter, Facebook or hear back from me on email. Although you are not seeing me in these social media facets, don’t think that I have forgotten you. I like to unplug myself from the fast pace media world and just simply take in the life God wants me to enjoy.
When I unplug myself from the technology world, I usually enjoy one on one conversations with family and friends, enjoy the quiet of the house. I also get caught up on the home front and all that I missed because I got absorbed in the social media world. Yet, one of the things I enjoy the most of being unplugged is just spending some extra quality time with God.
Although I may be unplugged from the social media world, I intentionally plug into God and His world. By plugging into God, I am getting charged up. It is through this charging process of time with God and family, I see the more simple things of life. These simple things of life I enjoy are such things as the birds singing, our dog playing darts with Jim (maybe a little comic relief there as well) , I am reminded of why God created each one of us.
God created us to enjoy the birds He made to serenade us, to enjoy the scenery around us, enjoy our family, enjoy the comical things our family members may do or perform, and simply be surrounded by Him. God didn’t create us to be plugged in all the time as we unfortunately are and to run weary and stressed. You see, no matter how plugged in to the world we are, the more we tend to unplug ourselves from God and the world He created for us. Thus, the result is we feel stressed and overwhelmed.
My challenge for you is to take a day or two and unplug from the social media world and plug into God and the world He created for you. If you absolutely can’t unplug for a day, try unplugging for a few hours. Romans 12:2 sums it up quite well; Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. My prayer for you is that as you unplug from man’s world and you plug-in to God’s world that you will be refreshed and renewed.
I am taking a brief hiatus to renew the mind, spirit and body. During this time, I look forward to capturing family time, and gathering new thoughts to share from Thoughts From The Porch. There are a couple of new thoughts already in process on my draft board. Be on the look out, thoughts of God’s love and encouragement will return soon!
Blessings
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Unplugging To Charge Up
Twenty years ago I would not have thought that I would be re connecting with old friends, connecting with new ones, and talking to someone via internet. Now, every turn there is another app, advancement or way to stay in touch with people. It never fails that when I am out and about that I will see one or more persons on their phones either texting, checking Facebook or having a phone conversation.
Investment Opportunity….the Kingdom
Picture shared by Facebook Friend whom received it from her Facebook Friend. Thank you to the original person who took this and posted. Puts the moment all into perspective.
This past week along with many other communities we faced danger. This danger was an outbreak of tornadoes. For us, the first round was early Wednesday morning. The next round was Friday afternoon. Thankfully, our community was spared with little damage though a tornado was in our area. Though I along with others in my community are counting blessings and giving thanksgivings, there are so many people who have suffered loss. Loss of property, loss of loved ones, loss of neighborhoods, communities, and possessions that were dear to them.
This is a scene from the tornado that hit Owensboro in 2000. My husband, Jim was in these very apartments seeing a home health patient when the storm struck. Fortunately, they made it out alive!
When we heard the timing of these outbreaks of storms and when they would reach our area, Jim decided to come home to pick up our youngest baby, Smokey and me to take us back to his office. We have a black lab, Tori which was impossible for us to take with us since Jim works in a healthcare facility. Also, there was not a very good place we could have placed her at his office without interference. Yet, before leaving the house, Jim and I made sure she as secure as she could possible be in our bathroom. Once we secured her, we took a look around our home one more time. Neither one of us really said anything but I know we were both thinking if we would be coming back to our home or to a pile of sticks. But, at that moment, all that was important was that we were together as a family, to pray and just take a deep breath and hold tight to each other and God’s hand.
As I watch the scenes of devastation, and hear reports from family and friends that were affected by these storms, my heart aches for them. One minute, a family has home and in a matter of seconds it is shattered by force to be reckoned with. The homes are not only shattered to splinters and debris but you can see the hearts and nerves of the victims shattered as well. But, despite this brokenness, they hold tight that they have their family. It is at that moment in time when you look around your home, look across the room at your spouse and/or other family members and realize all that is around you is all material. The true treasures are your loved ones including friends and that no matter what happens to the earthly home there is an eternal home that will never be shattered.
This past week’s devastation gave us all a quick wake up call of how precious life is and I know ALL of us began to assess what is truly important. Matthew 6: 19-21 kept running through my mind and heart; “Do not lay up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.” We have witnessed not only this past week but through similar tornado outbreaks from the past that our earthly treasures are not permanent. This is why it is so important for us to invest in our relationship with Christ, family, and friends. We must also reach out beyond our walls to those we don’t even know who need to experience the wonderful grace and love of God.
At this moment I have an investment opportunity. This investment is one that will last a lifetime and into eternity. The opportunity I speak of is sharing the kingdom of God during this very emotional time in people’s lives who have lost everything. We can share the kingdom of God through the following ways:
1. Volunteer with helping in cleaning up.
2. Hold the victims’ hands and console them as they work through their emotions.
3. Prepare food for the victims and volunteer workers.
4. Donate what you can in the way of clothing and needs for setting up housekeeping.
5. Pray for all who are involved.
6. Donate funds to organizations like Red Cross and UMCOR ( I have a link to UMCOR on the right sidebar).
7. Most of all just love on not only the victims but love on your family and neighbors.
Let’s not wait for the next horrible natural disaster to happen to invest into people. But, plunge into this investment opportunity right now. Invest by showing the kingdom of God through our actions towards others and simply loving on everyone. As we have witnessed, things can happen in a second and we better have already invested ourselves in the kingdom. I encourage you to take me up on this offer and join me in investing in the kingdom of God by being a living example of God’s kingdom.
My thoughts, love and prayers are with ALL who suffered through this past week’s events. May these folks feel God’s loving arms holding them ever so tight during this time. It is my prayer that they are seeing God’s kingdom at work as they pick up the pieces and start anew.
I also would like to say thank-you to the wonderful staff at my husband’s facility for not only allowing him to bring me and my pup up to be with him and to be safe. But for opening their doors to the community for all who needed a safe haven. It was their smiles as they asked for your name for their rooster and their calmness that help small children stay calm and to insure that we were all safe. These people definitely demonstrated the kingdom of God during a time of facing a few minutes of an unknown.
Blessings and Peace-
Smokey...just came back into Dad's office after waiting the storm out with others in our safe place downstairs.
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Savoring the Story
Ever since I learned to read, I have always been an avid reader. I have a love for books and knowledge. It has been nothing for me to read two or three books in a week. However, in the last year this has not been the case. With weddings and other life events happening this past year, my stack “to be read” has grown. This past holiday season I tried to get things ready in such a way that I would have some free time for reading.
The book I am savoring at the moment!
Yes, I began a book. It is a Christmas Christian fiction story with its fun chuckle here and there. Yet, as I write this post, this very book sits by my purse waiting for me to finish. I take it with me wherever I go trying to get a page or chapter or two read while I wait at appointments and such. Me trying to finish this Christmas story is becoming as comical as some of the characters’ antics in the story itself. Today, as I picked my book and purse to move off the kitchen table, I chuckled and said to myself; “nothing like savoring a story.” My New Year’s Resolution was to tackle my reading list with vengeance. Three months into the year and I can say that I am nowhere near this resolution!
We are three weeks into Lent. This is a time where we remember Christ’s fasting, the temptations he faced with Satan and most of all we recall His ministry. As we continue on our journey through Lent, let’s take time to savor the stories of Jesus. Read those familiar parables, how He healed the sick and spoke up for the outcast, taught forgiveness, unconditional love and grace. Then, as we read these stories, let’s apply His teachings and live them out in our every day actions. I encourage you not to only apply these teachings to your lives but to share the stories of Jesus with those God places in your daily path.
In the meantime, along with reading the stories of Jesus, I will keep on my attempt to finish my book. As I write this, I look at my stack of books and wonder which one will I savor next. Or, deciding which one is the easiest to carry around from appointment to appointment.
“Tell me the stories of Jesus; the ones I love to hear.”
Blessings
Relate Articles:
Describe Him Thoughts From The Porch
Look Into The Mirror Thoughts From The Porch
My “God Cave”
My morning philosophy!
Typically, I am not an early riser. However, this morning was a little different. Severe storms had been predicted for our area. After hearing this information before going to bed last night, I decided it would be best for me to get up, get dressed, breakfast and take care of my dog, Smokey. (This was not already an easy task for me due to the fact I am NOT much of a morning person and I have had no sleep the last two nights due to a respiratory infection.) By 6:00 am, I had all these tasks completed with the exception of breakfast. From 6:15 on, the calmness of the house turned to chaos.
My husband Jim left for work extra early to get caught up on paper work before the hospital he works for officially changes to a new computersystem tomorrow. He wanted to make sure that all will be a smooth transition. As he pulled out of the driveway, I began to pour my cereal. It was when I was adding milk to my cereal, is when chaos began. The phones began to ring with weather alerts, the NOAA Radio was going off, the weather sirens outside were sounding off and the text messaging between Jim and me began (FYI Jim was already at work and not driving.). In the midst of all of this, I had our black lab Tori in the garage whom usually comes in the house with me during such warnings but this morning she refused. She preferred to stay in the garage. During my attempt to coax her into the house, Smokey, my little dog bounces out into the garage and starts running in circles. (With Smokey only being nine months old, this was his first experience with severe storms). Fortunately, I was able to grab Smokey before he darted under the car and refused to come out. Needless to say, by the time Smokey went to the closet and sat down, my stress level was to the max.
With my level of stress escalating, I began to text Jim and tell him how I don’t like being here by myself during such situations. Poor Jim, he tried his best to console me via text messages and giving me play by-play of what he was seeing on the weather map. Yet, I still felt alone.
Hindsight 20/20 I realize that I was not alone. The simple reminders that I was not alone came later in the morning when all calmed down in my bible reading. I turned to my favorite Psalm. Psalm 121, where I am always reminded that God is my source of help. He was there in the midst of the storms that were passing through our area. I am also convinced that He was just shaking his head in exasperation because of the stress I was feeling.He was also probably laughing at the scene of me trying to heard the dogs in the house and getting nowhere.
Smokey's Man Cave
Another realization that I was not alone was with Smokey’s reaction each time our NOAA Radio would sound off. Although, our area had been given the all clear the radio continued to sound off for surrounding areas. Each time the radio would send its shrill of alarm, Smokey would run and get in his crate (man cave). Smokey’s man cave is his place of refuge and where he goes when he needs to feel safe and secure. Thus, reminding me that when I am scared, stressed and feel alone, I can run into the arms of God. Again, I turn to the Psalms. This time to Psalm 91. This is a beautiful Psalm of reminding me that God is my protector. I love the verse; “He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge.” When I read that verse the imagery is comforting. Just as Smokey turned to his man cave for security, I must turn to God for my security.
It is the last day of February and we are already having Spring weather. Thus, I am sure there are going to be other moments when the hubby will be at work and the sirens, phones with weather alerts, the NOAA Radio will be going off and I will have to take cover. But, I will remember as I take cover I am not alone. I am covered by my Father’s wings. In other words, I will seek true safety in my God Cave and will hold tight these two Psalms that are becoming engraved on my heart day by day. “My God in Him I will trust.”
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge.
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night.
Psalm 91:1-4
( I encourage you to go read the entire passage and engrave it on your heart)
I will lift my eyes to the hills-
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
( I also encourage you to read the entire passage of this Psalm and engrave it on your heart, too.)
DeColores-
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- Falling (aprilhawk.wordpress.com)
- What the Psalms Teach Us (veritasmizzou.wordpress.com)
