What a difference a week
makes. A week ago Monday we were
marveling as the moon eclipsed the sun and its light dimmed. This week we longed for the sun to shine and
offer a glimmer of hope that the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey will someday
be over and rebuilding and restoration can take place. Even though it may take years to be able to
process all that occurred these past few days, I have been reminded in so many
ways of God’s presence, love, care, and provision during these days.
Some quotes that
surfaced this week:
“God’s peace is not the
calm after the storm. It’s the
steadfastness during it.”
Christian rock lyrics
“It’s not about how we
start, but how we end.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester
Turner
“When I was a boy and I
would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the
helpers. You will always find people who
are helping.’ To this day, especially in
times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by
realizing that there are many caring people in this world.”
Mr. Fred Rogers
Things I want to
remember and ponder:
* Time to weep with
those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice
* People are always more
important than things
* Gratitude for son, Brad, who studied and learned well and could decipher the information and give peace and comfort that our home would be OK
* Gratitude for son, Brad, who studied and learned well and could decipher the information and give peace and comfort that our home would be OK
* First responders
giving their time for days on end while their families miss having them home
* Policemen, firemen,
and other first responders who came from other cities and states to give our people
help and time to rest
* Kathryn Mills, a
second grade teacher in Katy, creating the Hurricane Harvey Book Club on
Facebook, where children and adults video and post the reading of books, in
order to help children deal with the hurricane and encourage reading
* Longest lines were not
for food, water, or supplies, but to volunteer
* Four men from church
who used a boat they use for recreation/sport as transportation to rescue
people in need
* People who used their
boat to rescue a family from church and then returned to rescue other families
as well
* Rescuers forming a
human chain across a road to rescue an elderly man trapped in his car
* Retired Baptist Men
coming to cleanup, serve food, and minister through manual labor
* Two young moms dressing
up as Ana and Elsa and visiting shelters
* People whose homes had
flooded out rescuing other families
* Churches reaching out
to their members and community
* Encouraging messages
from pastors and God’s Word
* People taking vacation
days and coming from cities across Texas and other states to help
* Neighbors and
strangers becoming friends and family
* It’s better to have
too much of needed supplies and not need them than to not have enough and need
them
* Even though the
initial hit has passed, this is now a marathon and not a sprint
* It’s worth heeding the
constant tornado warnings to take cover, just in case
* Grateful for
technology, phone calls, and personal encounters to check on people
* It’s important to keep
things in perspective
* The willingness of
people to help others whether they knew them previously or not
* Even the ordinary
becomes extraordinary when the schedule is interrupted
* Making sure the
decisions you make do not put other people at risk
* A little girl in our neighborhood
who made, iced, decorated, and gave cupcakes to the workers
* We do better when we
work as a team rather than competition
* We now have the
opportunity to help rebuild, restore, and be even better than before
Songs have also been a
source of hope, reassurance and peace this week.
“The Eye of the Storm”
Ryan Stevenson
I can
feel the rain reminding me
In the
eye of the storm
You
remain in control
And in
the middle of the war
You
guard my soul
You
alone are the anchor
When my
sails are torn
Your love surrounds me
In the
eye of the storm
“I Will Make All Things
New”
Words and Music by Mary
McDonald
Based on Isaiah 43:1-19
When
you pass through the waters, I am with you.
When
you go through the sea, I am there.
When
you go through the fire, the flames will not harm you.
I am
God, I am Lord, I am there!
I will
make all things new;
I will
watch over you.
I will
renew, I will restore, I am God!
I will
make all things new;
I paid
a price for you.
I am
the Lord. I am your God, you are mine.
In your
trial or your sorrow,
I am
with you.
When
hope fades for tomorrow, I am there.
In your
trouble or pain, call my name;
I’ll be
with you.
I am
God, I am Lord, I am there!
I
created the heavens;
I
created the earth.
I
created my people.
Rejoice! I am God!
I will
make all things new;
I will
watch over you.
I will
renew, I will restore, I am God!
I will
make all things new;
I paid
a price for you.
I am
the Lord. I am your God, you are mine.
You are
Mine!
More than anything,
God’s Word has brought peace, hope, and comfort during these days.
“I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:13
“Have
I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you
go.”
Joshua 1:9
God
is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore
we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of
the sea,
though
its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their
surging.
Psalm 46:1-3
He
will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and
rampart.
Psalm 91:4
So
do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I
will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right
hand.
Isaiah 41:10
“Do
not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When
you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and
when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When
you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For
I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah 43: 1b-3a
Because
of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They
are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Let
us not become weary is doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Above
all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use
whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s
grace in its various forms.
I Peter 4:8-10
We have a starting date
for Hurricane Harvey but the ending date will not be final until the last
repair has been made. As homes are made
new, may we also be willing to be made new as we pray, listen, give, and serve. Then we will be the helpers
people need and are looking for.
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