I live in "tornado alley" in the Midwest, and while tornadoes are not funny at all, I do have a funny memory of my feisty, elderly mom climbing into a bathtub with some sort of huge pillow protection over her head as the sirens rang. It was the safest place in the house--and she remained there as long as she could, which was not very long! She climbed back out--BEFORE the "all clear" siren blew--prayed, trusted the Lord, and fortunately, the tornado warnings passed, she was safe and sound, and none the worse for her hairy, scary experience.
Hurricanes are another horrendous matter--I've never been in one, but many have, with devastation and destruction in the path of the storm. Hurricanes can brew up suddenly, come from no where and cause havoc everywhere! And so it is with hurricanes of the heart--I've been THERE and so have you. Put on your rain gear and high boots--we're about to head right into a hurricane happening now--in somebody's world, maybe yours!
The hurricane starts with a small squalor we call the Hassles of Life...little things that cause disturbing annoyances in our lives--we all have them. But it doesn't stop there. It builds onto a new level...the Hurts of Life, and they can blow fiercely, cutting right into the soul and depressing the spirit--we all have those too. THEN, as if it's not enough, here comes the Heavy Stuff of Life...the full-blown storm, the unexpected crisis of health, family, church, life--it happens to us all too. It threatens to devastate and destroy us and we'd be blown away...were it not...were it not...
for the EYE of the STORM...a place a refuge to which we can flee...the place where GOD Himself resides in perfect stillness, calmness, security, and peace. You are safe in the Father's arms....if you will run there today. Going through a hurricane of the heart today? Hassles? Hurts? Heavy Stuff? No emergency aid of any federal government can help; no person can know your pain--but God does. And HE will be there to hold you and to see you through--flee to the EYE OF THE STORM today and know His peace!
--Reprint of a Daily Bible Booster devotional.
--Copyright 2008 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803.
Walk in Worship - !
Today's Songs of Praise tune: I'll Turn to You--enjoy the lyrics & tune.
A Taste of Music: Peggie's Favorite Tunes - A Christian music jukebox, courtesy of PlayList.com
Today's prayer: ""Lord, I'm in the middle of a hurricane right now. The hassles, hurts and heavy stuff of life are about to overwhelm my spirit, soul, and limit of endurance. Help me, Lord...I run to the Eye of the Storm; I remain in Your secure, still, sovereign presence, and I know Your peace; I claim it today, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Walk the Web - Love, laughter 'n life!
Cartoon of the Day: Reverend Fun . . . Today's Humor
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Today's Fun 'n Faith:
The Official Footprints in the Sand page - with ocean sounds!
Jim Reed Photography - Severe & Unusual Weather
Waves in the Sunset - ocean photography
Another Hurricane devo: Hurricanes of the Heart
"In the Eye of the Storm" - by Max Lucado (AMAZON)
Life Verses to Help You Survive Hurricanes of the Heart!
My Indescribable, Personal Christ--Who IS the Eye of the Storm!
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CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS?
Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He
constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to
work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that
raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady
stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age,
approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and
the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind
howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a
lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He
shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things
down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said
firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.
Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement,
he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with
tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the c,
and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.
Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then
understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also
sleep while the wind blew.
MORAL: When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you
have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your
life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had
secured the farm against the storm. We, as believers in Christ, secure
ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word
of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to
have peace in the midst of the storms. I hope you sleep well! Enjoy
the day! May God Bless You and Yours.
-- Author Unknown
