mindfulautumn's Profile
Mood:
mindfulautumn is
hopeful
About Me:
Female, 34, Westwego - LA
I have two boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I know how bad this disease is, and that it is a struggle and a challenge. So I have to say that without God, my helper and my comforter, I could not bear one day in this life. Jesus suffered and gave his life for us...
[More]
Interests:
Notes:
Previous
|
Next
Even In the Storm
May 08, 2008 11:04AM
- 0 comments
One morning, my fellow church members and I went to the "King's Grant" subdivision to greet the families that returned after Hurricane Katrina. It was wonderful to see people getting their lives back together, but we knew there was so much more they needed. We brought them food and supplies, and we offered them our prayers. In hopes of bringing them peace, we shared our faith. I spoke of the time Jesus and his disciples were on a boat when a storm came. The rain and wind crashed against them as the waves began to rock the boat. The disciples became very afraid and cried out for Jesus to rescue them. He stretched out his hand; suddenly the raging sea was made calm. That was what the Lord wanted to do for those people, just as he had done for me. I began to reflect on my own experiences and how I cried out for Jesus to calm my storm.
As the hurricane headed for New Orleans, I was safe in my hotel room, watching the weather report on television. I began to pray for the people who had stayed behind to "ride out" the storm, and I worried about the city and my home. As anxiety and fear filled my mind, God began to speak to me.
"Stop worrying, turn the television off and get some rest. I have everything under control," a still, small voice said, as I drifted off to sleep.
August 30, 2005, was the day my son, Joshua ,turned three; though, we were not celebrating. Sadly, it was the farthest thing from our minds.
"All Roads are closed headed toward New Orleans. No one is being allowed into the city," said the radio announcer.
"Turn around," I said.
"They're not letting us in," I reiterated, as a worried voice came from the back seat.
"God, please let Butterfly be okay," pleaded my mother.
"I feel bad for leaving her." It seemed a little crazy that we would even be headed toward the city, leaving the security of our hotel room, for a cat. And as my mother worried about her pet, my husband, Cary, wondered where his family would stay that night. We stopped at every hotel and motel along the highway, but they were all full.
Just as things were beginning to seem impossible, we were given a glimmer of hope when we met a man named Wess. We had stopped at the Ramada Inn, but it was booked up for the night. The man offered us a place to rest and we hesitantly decided to follow him to his house. We drove along a winding road for miles. We traveled that dusty trail for what seemed like forever, passing nothing but trees and woods.
"Where is this man taking us? Is he going to leave us stranded somewhere?" asked my mother.
I too began to get a little worried, but then I noticed something. Hanging from the stranger's rear view mirror was a little wooden cross.
"Its going to be okay, I trust him," I thought.
When we arrived at Wess's house, we were welcomed by his wife and their little girl. As we walked in, it almost felt like home. Our sons, Ethan and Joshua, began to run around and play as Cary and my mother talked to the generous couple, and I sat down on the couch to rest. We insisted on only staying a few hours. Cary called around until he found a place for us to stay, and soon it was time to go.
As we said "good bye" and "thank you," Wess and his wife handed us several bags to take with us on our journey. About 30 minutes later, we arrived at our motel room and began to unpack. We opened the bags from Wess and his wife; They had given us several sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. We were even well supplied with paper plates and cups and plastic utensils. In the last bag, to our surprise, we discovered a freshly baked chocolate cake.
"Look, Joshua." I exclaimed, "it's your birthday cake!"
We were so grateful to that family. We were in need of rest, and they received us into their home. We were hungry, and they gave us something to eat. God showed us that when we are faced with adversity, when the road seems endless and we are not sure where it is going, we just need to trust him.
The next morning, my family and I watched the news. We were shocked and dismayed at what we heard from the reports and what we saw from the television footage. The city of New Orleans was in disarray after the storm. Unable to continue watching, I announced that I was going for a walk. As I walked out of the motel room and onto to the sidewalk, I spotted a small Lutheran church on the corner, and I decided to make that my destination. When I arrived at the church, to my disappointment, the door was locked.
"Where are you God?" , I asked as tears of hopelessness ran down my face. I sat on the steps of the church and cried out to God to help me understand what was going on and to bring me peace and reassurance. I thought of all the things I had seen on television and the devastation I felt as people were drowning, dying of illnesses or starvation, and being raped or beaten. I was infuriated by stories of people shooting at the rescue workers who left their families and the safety of their homes to help those who lost everything. I felt sympathy and compassion for those women caught on film running out of Walmart with diapers and formula, being forced to steal to care for their children.
"Are you here in this Lord?" I asked. My heart was heavy; I needed him to speak. I needed to hear that still, small voice, once more.
Longing to hear from God, I woke up early, got out of my bed, and began to read my bible. I turned to a book that once brought me comfort in a difficult time, "Isaiah." I was astonished at the words the prophet spoke of a city's destruction; mighty winds crushed the walls and fierce waters flooded the city, with no escape from the mighty hand of God's judgement. I was saddened as God's word spoke of the land that was desolate and the streets which once had life, were now quiet, empty, and dark. I was shocked at how the same events were happening in my own city. I felt grateful to be spared but discouraged because some were not. So many people lost their lives just like long ago in the land of Jerusalem. New Orleans was empty and lifeless, as far as I knew, but then I began to read the words that followed; I read of God's mercy and compassion. I found peace in his promises to restore that which was lost, and I began to think of all those people who were there helping and rescuing, cleaning, restoring, and rebuilding. God wanted to bring life back to the city and replace the darkness with his light. This gave me a deeper faith in the one who gave me life, and as I looked over to the bed where my precious little boys slept, I knew everything was going to be all right.
God is always there, no matter what the circumstance may be; he is a heart's cry away. He is ever-present, even in the storm.
I was so thankful to God for what he did for the people in that neighborhood; that day, he poured out his blessings upon them. We left knowing that their hearts were moved by his power and his grace. On the way home, we listened to the radio. "Casting Crowns" sang a song called "Praise You in This Storm", and we sang along with the lyrics:
"I was sure by now, God, that. You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for you are who you are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand You never left my side
and though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find you
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."
As the hurricane headed for New Orleans, I was safe in my hotel room, watching the weather report on television. I began to pray for the people who had stayed behind to "ride out" the storm, and I worried about the city and my home. As anxiety and fear filled my mind, God began to speak to me.
"Stop worrying, turn the television off and get some rest. I have everything under control," a still, small voice said, as I drifted off to sleep.
August 30, 2005, was the day my son, Joshua ,turned three; though, we were not celebrating. Sadly, it was the farthest thing from our minds.
"All Roads are closed headed toward New Orleans. No one is being allowed into the city," said the radio announcer.
"Turn around," I said.
"They're not letting us in," I reiterated, as a worried voice came from the back seat.
"God, please let Butterfly be okay," pleaded my mother.
"I feel bad for leaving her." It seemed a little crazy that we would even be headed toward the city, leaving the security of our hotel room, for a cat. And as my mother worried about her pet, my husband, Cary, wondered where his family would stay that night. We stopped at every hotel and motel along the highway, but they were all full.
Just as things were beginning to seem impossible, we were given a glimmer of hope when we met a man named Wess. We had stopped at the Ramada Inn, but it was booked up for the night. The man offered us a place to rest and we hesitantly decided to follow him to his house. We drove along a winding road for miles. We traveled that dusty trail for what seemed like forever, passing nothing but trees and woods.
"Where is this man taking us? Is he going to leave us stranded somewhere?" asked my mother.
I too began to get a little worried, but then I noticed something. Hanging from the stranger's rear view mirror was a little wooden cross.
"Its going to be okay, I trust him," I thought.
When we arrived at Wess's house, we were welcomed by his wife and their little girl. As we walked in, it almost felt like home. Our sons, Ethan and Joshua, began to run around and play as Cary and my mother talked to the generous couple, and I sat down on the couch to rest. We insisted on only staying a few hours. Cary called around until he found a place for us to stay, and soon it was time to go.
As we said "good bye" and "thank you," Wess and his wife handed us several bags to take with us on our journey. About 30 minutes later, we arrived at our motel room and began to unpack. We opened the bags from Wess and his wife; They had given us several sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. We were even well supplied with paper plates and cups and plastic utensils. In the last bag, to our surprise, we discovered a freshly baked chocolate cake.
"Look, Joshua." I exclaimed, "it's your birthday cake!"
We were so grateful to that family. We were in need of rest, and they received us into their home. We were hungry, and they gave us something to eat. God showed us that when we are faced with adversity, when the road seems endless and we are not sure where it is going, we just need to trust him.
The next morning, my family and I watched the news. We were shocked and dismayed at what we heard from the reports and what we saw from the television footage. The city of New Orleans was in disarray after the storm. Unable to continue watching, I announced that I was going for a walk. As I walked out of the motel room and onto to the sidewalk, I spotted a small Lutheran church on the corner, and I decided to make that my destination. When I arrived at the church, to my disappointment, the door was locked.
"Where are you God?" , I asked as tears of hopelessness ran down my face. I sat on the steps of the church and cried out to God to help me understand what was going on and to bring me peace and reassurance. I thought of all the things I had seen on television and the devastation I felt as people were drowning, dying of illnesses or starvation, and being raped or beaten. I was infuriated by stories of people shooting at the rescue workers who left their families and the safety of their homes to help those who lost everything. I felt sympathy and compassion for those women caught on film running out of Walmart with diapers and formula, being forced to steal to care for their children.
"Are you here in this Lord?" I asked. My heart was heavy; I needed him to speak. I needed to hear that still, small voice, once more.
Longing to hear from God, I woke up early, got out of my bed, and began to read my bible. I turned to a book that once brought me comfort in a difficult time, "Isaiah." I was astonished at the words the prophet spoke of a city's destruction; mighty winds crushed the walls and fierce waters flooded the city, with no escape from the mighty hand of God's judgement. I was saddened as God's word spoke of the land that was desolate and the streets which once had life, were now quiet, empty, and dark. I was shocked at how the same events were happening in my own city. I felt grateful to be spared but discouraged because some were not. So many people lost their lives just like long ago in the land of Jerusalem. New Orleans was empty and lifeless, as far as I knew, but then I began to read the words that followed; I read of God's mercy and compassion. I found peace in his promises to restore that which was lost, and I began to think of all those people who were there helping and rescuing, cleaning, restoring, and rebuilding. God wanted to bring life back to the city and replace the darkness with his light. This gave me a deeper faith in the one who gave me life, and as I looked over to the bed where my precious little boys slept, I knew everything was going to be all right.
God is always there, no matter what the circumstance may be; he is a heart's cry away. He is ever-present, even in the storm.
I was so thankful to God for what he did for the people in that neighborhood; that day, he poured out his blessings upon them. We left knowing that their hearts were moved by his power and his grace. On the way home, we listened to the radio. "Casting Crowns" sang a song called "Praise You in This Storm", and we sang along with the lyrics:
"I was sure by now, God, that. You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for you are who you are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand You never left my side
and though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find you
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."