This hurricane stuff is still new to us. Growing up in the Midwest we'd watch the news. We'd see those poor weathermen all decked out in their rain gear getting beat to death by the wind and waves, and we'd kind of laugh to ourselves...thinking what an idiot;) Boy do they make it dramatic for people! But this time the hype seems a little more scary than normal. They keep calling it this hybrid storm. Something they've never seen before and I can't help but feel nervous.
I think fear stems from the unknown of course.
Fear ultimately comes from feeling out of control. You can be chugging along and then bam! There it is...the perfect storm. It's ready to swoop in on you without much warning and turn your life, your comforts upside down. It's incredibly inconvenient. It makes you irritable and stressed. It wreaks havoc on your diet;) The conditions were all right for it. You were in it's path.
And then there's the not being ready that really strikes it in a person. This time, with this hurricane, we are as ready as we can be. We bought a generator after the last storm. We have batteries, food and water. Everything is put away and secured. We have a plan.
The fact is we are all going to have a perfect "storm" at some point in our lives. It's inevitable. We will have to deal with the ugliness, the pain, the pressure that surrounds it. Will we be prepared? Will we curl up in a ball and call it quits, or will we turn to Him and trust that He'll take care of us?
Wish I could say I've been relaxed and worry free about this storm coming. Wish I could say I just gave it all over and trusted him from the beginning. Not so much. I'm a worrier sometimes.
I guess a storm gives me a lot of time to practice trusting. It definitely makes me draw closer. It makes me realize how small I am and how incredibly almighty HE is! That's a good thing. A very good thing. Oh and so is getting in my Little Chick's birthday party before it hit. Thank you Jesus:)
**Praying for all of you who are getting ready to deal with this perfect storm thing. This inconvenient, scary hiccup in life. Praying safety over your homes and families, and peace to cover you from head to toe.
Be a blessing.
833. a home to hunker into
834. candles
835. a generator!
836. knitting, good books and board games to occupy our time
837. that we can join together through this or any storm
I started humming halfway through this... "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word, Just to rest upon his promise, and to know thus says the Lord...." I googled this hymn and was astonished to learn that the song was penned by Louisa Stead AFTER the drowning of her husband. WOW, talk about a STORM in life!! Kind of help puts our troubles, worries and fears into perspective... Jesus, Jesus, how I trust thee, oh for grace to trust thee more!
ReplyDeleteYes, perfect storms
ReplyDeletecan come crashing
through when you
least expect them ~
we certainly can never
be prepared for all
that will come our
way in this precious
life. I hope that this
literal storm blows
through quickly and
leaves little damage
in its wake.
Stay safe, my sweet
little friend!
xo Suzanne
Becky - Praying for you, your family and all others who are being threatened by this storm. Hope it doesn't affect you and yours and is quickly over and gone.
ReplyDeleteStay safe.
Judy
Stay safe ~ hunker down and pray that it is not as bad as they say it is going be. Sending love and hugs to you and your entire family. xo
ReplyDeleteYes you do have to be prepared you never know, Hope you and your family make out okay and are safe from the storm. We just moved from Maryland to North Carolina. Here we expect to get hurricanes here in (NC) then find out that back home is going to get a direct hit. Hoping everyone makes out okay sending out prayers to everyone especially our friends and family back home on the Eastern shore of MD
ReplyDeleteI'm nervous, too. I thought I was prepared for Irene and then got the stuffing knocked out of my house and me. I'm nervous for Sandy. However, I do think it's going to be more surge than wind. We've battened down the hatches and braced for the worst, but there is only so much prep one can do. One thing we learned from Irene is that we will survive. We know we can do the work and we know we can persevere. God is good. All the time.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for your safety and your strength to be sufficient. Love ya girl!!
ReplyDeletewe are getting a visit from Sandy here in Massachusetts too. I think I have eaten all of the food I bought for the storm today because I have been so nervous. I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life yet each time we get a storm like this I feel like it is the first time. enjoy your "unplanned" family time. I have already thanked HIM for giving me time home with my girls from school so we will make the best of it!
ReplyDeleteso glad you're all prepared! stay safe, my friend! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWe are hunkering down too Beck...coastal Massachusetts...no school tomorrow...still unsure.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw your plate, I thought of this post:
http://nantucketdaffodil.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-cycle-of-life.html
Stay safe my friend
It's wonderful that you're all prepared. Praying that Sandy decides not to be as bad as the weather people indicate. God's love and blessings on all in her path!
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
Glad to hear you all are safe and prepared!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a crazy storm....I've spent the last few days checking in with friends who I thought might be in the danger zone.
I'm on the west coast now, but I know the terror of knowing but not knowing what's coming.
Saying a prayer for everyone on the coast.
ReplyDeletepraying for you sweet becky! i have family on the east coast and am praying for all that are in this storm's path. God is good and He will provide for all your needs. HUGS!
ReplyDeletegirl, i'm praying for you Strahles!! we dodged it this time... and honestly it seems like there are more hurricanes going up the coast than usual... they used to hit us more often. maybe i shouldn't speak too soon! anyways, i'm praying for you. and if you need to escape to Charleston, i'm here for you. : )
ReplyDeleteI am a worrier too. That's why I love my "no fear" cuff you made for me! A good reminder. Doesn't look like it will be too bad here in Richmond, but you never know. We are as prepared as we can be. Enjoy riding out the storm!
ReplyDeletePraying for safety!! My parents live in Richmond, and I talked to my mom today. She is likely going to work and staying there for a couple of days (she works in a hospital). It does seem like each state in the path has taken extraordinary measures to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of the birthday party...precious! What a fun get-together!!
Living on the Gulf coast of Texas, I've dealt with many hurricanes. The best thing IS to be as prepared as you know how to be and to pray. Lack of electricity is almost a certainty so having a generator is going to be so wonderful. Your neighbors who don't have a generator will probably turn to you for help and it always feels so good to be able to help them. New friendships for you! You sound like you have done all that you can do. Be sure to have lots of water on hand for drinking and for flushing. You never realize how much you need water until you don't have it. I will pray for your family as you deal with this new event in your lives. As we always say when we deal with hurricanes, "Remember, God is in control!"
ReplyDeleteThis must be scary for you, Becky. We keep looking at the radar and listening to the meteorologist.....and keep praying. Praying that you all will be safe and sound and will weather this perfect storm huddled in the protection of God's protective arms. ♥
ReplyDeletexoox laurie
I just wrote about keeping a positive outlook in the mist of the storms we may face in life. I don't know if you can ever be prepared enough, but I have decided that I have always been taught great lessons in my worst storms, armed with this knowledge I am suddenly not so scared of what may come my way.
ReplyDeleteI'll pray for your safety!
http://stillroomtogrow.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-26-is-your-glass-half-full-or-half.html
Praying for you and all the many others facing this thing. My sister-in-law and her family are in Ocean City, New Jersey, pretty close to where the center is expected to make landfall. Hang in there!
ReplyDeletesuch a relief to know that HE's in control!
ReplyDeletepraying for you and all the others affected. :)
xo
Thinking of you sweet Becky. Praying you and your family will be safe and that God holds your hand. xoxo
ReplyDeleteglad you got the party in..praying over all of you peace and safety.
ReplyDeleteYes..He is THE weatherman isn't He?:) even the winds and the waves obey Him!
xoxo
Oh how He has carried me through my perfect storm this year! It has been one crazy ride - my own hybrid storm if you will - but the Lord is good and has held me firm and close! Praises to Him! And a big ol' AMEN to your post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice party - cute idea! I really like Big Chicks style! :D
So glad the you have a game plane for miss sandy, stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post. In the midst of the storm, when the disciples were fearing for their lives, Jesus was sleeping. Isn't that interesting? He's in control even during the storms. Phil. 4:6 is one that I keep going back to each time a storm hits. May He give you peace that passes understanding, even as the storm approaches.
ReplyDeleteHe is always there in the midst of the storm isn't He? Love that the waves aren't bigger than His perfect plan. Reminding myself of that today as I wait to see what's coming...
ReplyDeleteLove you girl and stay safe. I'll be praying for you and your family because you are all so precious to me.
Remembering you and asking for His protection and Presence
ReplyDeleteduring this time.
Hugs and prayers for you as you "hunker in"
\0/
In His love,
Deborah xoxo
Praying for the safety of everyone in this storm's path, Becky.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the deep southern part of Louisiana, storms like this are no stranger to us. We have felt the mighty winds and with each storm fear no less. What I do know from our past storms. Pray his His compassion and grace and when to get out. Your family will remain on my heart and in my prayers during these scary times. He is sooo much bigger than this storm. he can calm the waters :) blessings to you my sweet friend. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI just talked with my Virginia relatives and they are faring alright thus far. Anything of this magnitude is definitely unsettling and you are right, it does show us what a powerful God we serve. HE is in control and for those that still don't believe that, then they just need to step back and realize that He is the power behind this storm. Blessings to you as you trust Him during this worrisome time. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeletea hiccup....that is such a perfect way to look at it.
ReplyDeletea scary one.
life can be so messy, can't it.
but think how settled-in-a-bad-way
we'd get
if it were all under wraps
and in our control.
wrapping prayer around you
and yours
and holding you close.
-Jennifer
Praying for your safety.
ReplyDeletemy sweet friend, who flew in this past weekend from PA, called yesterday to tell me all about their preparations, too. It's been raining there non-stop and the winds are fierce.
ReplyDeletePraying for all of you!!
it is in these times of the unknown and the waiting something out (even physical storms) that we realize our trust has to be in something more than ourselves...our plans...our agendas.
Thinking of you and your family Becky. I hope you're o.k. and praying for God's help and peace through all of this destruction. The TV coverage is amazing and hard to imagine that it is covering 1/3rd of the US. In MN you'd never know anything was happening elsewhere without the TV news, but Chicago is even affected. Unbelievable! But through it all the Lord is still in control, and if we believe and Trust in Him, we have to believe that truth as well. We have become so self reliant and over and over as a Nation have taken Him out of our daily lives, and the understanding and belief that all things will work to good to those that Love Him is my comfort for us as a Nation. I will continue to pray for your safety, for the inconveniences for millions, the devastation for millions, and for those whom have lost loved ones through out the Storms (16 thus far). Tragic...
ReplyDeleteBut our trust is still in spite of all of this destruction is to be in Him. So thankful to be a part of His family, and what a blessing for anyone affected by this to have His blessed assurance in their lives.
great word girl! Glad you're doing well!!
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your sweet family hope you are all safe and alright!!
ReplyDeletebeautiful miss becky!
ReplyDeletei happen to think that i am right smack dab in the middle of my life's perfect storm. i'm right there! right where the ship is about to turn upside down in the biggest wave of turmoil. shewwwweeee. please pray for me.
glad you got the party off, too-looks like fun, and i actually lol'd at the thank you jesus comment! :)
I follow you and I hope you will reciprocate...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.5minutiearrivo.com/
I have been praying for you and all those in the Hurricane area. I hope you came through safe and sound. Still praying for the recovery. I love reading your blog. You are doing a great job by the way. You really do encourage me in my own creative life.
ReplyDeleteDebbie