Rising Above the Storms

I hope you had a lovely Easter.  HE IS RISEN!  Hallelujah!  I am so grateful that He is risen, that He is victorious over sin and death.  I have been worshipping Him for His goodness and His victory.  

This has been the 3rd Easter since Floyd became sick.  Two of the carers went to be with him on Sunday and had communion with him.  They let him smell the elements since he couldn't partake of them.  And then they rejoiced in worship with him that "Jesus is Alive!"

I've recently been walking through several new "storms."  I have to be honest and say that I'm tired of the storms.  But, they do keep coming so I need God's help in dealing with them.  A dear neighbor sent me a short video clip about eagles and how they escape storms that come.  

Eagles have a way of rising above the storms.  I've never known this until I saw the video clip.  It's amazing.  I think sometimes God does that for us too.  The storm comes, and God graciously lifts us out of it - to soar above the storm as it rages.

But many times, maybe most times, He allows us to walk through the storm.  BUT He always walks with us, holding our hand, leading the way, even carrying us if we can't manage on our own.  He is so loving, caring, and faithful.  I could have never made it without Him.  So, even though I'm tired of the storms, I can rest because I know He'll go through them with me - helping me each step of the way!

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

"They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress."  Psalm 107:28

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."  Proverbs 18:10

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory."  Exodus 15:2

"The Lord is.....a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."  Psalm 9:9-10

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."  Psalm 32:7

"The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you."  Deuteronomy 33:27

"This I declare about the Lord:  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him."  Psalm 91:2

I have to stop!  I could go on and on and on about God helping us through life's storms.  The Word is packed full to the rafters of verses about His helping us in difficult times.  He is ALWAYS with us!  He never, ever leaves us alone.  He never fails us.  He is always available to be right by our side when we need Him.  What a reassuring confidence that is!  Thank you Lord.

He is risen, He's alive - and He's with us!

I love when God speaks to me through His creation.  It happens fairly often, and I find it so special.  I had a very unusual example of this recently.

My son and I were sitting on my front deck talking.  It was a lovely afternoon, and we were enjoying the pretty weather.  I looked off down the street and saw a mist/fog/something moving very rapidly towards us. By the time I noticed it, it was in front of my next door neighbor's house - but I didn't know what it was.

I suddenly realized as it got closer and closer that it was a humongous swarm of bees - probably hundreds of thousands of them.  Our deck is covered, but it's open - so we were very vulnerable.  It all happened so fast.  By the time I had the thought that maybe we needed to run inside the house - they were right in front of us.

Amazingly, they just moved along in front of the covered deck and never came under the roof.  In just a matter of seconds, less than a minute, they had passed by and were moving on down the street.  I have no idea where they were headed.  One of my neighbors seemed to think that they were moving their whole hive from one place to another.

As I sat in somewhat stunned silence at what had just happened - realizing if they had come under the roof that we could have been stung unbearably - I sensed the still, small voice of the Lord speaking into my heart.

"Just as this danger passed right by you without any harm - there are so many times that I have protected you and you weren't aware of it.  I'm with you.  I'm watching out for you.  You are in my safe hands."

There have been a number of "small" things that have happened to me recently that I think had left me feeling a bit vulnerable.  I received this event as a sweet gift to my heart from the Father reminding me of His watch care over me.  And it was an amazing sight to see too!

I wonder how many times He protects you and me, and we have no idea about it.  Someday maybe He'll show us.  We would probably be so amazed.

"Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."  Psalm 57:1

"The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."  Psalm 34:19

"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble."  Psalm 46:1

"Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge."  Psalm 16:1

"The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life."  Psalm 121:7

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."  Psalm 91:1-4

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble."  Psalm 32:7

I'm so grateful that I am in His safe hands - the best place to be!