Storms of Life.........

 My husband is the weather man at our house. Always watching  the weather updates and getting everyone rounded up so he knows his family is safe. Early Saturday morning, without warning, the coach and I woke up to a severe thunderstorm. At the time we both thought it was just heavy rain and winds, the weather channel indicated no other concerns. I tried to go back to bed and then heard crashing and pounding sounds hitting the house. I jumped out of bed and nearly tripped running down the hall. Dazed and confused, I realized that "hail" was the sound I was hearing.  After rescuing are family pet corgi dog "Ranger" from his near death experience, I just stood at the front door observing the "base ball size hail"  falling down covering the ground and crashing our vehicles.  I felt defenseless and wanted to cry! Three of our vehicles were severely damaged by this hail storm.

Sometimes we can see the storms coming in our lives and others we have no clue, until they are here and covering us. Life can seem like such a test of storms that we go through. If I had it my way, I could do without the storms in life.  The storms come so we can see the rainbows!!! If life gives you storms, you look for the rainbow!!!  I know that each of our lives are continually being molded into the plans that the Father has for us. Jeremiah 29:11

I think of the Father sitting at his potters table. Daily he is re-molding to make me into what he has for his kingdom. He is so patient and treats me with delicate tender hands. Believe me, I need it because this girl is pretty fragile. Taking a little off here and there and adding such brilliance and design to me as he molds me! We are each unique. Not one of us is the same! Just the let the storms come and know that you are being molded! Going through these storms adds the spiritual maturity needed to get the end result. He wants the dependency on him. He will not ever give you more than you can handle.

Have a Blessed Day to All,
Anita

A life of bliss?

So you think Christianity is a life of bliss?  Peaceful walks in beautiful gardens.  Birds singing and animals prancing around as the light shines ever so beautifully through the fullness of the green trees towering overhead.  Tepid streams of water flowing over perfectly placed rocks and every flower you see is made up of the deepest and most beautiful colors you have ever seen.  Well, news flash!!  Being a child of God is hard work!  He never promises us that once we accept Him into our hearts that life is a cake walk.  Just last night Anita and I had a discussion about the difficulties that we are facing in our lives.  It seems like the closer you become to the Lord, the harder that satan tries to invade your life.  I study my Bible every day and try to hide its words in my heart so that I am prepared for any situation I might face.  I find that I am tested and tempted daily....no.....hourly.....no,  by the minute, sometimes.  People that I come into contact with throughout the day.  Episodes of battle between my children.  And sheer frustration from some things that I have absolutely no control over. 

The Bible teaches us about Jesus being tempted by satan also.  Mark 1:13 tells us that in the wilderness satan tempted Jesus for 40 days.  40 DAYS!!  Immediately following Jesus' baptism performed by John the Baptist he was driven into the wilderness and tempted for 40 days.  And guess what else, God's word tells us that "angels ministered to Him."  So our heavenly father took care of His son during the time of His temptation.  Jesus knows that each of us are tempted and we must deal with this conflict every day.  We can triumph over satan as well, by turning to the scriptures and prayer in times of trouble.  Yes, I know, we can't always prance around with a smile on our face and a spring in our step but, we can trust and obey.  We can view every trial as a lesson that we are being taught and we can learn something from it so that when something like it happens again, we are ready and we don't allow it to overtake us.  I know, believe me I know, how hard this is.  Tonight at church we sang "Til the storm passes by."  I love the message in that song.  We can stand in the hollow of Christs' hand until the storm of life passes by and we greet Him face to face in Heaven.

Blessings to all,
Latasha