AFTER THE STORM

We are blessed like many others that only sustained wind damage, with limbs and trees strewn across the property. The power being out was an inconvenience, but also an opportunity to reconnect with family, friends and neighbors that ventured outside their homes to survey the damage and lend a hand to others.

As we looked back on the events of the weekend, we were amazed to realize how God had protected us and our family. Even though the winds were strong, it seemed God had sent angels to guard our family, our homes and our church.

We heard the wind and what we thought were branches hit our metal roof, but we were all gathered in our living room, Mr. Don and Mrs. Joan Hetzel, our grand children, Darren and myself. We felt a calmness which was not to be explained other than God’s peace. The girls were asleep on the sofa not far from an opened window, and we were all sitting around the room, listening for whatever was to come. I expected to hear load pops, snaps and metal being torn from the roof or other structures around us, but God saw fit to allow us only few leaks and a window pane out in the bedroom upstairs. That’s God.

Our granddaughters, Hannah and KelliJo, were with us that evening because our son, Daniel, was arriving from Denver to pick them up and carry them back with him for a couple of months. He arrived at about the same time the storm became stronger, about 3am. He arrived safe and unharmed. That’s God! He was able to help Darren get the bus from the pasture and back it down the road to the house. Darren had parked all the vehicles there away from the trees for safety. The Lord in his gentle way urged Darren to bring the bus to the house while the ’eye’ of the storm was passing over early Saturday morning. So, while Daniel was here he was able to guide Darren, backing the bus from Jim’s house to ours because he could not make the sharp turn from their drive. Just after that, the road washed out in front of Jim’s driveway. Had Darren not listened to the Lord and moved the bus when he did, we could not have gotten the bus to the house and would have been without a generator. That’s God! Daniel loaded up his precious cargo and had to head back to Denver. He is in the National Guard and had to report for work on Monday. Even through the storm, the girls slept and felt safe and secure, both here at our home and in the car with their Dad on the road. They arrived Sunday, safe and sound in Denver at about 12:30pm. That’s God!

After the rain and winds had subsided, Darren went to check on the church. Our structure that we meet in is very primitive. Hurricane Rita caused damage to our already inadequate building and we have only had the funds to make small repairs. As it is, Darren or one of the other church members arrive early on Sunday mornings to sweep out the leaves and sometimes mop up the rain that blows in or leaks from our roof. So, Darren and I said goodbye to the church before the storm. There was no reason to believe that it would survive the winds.
Darren came back and with grateful amazement told me that the church was no different than if a rain storm had blown through. The roof, albeit what it is, was still in tact. Things were blown and scattered some within the building but everything was fine. We just had to mop up the rain, a little more than usual, but praise the Lord, he proved that he cares about our little congregation and a place for us to worship in. That’s God.

Bro. Don and Mrs. Joan Hetzel, as most of you know, are an older couple that came to live out here on our property to help us with the church and take care of things when we are gone singing. They both are a great asset to our ministry and our church. We love them dearly. They were initially living in their 5th wheel RV which was parked by the church. During the storm a very large pine tree decided to ‘rest’ upon their camper. The tree didn’t crush the camper, it just politely mashed it into the soft ground. Their camper virtually escaped harm. Bro. Clint Smith, Todd, our nephew, and Curtis Yeager, Jr. were kind enough to come over and cut the tree off the camper and pull it out. It is hard to tell that it had a tree on it. That, my friend, is God.

New Direction was scheduled to be in Colorado during this storm, but we felt that we would not be in God’s will by leaving. I was reminded of the scripture in

James 2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily
food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well
fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"
NIV

How can we go in the name of the Lord and leave family, friends and neighbors in a time of need. Yes, they probably could have managed without us, but it is during difficult situations that we tend to rethink our lives and the direction we are headed.
In Luke 11:5-7 the Lord shares an example to show that we are to help one another in their hour of need as well. Believe it or not folks, it's not always all about us!

5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes
to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, `Don't bother me. The door is already
locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you
anything". NIV

Now more than ever we need to extend a hand to others and show them Jesus instead of preach Jesus to them. Times are coming soon where we will have to prove and show our faith rather than preach it. Live it. Because faith without works, isn't really faith at all, it's just a bunch of words that came out of our mouth...

I was glad that my mother, brother and nephew came and stayed with us for a few days after the storm. It helped me to know they were safe and being taken care of. My brother and I haven't had a very close relationship lately and this was a wonderful opportunity to show him I love him no matter what. He's still my favorite brother even if he is my only brother. Family matters, it is our way of being grounded and connected.

So IKE came, if for no other reason than to help us count our blessings. For the most part, he left a lot of folks in the dark. But for a lot of us, just as God intended, IKE cleared the clouds and junk out and brought light and enlightening to us. We are grateful to know that the Lord still hears our prayers, watches over us and cares enough to send a storm to make us reevaluate our relationship with him. Some people are dealing with much more than that. Their loss of loved ones and loss of everything they own, possibly even their livelyhood has devastated many.
People are to having to start completely over, with no pieces left to pick up. Pray with me that God will send someone to minister to them and help them realize that the Lord does care about them. He cares so much that He gave us what we needed even if it hurt; a storm to clear out the junk in our lives so that we could see what is really important. Being alive and having a chance to start fresh, with the Lord as our Savior, our refuge and our source of strength.

What will it take in your life to clear out the junk and the clouds?

Outta here for now, Donna - Love ya! NDM