Lesson application and being given a test….

Well, well, well…

We seem to have a new situation across the map of the USA and it all stems from bizarre and dangerous weather. 

Which seemed to be a proving ground yesterday for me and all the things I said in my posts last week. 

Because the rubber hit the ice packed roads as we monitored our John down in the frozen south where we normally are envying him for being out hiking and riding his bike while we hunker down for a snow day. 

I got a text early morning that he had been without power since 3 A.M. and it was hovering above 50 degrees in his apartment. 

Being born and raised in the Midwest affords the young man quite a bit of knowledge on how to navigate these kinds of cold weather challenges like ice, snow and wind chills…but he now resides in a state where there are no salt trucks, snow plows and the demand on power across the state wreaked havoc that sent this mom to her knees. 

All day we touched base with him, family, friends, friends who have family…thinking of them trying to get out and get phones charged and get warm.

Hotels that had power were sold out – and really no guarantee they would even have power through the night. 

So as I was repeatedly tempted to succumb to fear and anxiety throughout the day, the words I typed last week rose up and reminded me to ask myself…what I am saying to myself and to others about this situation that is out of my control.

It was a mighty battle my friends as I applied those lessons. 

I did reach out and ask several friends to pray. One responded with Psalm 91 so I headed right there and I camped there. 

Those feathers that He is supposed to surround us with became a down jacket and blanket wrapped around our son and others as I prayed. 

When he was making his way after dark to a friend’s home that had power, and we weren’t hearing from him; I spoke things like…

I don’t know where he is, but I know You know. I know You love him and You are with him no matter what and I will trust Your love and care for him. 

I still cried from time to time. 

I still was honest that I was deeply concerned for him. 

But I did do what I said last week we should do. 

I read things that spoke of His promises to never leave or forsake us and I hummed praise songs and I forced myself up out of my chair and away from my phone to get some house tasks finished. 

And when he texted that he had arrived and sent video of a room with lights and space for his things to camp out for a day or two, I thanked the Lord with all my heart and thanked our praying friends and continued to pray for and check on others who were still in homes without power. 

It is a good thing to love to speak Life. 

I will assure you, the outcome could have been different and yet – the process must always remain the same. 

He or she who loves to use the tongue to speak life, will eat the fruit of it. 

Prove it out for yourself in all the circumstances and see.

Today we pray for the homes that are without power or water throughout the South. We pray for those whose lives were ripped apart in North Carolina and we pray for the first responders, the road crews, the utility workers, community leaders. Our hearts and prayers are for you.

We will sing praises over you and we will thank God for His love and provision for you. We will pray for your safety and for comfort. We will pray that in all things, the good and the bad and the ugly, your hearts will be drawn to Him <3