Vivid Imagery

Look at this gorgeous rainbow! Last night, we had really dark skies, wind and rain moving in as we arrived home from work. By the time we sat down to dinner, there was quite a storm. A little later, as I was cleaning up, the sun began shining brightly and revealed the most incredible rainbow! It was enormous! So much so that I couldn't get it all into frame. Just beyond, there was even a second, much more subtle rainbow. Such a beautiful gift from God!

Like the colors of this rainbow, I'm reminded of a message I read recently in Streams in the Desert whose illustrations spoke vividly to me. Perhaps they will to you, as well.


He will do this (Psalm 37:5)

I once believed that after I prayed, it was my responsibility to do everything in my power to bring about the answer. Yet God taught me a better way and showed me that self-effort always hinders His work. He also revealed that when I prayed and had confident trust in Him for something, He simply wanted me to wait in an attitude of praise and do only what He told me. Sitting still, doing nothing except trusting the Lord, causes a feeling of uncertainty, and there is often a tremendous temptation to take the battle into our own hands.

We all know how difficult it is to rescue a drowning person who tries to help his rescuer, and it is equally difficult for the Lord to fight our battles for us when we insist upon trying to fight them ourselves. It is not that God will not but that He cannot, for our interference hinders His work.

Spiritual forces cannot work while we are trusting earthy forces.

Often we fail to give God an opportunity to work, not realizing that it takes time for Him to answer prayer. It takes time for God to color a rose or grow a great oak tree. It takes time for Him to make bread from wheat fields. He takes the soil, then grinds and softens it. He enriches it and wets it with rain showers and with dew. Then He brings the warmth of life to the small blade of grass, later grows the stalk and amber grain, and finally provides bread for the hungry.

All this takes time. Therefore we sow the seed, till the ground and then wait and trust until God’s purpose has been fulfilled. We understand this principle when it comes to planting a field, and we need to learn the same lesson regarding our prayer life. It takes time for God to answer prayer.

Ike's Remnants Felt Strongly Here

(Photo Courtesy of Cincinnati Enquirer - Anna Listerman)

Would you believe substantial remnants of Hurricane Ike made it all they way up into the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area?

I woke up Sunday morning thinking it was quite windy. By midday, as my husband was watching the Cincinnati football game, the local channel kept losing their signal due to high wind. Within about an hour, it went from high winds to really intense, sustained winds. There were intermittent clouds and sun, but no rain, no storm warnings, just this crazy, continuous gusting wind that didn’t let up for more than three hours. (We later learned they were 75 mph.) Our electricity went off at 2:00 pm. The winds continued. These were the hardest sustained winds we’ve ever experienced and we began to see shingles from our roof tumbling into the back yard. Then we started praying and tried not to worry about the old, large trees surrounding our house that were taking quite a beating. There were huge limbs and branches everywhere.

Around 6:00 or so, things seemed to start settling down. We went outside to find we had lost a fair number of roof shingles, and a number of our landscape plants were mangled, but minimal damage considering what could have been. By now, we were hearing sirens continually from fire trucks, police, paramedics, etc. all throughout the evening into the overnight hours. We went to bed late still with no power, not having any inkling of how far-reaching the outage was.

Woke up Monday still without electricity. Both Tom and I took a vacation day. We placed a call first thing to a contractor for our roof damage and started cleaning up some of the mess in our yard. We were still working in the yard (as were many around us) Monday afternoon when our next door neighbor returned home from work. He told us the power outage was enormous, and had affected 90% of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. There were trees and power lines down everywhere. The energy company had restored power at that time to 200,000 people, but there were still a vast number of people without. Apparently our linemen had headed to Texas to assist with Hurricane Ike, leaving very few to service our area.

Our neighbor also told us all the local groceries were without power, that Kroger was rationing ice to two bags per person and the police were stationed in those areas. There were long lines at the gas stations, but most weren’t working because the pumps were electronic. I was stunned. In my recollection, nothing like this has ever happened here. Our energy company had called in crews from North and South Carolina to help in getting power restored. Our neighbor said news reports were estimating it would be the end of the week before all power in our area was fully restored. We began to consider how blessed we were. The weather after the windstorm was unseasonably cool and breezy, unlike the heat and humidity we had just a few days ago. This was no doubt a huge help.

Despite feeling blessed, I must admit I did get a bit heartsick about the food I had to throw away from the fridge and freezer Monday night. (I had just done our grocery shopping on Saturday.) The outage had extended beyond the point where the food was safe, and trash was to be picked up the next morning. I was washing dishes by candlelight just before 9:00 pm, when our power was restored. I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated it more. I kept walking through my house just thanking the Lord. Then we turned on the news. Talk about eye-opening. It confirmed everything our neighbor had told us, and then some. Seeing there were still over 500,000 people without power and images of severe damage (trees into homes, telephone poles down, fires, water main breaks, etc.), my loss of groceries and roof shingles was nothing in comparison. We were able to go to bed Monday night with our electricity restored. Many people on our bus and at our workplace yesterday were still without. Even in downtown Cincinnati, I saw two buildings with shattered windows and severely damaged revolving doors.

I feel both blessed and very sympathetic to those who don’t yet have electricity. (As of now, approximately 350,000.) Many of the local fitness centers and the YMCA branches have opened their shower facilities to the general public, for those who don't have friends or relatives with power. Local hotels that are operational are offering rooms at discounted rates, as well. One of our local ministries has been passing out free bags of ice by the thousands and nearby churches are providing dinners for those in need.


I don’t begin to compare this to the devastation in Texas. Doesn’t even come close. The local weather forecasters say this was a highly irregular phenomenon for our area that a took everyone by surprise. Even so, I discovered just how ill-prepared I was for something like this. I had allowed my cell phone battery to get very low so when the power went out, I hardly had any charge with which to call or hear from anyone. I had only one working flashlight in my house, no batteries and very little in the way of non-refrigerated, ready-to-eat food. I will definitely be a little better prepared should this type of thing ever happen again. Hope you will take this as a loving reminder to make sure you, too are prepared in the event of an unexpected emergency or power outage.


Some additional images of damage to our area…

(Photograph courtesy of Cincinnati Enquirer - Charles Kapiotis)

(Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Enquirer - Brock Heterington)

(Photos courtesy of Cincinnati Enquirer - Scott Martini)

(Photo courtesy of wcpo.com - dmrsrn)

Please continue to pray with me for those everywhere who sustained damage, but especially those in Texas who received the brunt of Hurricane Ike’s wrath. Please also pray for the service men working around the clock to repair lines and restore power.

Opposite Extremes

Greetings on this Monday morning!

While I don't normally give a weekend recap on my Monday posts, this weekend provided such contrasting extremes, I just have to share!

I love taking photographs. I carry my camera in my purse at all times because you never want to miss a great photo opportunity! All summer, I've been trying get some good butterfly shots with no success...until Saturday. = ) I was running errands and had to make a stop at Home Depot. As I walked through the garden center, I saw the most beautiful butterfly! So what do you suppose I did? = ) I took a quick inventory to see how many people were about to see me make a fool of myself, then shamelessly began chasing this beauty with my camera. The result was well worth it. I got several good photos, but this was my favorite...

How I love these amazing creations! So gentle, carefree, beautiful and delicate...they are truly one of God's most creative gifts. They never fail to captivate me. (Perfect in beauty, God shines forth...Psalms 50:2)

Now, we move to the extreme...Yesterday afternoon, we were at the home of my in-law's (Bob & Millie) for dinner. There was quite a thunderstorm kicking up as we arrived, with lots of heavy rain, wind and lightning. After about 15 minutes, it was all over, the sun returned as we continued helping to prepare the meal. The clouds returned during dinner, and by the time we were cleaning up, it was obvious we were in for another storm. The men were watching golf on television and I heard my father-in-law say something about a tornado warning. That quickly got everyones attention. Then the electricity went off for just a moment and then came back on just as the tornado sirens began sounding. As a few family members headed for the basement, I noticed that several others had walked to the patio. I was starting to get concerned. I kept saying, "c'mon guys...we need to get to the basement!" No one seemed to be listening. I finally walked to the door of the patio to see why they were waiting. I immediately saw what had everyone so mesmerized. I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped this photo. (I only wish I would have thought to record a video so that you could see what we saw...the funnel cloud coming down was actually rotating!) This was literally just a couple of hundred yards away!

I have never seen (firsthand) such an amazing display of God's power! The local weather reports say that although there were many "wall clouds with rotation," and funnel cloud sightings, none officially touched down and became full fledged tornados. (Praise God!) There were about 10,000 who lost their electricity, a local home was struck by lightning, and some very large trees were uprooted about 45 miles away. Gratefully, no one was hurt. (Our local news network posted some other amazing photos from viewers, click here if you'd like to see them. )

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:11

Great Things

Here is a portion of a beautiful passage I read this morning in Streams in the Desert...

Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. ~ Isaiah 7:11

Make your petition deep, O heart of mine,
Your God can do much more
Than you can ask;
Launch out on the Divine,
Draw from His love-filled store.
Trust Him with everything;
Begin today,
And find the joy that comes
When Jesus has His way!

We must continue to “pray and wait for the Lord.” (Isaiah 8:17), until we hear the sound of His mighty rain. There is no reason why we should not ask for great things. Without a doubt, we will receive them if we ask in faith, having the courage to wait with patient perseverance for Him and meanwhile doing those things that are within our power to do.

It is not within our power to create the wind or to change its direction, but we can raise our sails to catch it when it comes. We do not create electricity, yet we can tap into it with a wire that will conduct it, allowing it to work. We do not control God’s spirit, but we can place ourselves before the Lord out of obedience to what He has called us to do, and we will come under the influence and power of His mighty breath.

Dr. Goulburn, Dean of Norwich once said “…A simple prayer from our mouths will be powerful enough to call down from heaven God’s gracious dew or the melting fire of His Spirit, just as the words from Elijah’s mouth called down literal rain and fire. All that is required is to speak the words with the same complete assurance of faith with which he spoke.”

# # # #

Lord, give us the courage to ask for great things. Things far greater than that which we can ask or imagine. Things you long to give to us. May our faith in your power be one of complete and confident assurance, like that of Elijah and so many other heroes of our faith. May patient perseverance reside within us as we await the workings of Your Will. In the meantime, may we continue on, humbly doing the work which You presently have set before us. May we not become so focused on the great things that we miss the blessings that will come in moments along the way. Open our eyes and hearts to each and every one. We love and fully trust in Your plan for our lives. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Commit and Rest

I read this passage today from Streams in the Desert. It spoke volumes to me and I wanted to share it with you (in paraphrased form)…

Faith is...the evidence of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1)

True faith drops its letter in the post office box, and lets it go. Distrust holds on to a corner of it, and wonders why the answer never comes. I have letters in my desk that have been written for weeks, but because of some slight uncertainty about the address or the contents, they are yet unmailed. They have not done me or anyone else any good, and they won’t -- until I let them go from my hands and trust them to the postman and the mail.

This is also the way with true faith. It hands its case over to God, and then He works. Psalm 37:5…'Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He worketh.'

But He only works when we fully commit.

Dr. Payson once said, "I have made this one test of my prayers: if after committing anything to God, I can like Hannah, come away and have my mind no longer sad, my heart no longer pained or anxious, I look upon it as proof that I have prayed in faith. But, if after praying I am still heavy with my burden, I conclude that faith was not in exercise."
~~~~~~
Lord, how I desire this kind of faith…one that casts my cares and burdens upon You and then fully lets them go. Forgive me for the times I’ve held onto them in distrust. Help me to make no effort to reclaim that which I’ve given over to You, interfere in Your workings, or anguish over Your ways and means. Instead, may I fully and completely trust in Your Sovereign will and timetable, and may my faith in You be strengthened and evidenced in the waiting… In the name of Jesus, Amen.

A New Revelation

I've been pondering. (This can sometimes be a dangerous thing.) I've been itching to write all week, but this has been my first opportunity to get it all down! I read a phrase on Beth Moore's Good Friday blog http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-lives-like-ours.html that I can’t seem to get out of my mind. She wrote “Every single ounce of power expended on the Cross is yours in Jesus’ Name.…” Just let that settle in for a moment. This thought has been swirling around my head like crazy. It’s as if I’ve never fully grasped the kind of power that is available to me through Christ. I’ve known since becoming a Christian (way back when) that I have the power of Christ living in me through the Holy Spirit, but that much power?! The more I considered this new revelation, it struck me that when I think about many of my favorite scriptures, they also speak of God’s power…

Romans: 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

2 Corinthians 12:9: Each time he said, “my grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Colossians 1:10-12: We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.

Ironically, or maybe not…; )…the chapter I’m now working on in my Bible study (He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer) is giving substantial attention to the incomparable, overcoming and superhuman nature of God’s power. (As if God’s trying to drive home a point with me!) So knowing all such things, how can there be any room in my heart for doubt? Why have I often settled for mediocre dreams? Why do I allow my own fears to overshadow the mighty power of God in my life? Why am I so easily discouraged at times? How is it that I can actually doubt God’s ability to change certain situations? Why have I never fully grasped just how much power is available to me through Christ? Beth Moore's blog entry went on to suggest we possibly live in defeat because we’ve never allowed ourselves to feel the full and free forgiveness of the Cross. Is that you? Is that me? While I’ve always thought of myself as a blessed, humbled and contented believer, a part of me had to answer yes to this question. So often in my walk I’ve allowed fears and feelings of unworthiness to hinder me in what I can do for Christ. I want to surrender that to him TODAY. Lord, I so desire to embrace the full and free forgiveness of Your cross. I want, like never before, to claim every ounce of that power in my life. To believe like never before in its sufficiency, and in your willingness to provide it to those who ask...may it be so, Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16-21: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church in and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.