Are You Prepared?

Floridians worked tirelessly to make preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Irma. From purchasing bottled water and batteries to filling up gas tanks and boarding up windows, everyone did what they could to ensure they would be ready to weather the storm. With the threat of a catastrophic hurricane aiming for the Sunshine State, no one wanted to be caught off guard.

As a native Floridian, it saddened me to think of the possible destruction that could come upon our state. Watching people at the grocery store, stocking up on supplies, I actually became tearful when I thought about the reasons why they were clearing out the shelves. While some of them were simply restocking their pantry, others were purchasing items out of desperation. They were not buying eight boxes of cereal or two cases of identical canned goods because the items were on sale. They were doing what they could to ease their fear of the unknown.

Some individuals were uncertain as to how long they will be without power. Evacuees who stayed in shelters waited apprehensively, wondering if they would return home only to find no home at all. Still others were afraid they would not even survive to assess the damages found on their property.

And so, preparations ensued with the idea that it was best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. At our home, we followed suit, boarding up our windows for the first time ever. Many people filled sandbags in an attempt to protect their homes and businesses from flood waters. Based on the storm’s path, there was a possibility it could come directly over us as a category 3 hurricane. The forecast was grim for nearly every inch of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys as well. Fear was contagious.

As Hurricane Irma barreled up the west coast, all eyes were on the National Hurricane Center updates. When the hurricane made landfall, preparations had to cease. Everyone sought a secure location in which to ride out the storm, whether in their own homes, hotels, shelters, churches, or other structures. Time had run out. Irma would unleash her fury from coast to coast and north to south, bringing unprecedented devastation to much of the southeast.

Sadly, Hurricane Irma took the lives of dozens of people across the Caribbean and the state of Florida. Thousands of homes were either damaged or destroyed. Many homes are still underwater. Although the total cost of this storm is yet to be determined, it will certainly be one of the costliest storms in history.

Hurricane survivors are trying to piece their lives back together, grateful to be alive. Power outages are a minor inconvenience, especially for those of us who still have a roof over our heads to keep us dry. Gas shortages and the unavailability of perishable food in many areas brings little concern for people who are focused on holding their family a little bit closer, now that the enormity of the destruction has sunken in.

One moment, everyone was living their normal lives, going to work and school, visiting family and friends, enjoying every day activities. The next moment, normalcy became foreign. As the violent winds blew and the torrential rain fell, life changed. The power went out. Communities were decimated. Lives were lost.

As I watched the news and observed the destruction in this storm’s path firsthand in my own hometown, I realized the close parallel between the importance of being prepared for a hurricane and the even more critical need to be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.

One day soon, a trumpet will sound. This is not a trumpet like the ones you find in a symphony orchestra, but a trumpet which will be heard around the world. Upon this trumpet call, the dead in Christ will rise first and those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is the moment when Jesus Christ returns to this earth in victory to take His children home. If Christ returns today, are you prepared?

Unlike a hurricane, there will be no meteorologists or newscasters warning people in advance. The headlines in the newspaper will never read, Christ Comes Back Tomorrow. Matthew 24:36 tells us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” That is why we must be ready, prepared for His coming, every moment of every day. In the same way you do not want to be caught off guard in a horrific storm, you do not want to be found unprepared when the Lord returns to this earth.

Perhaps you are sitting there reading this, with the knowledge that your friends are saved, hoping that will count for something. Matthew 24:40-41 states, “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” You cannot rely on another person’s salvation to be your ticket to Heaven.

You could be thinking…I’m a good person. I try to do the right things. Certainly God will have mercy on me when it is all said and done. According to the Bible, we can never be good enough. Good works cannot save you. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing we can do to deserve salvation. It is only by the grace of God that we can receive this priceless gift.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Bible says we have all sinned (Romans 3:23), which is why we need redemption found only through the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary. Confess your sins today. Believe in Jesus Christ. Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved (Acts 2:21).

There is no need for supplies of any kind. Boarding up windows is useless. There is only one way to prepare for Christ’s return. Jesus said, “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain salvation. Receive His unending love and amazing grace today.

When Christ returns, there will be no emergency alert gracing the face of your smart phone or television screen. No one knows the day when Christ will return, except God Himself (Matthew 24:36). God’s Word says, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).

Unlike an impending storm, there will be no warning. Once Jesus Christ returns, the window of opportunity to receive the gift of salvation will be closed. The opportunity is now. Make the most vital preparation of your life today.

What Scares You?

Have you ever been genuinely afraid?  Has something ever scared you to the point where you literally could not move?  Perhaps it was something that shook you to your very core, a moment in time that you will never be able to forget no matter how hard you try.  Something so terrifying that it is permanently engraved in your memory.  Fear can grip someone so tightly that it disables their ability to function.  What is it that stops you in your tracks?  What brings fear to your innermost being?  What scares you?

 

Maybe it was a scary moment as a child when a snake slithered nearby or a furry spider jumped on your arm.  Or it might have been sometime today when someone came up behind you and yelled, “Boo!”  Quite possibly, it was the moment you discovered you were terribly afraid of heights or thunderstorms.  Perhaps it could have been the moment you sent your son or daughter off to war, wondering if you would have another opportunity to hold them in an embrace. Or it may have been the moment you sat anxiously in the waiting room, hoping and praying that your mom, dad, child, or other loved one would survive.  Granted, there are countless things that frighten all of us. 

Right now, millions of people are without power along the East Coast of the United States.  Many lives have been lost.  Homes and businesses have been destroyed.  A staggering number of people have been affected by Hurricane Sandy and the super storm in one way or another.  And I know that many of these people are scared.  They may be evacuees who are afraid of what they will find when they are finally able to return home.  Or they may be trapped, unable to leave their place of residence due to the treacherous floodwaters, scared that they may not make it out alive.  I’m sure the emergency workers on the scene are frightened as well, wondering if they will be able to bring everyone to safety.  Needless to say, it is certain that a storm of this magnitude embodies a great deal of fear.  Fear of devastation, fear of dying, fear of the unknown.

In life, we will encounter many scary situations.  Some of the things we encounter will be somewhat insignificant, like our first job interview or the first time we drive through a violent storm.  Others will seem monumental, like the moment we sit next to a loved one who is fighting for their life.  In all of these situations, one thing remains true.  God will always be with us, helping us and comforting us when we are afraid.  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Jesus Christ knows where you are at this very moment.  He knows if you are positioned somewhere along the East coast, frightened by the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the super storm, and dangerous blizzard conditions.  He knows if you are in a hospital somewhere, either fighting for your own life or waiting alongside someone else who is fighting for their own.  And He knows if you are afraid that you will not make the right decision concerning a big move or a new job opportunity.  Jesus Christ knows what frightens you.  He knows your innermost thoughts.  Ask Him to calm your fears.  Call on His name.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Don’t focus on what scares you.  Focus on Jesus.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Mountain-Sized Storms

Several weeks ago, I was huddled under the awning on our deck in the Great Smoky Mountains.  The rain was falling rapidly from the clouds, the thunder echoed through the mountains, and the lightening flashed brightly in the evening sky.  Directly across from our deck, there is a breathtakingly beautiful mountain stream.  Cascading down into the stream is a gorgeous waterfall.  Even in the midst of a fierce and somewhat frightening mountain thunderstorm, the beauty surrounding the area remains truly indescribable.

In life, there are many types of mountain-sized storms.  There are the physical ones that we can see and hear.  In these storms, we can readily seek shelter from the rain and wind.  Through the wisdom God has imparted to the men and women manning the weather stations, we often receive advance warning that a severe storm is approaching our area, giving us time to adequately prepare, which improves our safety in the midst of the storm.  Other times, we are not so fortunate.  Sometimes, there is not enough warning.

A close family friend once shared her experience as she and her family lived to tell the tale of the nightmarish storm named Hurricane Andrew that swept through Miami, Florida.  She told us how she and her family huddled in the bathtub, praying and hoping they would all survive the howling winds, the torrential rain, and the endless debris.  As their roof and the walls of their home were stripped away from the foundation, they wondered if they would survive.  As the storm moved on, it only left one thing behind: the bathtub.  Though everything they owned was either destroyed or blown away, they were alive.  Their family had been spared.  God had granted them safety in the storm.

Sometimes, even the knowledge that a storm is in the area cannot prepare us for the devastation that lies ahead.  A hurricane can be too fierce, a tornado can come upon us too suddenly, a tsunami can overtake us before we have time to evacuate…  Much like these physical storms, there are also emotional and mental storms that we must endure.  And much like the aforementioned physical storms, there is not always adequate warning with regard to when and where these storms will strike.

At the age of sixteen years old, I went into my closet to change clothes.  My dad and I were preparing to go see my mom who was in the hospital.  I felt a piercing pain in my side.  Within a few short hours, I was lying on an operating table, having been diagnosed with a perforated colon and peritonitis.  If the doctors had not operated immediately and if my parents had not prayed for my healing, I might not have lived through the night.

My parents were very concerned and prayed diligently that the Lord would spare my life.  I remember my words to them as I was about to be rolled into the operating room.  I told them that I loved them and that God would make sure everything was alright.  Even in the midst of this storm, I had assurance that God would make it right.  I knew that His promise in Romans 8:28 was true.

All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

As I sit here today, fourteen years later, I can still tell you with calm assurance that everything will be okay.  Since that time, I have weathered many more storms, some of which have been much more ferocious.  The night my mom had a heart attack was one of the most violent storms I have ever faced.  Each time I walk in our living room in our camper in the mountains, I am reminded of the horrors of that night.  For several years, I have questioned why God would take her at such a young age, and why He would allow it to happen there, at our beautiful place in the mountains.  How could something so tragic occur in such a magnificent and peaceful setting?

While I do not have all of the answers, I have come to realize that these questions are not important.  Instead, I am beginning to realize that instead of avoiding this place I used to love, I need to embrace it.  Rather than dwelling on one single night, I need to focus on the fifteen years that we have spent in the midst of these majestic mountain landscapes.  I need to be grateful for the memories that we have made there and enjoy making new memories each and every day that God allows us to be in the midst of His awe-inspiring Creation.

Why?  Because even through my uncertainty, even through the storm that swept through my life nearly four years ago, and even through my emotional ups and downs relating to this place I find both peaceful and unsettling, God knows me and loves me without fail.  In every moment I feel ill at ease there, He loves me.  In every moment that I question Him, He loves me.  In every moment I just need to feel loved, He loves me.

Friend, I want to encourage you and remind you that God loves you, too, with an absolute love that has no end.  God will take everything that has happened in your life and use it for your good.  You may not understand it yet.  Perhaps you are still spinning around in a tornado of emotions, or maybe you are inundated by a flood of sorrowful tears.  No matter what storm you are facing, God is standing with you.  He will ensure that you make it safely to the sunshine once more, where you will be able to enjoy the beauty surrounding you.  Though the thunder may roll, the lightening may flash, and the rain may fall, God will be your Shelter from the storm.

In Christ's Love,
Jennifer

Have Faith

As I was visiting with a friend this afternoon, I happened to pay special attention to the perpetual calendar on their desk.  Today’s message read, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).  When was the last time you had complete faith that something you wanted would come to pass?  Can you honestly say that you always put your faith in God, no matter what trials come against you?  Or does Satan often wriggle his way in, causing you to question whether or not God truly has everything under control?  No matter what you may encounter on your journey, have faith.  God will see you through.
 

In August 2005, one of the deadliest hurricanes recorded in U.S. history struck the coast of Louisiana.  Hurricane Katrina was responsible for the loss of more than 1,800 lives.  I can recall sitting in front of the television, barely able to believe what had happened.  With every levee that gave way, my heart sunk a little deeper into my chest.  The homes destroyed, the lives lost, and an entire city changed forever.  While I prayed fervently for the people residing in the path of destruction, I wondered, how can they have hope?  When they are wading through waist deep water full of sewage, how could they possibly even think God exists?  As they pull a loved one out of the water, only to find they were a moment too late, how can they put their faith in God?  Still, I prayed that God would walk beside them, helping them from one moment to the next.

As I switched the channel from CNN to The 700 Club, I was introduced to a precious woman of God whom I will always remember.  Her name is Gerta.  She lives in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.  She was being interviewed because she had experienced a deadly hurricane many years back.  Even though the location where she lived was being evacuated, she was unwilling to leave.  Instead, she stood inside her kitchen, surrounding by glass windows, praying.  She had complete assurance that God would see her through the storm.  While many homes around her were completely demolished, her home remained unscathed.  Although I cannot recall her last name, nor would I recognize her face if she walked in the door of my home, the words she spoke are forever etched in my memory bank.  She said, “If you’re anchored in Jesus, you’ll be safe.”  At that very moment, I knew she had said something wise beyond my years.
 
A few days later, I wrote a song titled, “Have Faith.”  The lyrics of the song talk about a woman who is sitting next to a loved one who has gone on to be with the Lord.  Then, it talks about little children who are crying out in fear.  In life, there are situations we cannot avoid.  There are problems we cannot solve on our own.  There are moments when we may want to simply throw in the towel.  I want to encourage you by telling you that there is never a time in your life when you should just give up.  When you feel like giving up, give your burdens to Jesus.  He is waiting with open arms, waiting to help you when life gets to hard to handle.  He will walk with you through the flood.  He will be your Shelter from the storm.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Have faith.  God will see you through.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer