We are in the final months of winter here in Northern Colorado, and I wonder how many more winter storms will be coming our way before Spring.
Though, I so enjoy "God's treasury of snow," and the thunderstorms that we experience in this part of the Country, the storms can be extreme and I often refer to the weather here as "bi-polar, unpredictable and radical."
A few years ago, we had a very dramatic July hailstorm that damaged hundreds of roofs (including our's), trees and fences, etc. Our oldest grandson was here visiting us from California at the time, and he was really frightened, because he had never been through anything like that before.
Though I was raised and lived in Southern California, where the weather is moderate, for more than 50 years, I have often reflected on the years I spent with my family in Arkansas, Connecticut and up-state New York, as some of the best years of my life . . . mostly because of the happy memories that are connected with good times, but also the weather, which was anything but moderate.
I can recall a specific time (I believe I was in the 2nd grade), when my mom, dad and little brother and I sat around the kitchen table holding hands listening to weather alerts on our transitor radio, the kitchen lit by the light of a kerosene lamp, because the electricity had gone out, as howling winds and heavy rain slammed against our house during hurricane "Irene." There were many fore-warnings of the pending hurricane and our family was prepared and hunkered down, waiting out the raging hurricane that threatened our lovely little town, and our neighborhood and friends.
During the greatest intensity of the storm, I remember that I wasn't afraid, because I believed my Dad when he told us that "God is in the storm and we have nothing to fear." He told us the story of a time when Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water, calling Peter to "come" to Him, assuring him that he had nothing to fear, as long as he kept his eyes on Him. We made it through hurricane Irene with no damage to our house and when I was 8 years old, it was that storm and the accounting of Jesus calling Peter out of the boat to come to Him that called me to put my trust in Him as My Lord and Savior, and I have never taken my eyes off of Him since.
When I have experienced fear, pain, loss, disappointments and something of the "storms of life," I always think of that night in Connecticut, when my Dad opened the eyes of my heart to the truth that I have nothing to fear, because God is "in the storm."
Do you sense that God is with you in a storm you may be going through, "tenderly comforting you . . . and giving you the strength to endure" - II. Co. 1:7 If not, I want to encourage you to step out and away from a place of doubt and fear, trusting that God is in the storm, keeping your eyes on Jesus and expecting the blessings of God's comfort and strength for the journey through the storm.
With Love, Blessings and Hope,
Angie "a mom like you"
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
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