Last night when Matt came to bed, he told me of how the man across the street came over and aske for help moving a piece of furniture. He thinks that the gentleman saw what Jade and a friend had written on our driveway with sidewalk chalk... "Pray for Joplin. God Bless. EF-5 Joplin Tornado survivers live here. Pray for Joplin. Hope for Joplin." Then Matt tells me that the man lost two relatives in the tornado.
I found myself overwhelmed by sadness. And crying, I prayed to God to heal the hearts of those who lost friends, family, maybe faith. And once again, I realized that God puts us all in places for a purpose.
Here I was, thinking that this isnt my neighborhood. I'm a stranger on a strange street, in a strange house. But Matt was here for the man across the street on purpose. We are here for something.
People lived through the tornado on purpose. And people died for a purpose.
I find comfort in knowing that things happen on purpose. It gives me a great hope in God's plan.
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the
wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The LORD will fulfull his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD endures
forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands." Ps 138:7-8
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
It's Too Hot!!
This year we've had the craziest weather. We've had a blizzard, (for us it was, over a foot and a half of snow) and a tornado, and now it's effing hot ALL the time! 100+ degree temps, and there's no relief in sight. Even the swimming pool at our friend's house was too warm to really enjoy.
You know, I've been finding myself very complainy and "Grr" a lot lately. I dont know why, and I dont like it. Sure, my life was totally altered in May. But is it so bad now? Not really. We have our own house, we have our jobs, our health. We have an amazing family who has given so much support. That's including our church family. With out any of them, I dont know where we'd be right now. Still, somedays it takes everything in me to tell you that I'm okay.
Little annoyances arise when I try to do something, mostly in the kitchen, and realize that I'm missing tools. Do I really need to go buy a baster right this second? No, I can just baste my chicken with a spoon. Must I bake muffins, or should I just find something else to make? But these issues shouldnt ruin an entire day...
Between the hot, the long hours at work, the stress this tornado business had put me through, I think I'm really just exhausted. And it's taking a toll on my attitude, and my family and work friends suffer my complaining and bad attitude as a result.
So I apologize, friends, family. Bear with me. This mourning/trauma/depression, whatever you want to call it, isnt over yet, though I wish I could just put it in a pocket and hide it and pretend it's not happening.
My hope in God is all that is really keeping me from losing it sometimes, I think.
You know, I've been finding myself very complainy and "Grr" a lot lately. I dont know why, and I dont like it. Sure, my life was totally altered in May. But is it so bad now? Not really. We have our own house, we have our jobs, our health. We have an amazing family who has given so much support. That's including our church family. With out any of them, I dont know where we'd be right now. Still, somedays it takes everything in me to tell you that I'm okay.
Little annoyances arise when I try to do something, mostly in the kitchen, and realize that I'm missing tools. Do I really need to go buy a baster right this second? No, I can just baste my chicken with a spoon. Must I bake muffins, or should I just find something else to make? But these issues shouldnt ruin an entire day...
Between the hot, the long hours at work, the stress this tornado business had put me through, I think I'm really just exhausted. And it's taking a toll on my attitude, and my family and work friends suffer my complaining and bad attitude as a result.
So I apologize, friends, family. Bear with me. This mourning/trauma/depression, whatever you want to call it, isnt over yet, though I wish I could just put it in a pocket and hide it and pretend it's not happening.
My hope in God is all that is really keeping me from losing it sometimes, I think.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
My Soul Clings to the Dust.
Just drove through town, down 20th street for the millionth time. Couldnt take it this time. Cried. I'm having a hard time remembering what things looked like.
As we drove, all I could think about was the people who had to endure the tornado's wrath in their homes. People clutching their children, their husbands, boyfriends, parents, siblings. Scared, in the dark. Hearing the destruction without realizing how horrendous it really was outside. Some knowing how horrendous it was, crouching in their "safe place," covering their heads, suddenly knowing that they are no longer "inside" their houses, maybe even taking a peek at what was going on, only to see debris flying all around them.
I think of what their souls cried out. "Help us, save us, dont let us die. Please God please." So many people crying out to God. So many. People that hadnt prayed in years, people who arent believers in the first place. I wonder what that sounded like to God. I wonder how that made Him feel.
My head cant wrap around the experiences some had to go through. It breaks my heart. But thinking about the outcry to God gives me great hope.
My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word! (psalm 119:25)
As we drove, all I could think about was the people who had to endure the tornado's wrath in their homes. People clutching their children, their husbands, boyfriends, parents, siblings. Scared, in the dark. Hearing the destruction without realizing how horrendous it really was outside. Some knowing how horrendous it was, crouching in their "safe place," covering their heads, suddenly knowing that they are no longer "inside" their houses, maybe even taking a peek at what was going on, only to see debris flying all around them.
I think of what their souls cried out. "Help us, save us, dont let us die. Please God please." So many people crying out to God. So many. People that hadnt prayed in years, people who arent believers in the first place. I wonder what that sounded like to God. I wonder how that made Him feel.
My head cant wrap around the experiences some had to go through. It breaks my heart. But thinking about the outcry to God gives me great hope.
My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word! (psalm 119:25)
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