Friday, August 26, 2011

No need to panic

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.


I just love it when I open the Bible and it applies to my day : )  Our 19th wedding anniversary is tomorrow.  Yesterday my husband called from work and said, "Uh honey, we probably shouldn't take that dinner cruise in New York for our anniversary."

I was disappointed, then I realized and said, "OH!  No, I guess we shouldn't be touring the harbor in a boat during a hurricane!  That's a bad bad idea."

He suggested we go out to dinner instead.  My husband likes to do the fancy stuff, where I like to do the simple.  Make my very best meal for him, bake a cake, listen to classical music, light candles.  So I told him, "We'll have a great time, no worries."  I think we balance each other out.

They are predicting a hurricane for the eastern seaboard of the US this weekend.  It looks like New Jersey is in it's path.  We had the same prediction last year and God sent a wind from the west which blew the hurricane out to sea.  I know He can do it again.  As I write this, I have peace.

Proverbs 3:21-29

Clear thinking and common sense tells me I should stock up on canned goods and water.  Maybe get some more wood for the fireplace.  We should do our grocery shopping today instead of Saturday when the stores will be packed.  We should figure out exactly where the New Jersey evacuation centers are!  If I think about ways to prepare for a calamity, and do all I can.  It's not as frightening.  Ok, so I was a Girl Scout as a little girl : )
21 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don't for a minute lose sight of them.
22 They'll keep your soul alive and well,
they'll keep you fit and attractive.
23 You'll travel safely,
you'll neither tire nor trip.

I read an e-mail story something like this.  A fisherman lived in a small village in Greece.  Every morning he got up and went out to fish.  He sold the fish at the market and came home to have lunch with his wife and take a nap.  Then he'd go out and fish some more.  A corporate person came to his small village and told him, "You have no idea what you're missing!  If you become a big business, you can combine your fish with other fishermen and charge more money and be rich."

The fisherman thought about it.  Then he asked when he would have time to have lunch with his wife and take a nap.  The corporate man said, "When you make enough money to retire.  Then you don't have to work anymore."  Sigh, that's how America is now.  The fisherman had clear thinking and common sense.
24 You'll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you'll enjoy a good night's sleep.

Whatever happens with the hurricane, God will be with me and my husband.  Our souls will be safe and sound. 
25 No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner,
26 Because God will be right there with you;
he'll keep you safe and sound.

I remember a song that said, "We are His hands, we are His feet..."  It's so amazing that God would use my hands for His work, then He gives me such love and compassion.   I share my ministry stories in hope that maybe it will help someone else give it a try.  It's awesome stuff!
27 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God's hand for that person.
28 Don't tell your neighbor, "Maybe some other time,"
or, "Try me tomorrow,"
when the money's right there in your pocket.
29 Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
when he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
THE MESSAGE

Guess you knew a prayer would be coming : ) Please feel free to pray with me about the hurricane.

Dear Heavenly Father I pray You will protect us from this terrible storm.  Please be with those in the Carolinas, Bahamas, and all in the storm's path.  Keep us all safe and strong.  I pray You will have mercy and reduce the power of these winds to a gentle sea breeze.  Bring hope and healing to our nation Father.  You control the earth, the weather.  Sometimes I look forward to seeing how You will work things out, we are so unprepared.  You are so amazing.  Nothing is impossible for You!
In Jesus Name, Amen.

This verse always makes me see a cartoon of God's two giant feet, running across the sky, kicking up clouds.
Nahum 1:3
3 ...His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
NIV

11 comments:

  1. Here's the latest on our storm- it's been downgraded to a tropical storm. It's getting weaker. Evacuations are taking place on the coast (we're in the middle of the state). Also they are evacuating NYC, it's never been done before... Millions of people live there. They are right on the water and there is a fear of the waves. I'll keep praying. It's not due here until tomorrow afternoon. I'll keep you updated. : )

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  2. Hi Karen -

    Thank you -

    I much enjoyed this piece. It truly gave me added peace, and assurance of our GOD'S power over ALL.

    Yesterday, our Lord had me to say these words out loud, "Lord, rebuke the wind and calm the waters." He led me to say it out loud repeatedly. Later He told me that when I woke up in the morning, I would read on the Internet that Irene's power had diminished and been downgraded. Even though I had prayed those words the night before, my mouth flew open when I read the headline on Cnn.com about the downgrade. I was awed that our Lord did what He told me to pray out loud. Then I came here this a.m. to what you expressed. I was strongly struck by your words here from our Lord.

    Also, our Lord reminded me of Mark 4:38 - KJV:
    "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

    Glory to GOD - the Most High forever.

    Congrats on your anniversary. Enjoy...!

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  3. Wow! Thank you so much Lioneagle. Praise God I haven't heard of any fatalities in this. Thank you for the verse too. I'll write it down. We're still good here- but the storm is in New Jersey now- southern tip. The Carolinas got hit hard. But even so, the eye of the storm is gone. So glad God doesn't watch the News : ) My husband got me roses for our anniversary. If we have power, I'll make him Chicken Parmesan and we'll have the cheesecake that he brought home. Still need to make him his anniversary card : ) God bless you abundantly Sandra!

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  4. Hi Karen,
    Happy Anniversary! I'm praying for an intervening wind to redirect the storm away from you all on the east coast~In Jesus' name,Amen~

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  5. Thank you Lisa! We covet prayers right now. The storm is still weakening. We are fine. They are saying the worst of it will be between 2 and 5 tomorrow morning. We're sleeping downstairs tonight : ) So far so good. No flooding here. Err we may want to say a prayer for the news reporters who are on the boardwalks!!? I've been singing Kum by ya (spelling?) and have found great comfort in knowing the Lord will come by here. Praying in agreement. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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  6. We made it! No problems. No power today... So I'm writing from my phone. Praise God! After seeing big trees sway and hearing pounding rain, the sound of crickets was a beautiful choir. : )

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  7. Praise God for answered prayers!
    I just heard there were at least two dozen people killed by Irene. That is awful! We are praying for their families and hopefully no more deaths or missing people out there:(

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  8. Praying in agreement! In Jesus Name, Amen.

    I've been completely out of touch with News since Saturday evening.

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  9. We should pray for Vermont as well. They're in bad shape, flooding, bridges destroyed, lack of food.

    Dear Heavenly Father I lift up Vermont to You! I pray You will make the world right for them. Please provide hope, healing, food and let the rivers flow away from the people so they will be safe. Your compassion knows no end.

    In Jesus Name, Amen.

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  10. Dear Karen, first of all happy anniversary to you and your husband! I pray that the coming year is one of blessing and fulfillment for you both!
    Second, I love that story about the fisherman in Greece...it is full of a subtle truth. Often in other cultures there is less hurry, bustle, money making and stress and more simplicity and relaxation but that relaxation and simplicity goes hand in hand with work as work is regarded as a valid part of life. So is relaxation.:) Beautiful!

    Be safe and have a lovely day.

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  11. Thanks Colleen, I'm so glad you enjoyed. I agree seems like there's a difference between working and just spinning in circles getting nowhere. You have a lovely day too : )

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