Autumn Winds

As I write this, it's already the first week of September.  The month of August went by so quickly, and I did not realize it was time for a new Blog.  We hear about March winds, but the beginning of September brought spectacular winds of their own.  As a matter of fact, on Labor Day afternoon I was spending a quiet day reading and meditating on the Word of the Lord when it suddenly grew extremely dark. I turned on the light even though it was before 3:30 in the afternoon, and became aware that it was not only very dark, but the wind had picked up and it was pouring rain.  I quickly prayed for the Lord's protection for me and my neighbors. The wind was so strong that the heavy rains were blowing side-ways.  I started to go out to move my porch chairs closer to the house so they would not blow around, but the wind was so violent I felt I'd rather have the chairs blow than me, and quickly closed the door.  The rain and wind stopped as quickly as they began, and soon a dear friend called to see if I was all right.  She had her TV on and heard a report of a  Tornado warning in the Camden area.  I assured her I was fine, but  reports soon came that a Tornado had touched down in my neighborhood.  I later learned a number of homes nearby sustained massive damages, torn off roofs, blown in garage doors, torn shingles, etc. One home was blown about an inch off its foundation.  How I praise the Lord for Psalm 91 which I pray daily, and for the angels the Lord must have placed around my home during those moments as I prayed.  The next day Chopper 16 News flew overhead and showed damages to the homes from the air. What shocked me was that the large building at the end of my street had shingles blown from the roof.  The storm must have gone past my place, but praise the Lord, did not touch down. Truly the Lord performed a miracle for me and my neighbors.

I came across an interesting little study about "Bees for Believers" that I thought might be appropriate to share with you -

• BE KIND to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
• BE THANKFUL unto Him and bless His Name. Psalm 100:4
• BE DOERS of the word and not hearers only. James 1:22
• BE READY to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness. 1 Peter 3:15
• BE STRONG in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10
• BE FRUITFUL in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10
• BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2
• BE HOLY as He who called you is Holy. 1 Peter 1:15
• BE STEADFAST,  immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
• BE READY, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes. Matthew 24:44

We never know when the Lord may come or an emergency may come to or very near to us.  We need to always be prepared and be close to the Lord for any eventuality.  The Lord led me years ago to pray Psalm 91 daily. As a matter of fact, my mother shared a long time ago that her Sunday School teacher had suggested this to her and her class.  Mother lived 97 years, and "surely with a long life did He satisfy her" (Psalm 91:16).  I also daily clothe myself with the whole armor of God, according to Ephesians 6:10-18.  I put on my spiritual armor even as I dress myself in the morning. Pastor recently suggested never taking it off, and I like that. Yet I also like the reminder of placing all the separate pieces of the armor of God to daily protect myself and my family.

Hopefully this may be a reminder for all of us to BE kind, thankful, doers of the Word, ready, strong, fruitful, transformed, holy, steadfast and to always be ready and remain close to Jesus and His Word.

With love and blessings to all,
Dee