Upon hearing some disturbing news from a friend, my heart was saddened. I closed my eyes to just think and pray a moment, and the words to a song I haven't heard in years came to my mind. It is not one of the songs we hear all of the time, so when it invaded my thoughts it got my attention.
Lord, You are worthy.
Lord, You are worthy.
Lord, You are worthy to be praised.
For You have redeemed me, by Your great mercy.
Lord, You are worthy to be praised.
I then heard Sis. Nona Freeman saying..."Praise Him in the storm! Praise You, Jesus! Praise You, Jesus! I praise You, Jesus!"
Yes, even in the storm I will praise the Lord! Even when the sky is dark, I will praise Him. For trusting Him to take care of our needs, and our impossible situations is "ultimate faith". My human thinking see's "no way", but Jesus knows "the way". He can step into the deepest ocean of fear, and say "PEACE BE STILL" and the wind and waves will obey! Yes, when He walks into the scene of your situation, your situation will change immediately from darkness to light!
Trust Him...trust Him...that's what He wants. When He see's you're trusting Him in the midst of fear, He will bring you Peace. He's not wanting you to drown in the impossible! He doesn't walk away when you are fearful. In fact, because He understands that you feel out of control and helpless, He will come running to you to wrap you in a cocoon of peace and safety. He knows you're shaking. He knows you understand that you won't make it without Him. He knows you love Him! He knows you trust Him! He knows and...He loves you!
Trust Him! Love Him! Praise Him! Relax knowing He does all things well!
Oh! How I love Him! How I adore Him! My breath my sunshine, My all in all. The great Creator became my Savior. And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him.
Thank You, Jesus!
Showing posts with label Storms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Storms. Show all posts
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tornado - Christmas Trip to Wichita Falls - Snow Storm
On Dec. 23rd we were sitting in our house when all of a sudden we were in a storm. The lightening was flashing, wind blowing, and the thunder was rolling and of course we knew we were having some storms, but we didn't know until later there was a TORNADO WARNING! The other day we drove around town and took a few pictures of some of the damage. We are very thankful no one was killed in this storm! God is good!


On Thursday, we loaded the car and headed to Wichita Falls to have Christmas with Gene, Karla and the boys, since our "kids" were going to the other side of the family this year. We were hearing about the blizzard that had hit north Texas, but we were anxious to be with the family. We have driven on a lot of snow and ice before, but we were not ready for what we got caught in. Everything was "smooth sailing" until we reached Decatur.
Decatur is 70 miles from Wichita Falls. We have driven those miles many times through the years, and it would take us a little over an hour to make that trip. As far as we were concerned, the roads were passable, but the traffic was terrible.
Karla told me on the phone that we might ought to consider getting a room for the night, but we thought we could make it. We could have made it if it hadn't been for all the people that didn't know how to drive in snow, and those who had slid off of the road. Also, some truckers had jack-knifed and was unable to get turned straight enough to keep driving!
So, we were in for a rude awakening when about 5 miles north of Decatur we came to a dead stop!!!! We later learned there was a 4 truck pile-up that was blocking 287 on both sides of the highway near Electra.
I tried to keep my friends and family updated on Facebook, then I lost connection to the internet on my phone. I was thankful to be able to stay in contact with Karla through texting and she kept everyone informed for us. I called 911 and asked what was going on, hoping to get some good news, but all they told me was that the roads were not closed, and they didn't know how long it would take us to get through to Wichita Falls. They never told us the roads had been BLOCKED for HOURS because of accidents, and people who had slid out of control blocking the highway! I was getting worried about my husband not eating, and they told us about a shelter in Bellevue that had some food, so we pulled in there to get a bite to eat. Our last meal was on our way out of Lufkin, and that was at NOON on Thursday. We had some snacks in the car, and had stopped to get a little snack in Dallas, but it was now 4 'o clock on FRIDAY morning! I will never forget the feeling of a warm room filled with weary traveler's who were sleeping on the floor, and the friendly, smiling faces of the ladies who greeted us from the kitchen! We were just thankful to have a place to go at this time of the morning to get a little refreshment.
After getting a bite to eat, we got back in the car and traveled several miles, then again we came to a DEAD STOP! I cannot tell you all the feelings and thoughts that ran through my head! We were SO TIRED and didn't have much hope of getting through for several more hours.
The sun came up and we finally made it to Jolly Truck Stop to sit and WAIT for another 2-3 hours!
You talk about frustration! To be able to see where you could get some food and something to drink... To see the building you could feel safe from the storm...but not be able to get to it was almost more than we could stand!
We were only 12 miles to where we needed to be, and just COULDN'T GET THERE! (I wonder how many people are stranded in the "storm of life", but can't seem to get to safety?) For all the people who were stranded in this storm there was very few people who actually got help from someone who had the power to come to their rescue!
It took us 18 HOURS to go 70 miles!!!!! The total length of our trip was right at 22 hours. From Lufkin to Wichita Falls usually takes 6 hours...give or take a little.
After finally getting to a road we could take off on in the city, we made our way along with others who were MAKING A WAY to get through!
Someone finally got desperate to do something about the situation and we were one car that took advantage of it!
The snow in the city was beautiful!
It makes all the difference when the sun is shining, and you can see people, cars, and homes!

When we walked into Gene and Karla's house,
there was a fire in the fireplace,
homemade soup on the stove, cornbread, all the "fixin's" for sandwiches and a warm embrace of welcome! I don't know that I've ever been more happy to be anyplace in my life.
I thank God that we made it and have a lot of thoughts about it. It was definitely a "life experience".
As the skies grew dark, and the Christmas lights came on,
once again my heart sang...."Silent night, Holy night! All is Calm....all is bright"
Gene, Karla, Cameron, and Chad...you were our "special angels". Thank you for the warm welcome at Christmastime. We understand more than ever that a person doesn't have to have all the gifts and toys to be happy at Christmas...just a warm embrace, coming from a heart of love, a little food on the table to share, and family and friends to say, "I love you".
Bro. and Sis. Holley Sr....we enjoyed visiting with you. We love you!
We enjoyed a visit with Todd, Julie, Madison and Mason in the parking lot of Wal-Mart.
Jeff and Jeannie were in from Oklahoma City, and dropped by with Rita to see all of us.
It was so nice to see all of them.
Cameron and Chad came out to "model" for us and here is what we saw.
TWO good-lookin' dudes!
It was then time to go home and we had beautiful roads to drive on!
We are thankful God kept His hand on us this Christmas and are looking forward to a new year!
After getting a bite to eat, we got back in the car and traveled several miles, then again we came to a DEAD STOP! I cannot tell you all the feelings and thoughts that ran through my head! We were SO TIRED and didn't have much hope of getting through for several more hours.
The sun came up and we finally made it to Jolly Truck Stop to sit and WAIT for another 2-3 hours!
It took us 18 HOURS to go 70 miles!!!!! The total length of our trip was right at 22 hours. From Lufkin to Wichita Falls usually takes 6 hours...give or take a little.
After finally getting to a road we could take off on in the city, we made our way along with others who were MAKING A WAY to get through!
The snow in the city was beautiful!
homemade soup on the stove, cornbread, all the "fixin's" for sandwiches and a warm embrace of welcome! I don't know that I've ever been more happy to be anyplace in my life.As the skies grew dark, and the Christmas lights came on,
Gene, Karla, Cameron, and Chad...you were our "special angels". Thank you for the warm welcome at Christmastime. We understand more than ever that a person doesn't have to have all the gifts and toys to be happy at Christmas...just a warm embrace, coming from a heart of love, a little food on the table to share, and family and friends to say, "I love you".
Bro. and Sis. Holley Sr....we enjoyed visiting with you. We love you!
We enjoyed a visit with Todd, Julie, Madison and Mason in the parking lot of Wal-Mart.
Jeff and Jeannie were in from Oklahoma City, and dropped by with Rita to see all of us.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
God's Protection
My phone rang this afternoon. It was Jonathan calling to "chat", but something told me that he was calling for more than that. We talked a minute then he told me that Brenda and the girls were in Wal-Mart when a tornado hit it.
He said, "they are okay but were really scared!" I knew that was an understatement, but he's going to keep calm with me. He told me what he knew about it, and I was thanking God everyone was fine.
Then, I got a call from Brenda. "Mom, have you heard?" I told her Jonathan had called." Her voice was intense as she told of what her and the girls had just experienced.
Brenda, Savanna and Scarlet were in the shoe area of Wal-Mart when they heard hail hitting the roof. She said "It was SO LOUD"! Then, they heard more noise, and people running and yelling, "TORNADO! IT'S A TORNADO!" The lights went out, and Brenda grabbed Savanna and Scarlet just as a Wal-Mart worker grabbed her and said, "Come on! We've got to go!" They got into a hallway and Brenda said to the worker and the girls, "We've got to pray!" They started praying, and then the worker said, "We've got to go further! Follow me!" They followed her to a safer room that was packed with people. Savanna and Scarlet were crying and clinging to Brenda, so Brenda had to tell them, "Girls, we've got to get it together." Then she asked them, "Do you remember how God protected Noah and his family in the storm?" They said, "Yes." Brenda went on, "Well, He's going to protect us, too! Let's pray!" She said they started praying, and in a few minutes all was quiet, the lights came on, and someone came and said, "EVERYONE EVACUATE!"
They walked out of the room to the front of the store, and Brenda said it looked awful outside! Cars on top of cars, grocery carts everywhere, and debris everywhere!
She walked over to her car and nothing had happened to it.
There was a lady from her church who had gone out to her car, in the same parking lot, and the tornado hit. The pressure sucked her windows out of her car, tilted the car, but she was okay except for some glass in her hair, and I'm sure some frazzled nerves!
There were others that I've heard about that were in the middle of the storm, but was not injured in anyway!!!
Tonight, I'm thanking God that ALL IS WELL!!! Things could have been so much worse! "He's an on time God!" I can go to sleep tonight knowing that our lives are in His hands and He'll take care of us.
He said, "they are okay but were really scared!" I knew that was an understatement, but he's going to keep calm with me. He told me what he knew about it, and I was thanking God everyone was fine. Then, I got a call from Brenda. "Mom, have you heard?" I told her Jonathan had called." Her voice was intense as she told of what her and the girls had just experienced.
Brenda, Savanna and Scarlet were in the shoe area of Wal-Mart when they heard hail hitting the roof. She said "It was SO LOUD"! Then, they heard more noise, and people running and yelling, "TORNADO! IT'S A TORNADO!" The lights went out, and Brenda grabbed Savanna and Scarlet just as a Wal-Mart worker grabbed her and said, "Come on! We've got to go!" They got into a hallway and Brenda said to the worker and the girls, "We've got to pray!" They started praying, and then the worker said, "We've got to go further! Follow me!" They followed her to a safer room that was packed with people. Savanna and Scarlet were crying and clinging to Brenda, so Brenda had to tell them, "Girls, we've got to get it together." Then she asked them, "Do you remember how God protected Noah and his family in the storm?" They said, "Yes." Brenda went on, "Well, He's going to protect us, too! Let's pray!" She said they started praying, and in a few minutes all was quiet, the lights came on, and someone came and said, "EVERYONE EVACUATE!"
They walked out of the room to the front of the store, and Brenda said it looked awful outside! Cars on top of cars, grocery carts everywhere, and debris everywhere!
She walked over to her car and nothing had happened to it. There was a lady from her church who had gone out to her car, in the same parking lot, and the tornado hit. The pressure sucked her windows out of her car, tilted the car, but she was okay except for some glass in her hair, and I'm sure some frazzled nerves!
There were others that I've heard about that were in the middle of the storm, but was not injured in anyway!!!
Tonight, I'm thanking God that ALL IS WELL!!! Things could have been so much worse! "He's an on time God!" I can go to sleep tonight knowing that our lives are in His hands and He'll take care of us.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Life, Circles, and Storms
Does life ever slow down? I don't think so, and that's okay with me! We are in Mineola tonight, preaching for Keith and Carla Clark in Quitman tomorrow. We had a great time with them tonight. I will blog about the weekend AFTER "the weekend". LOL! I know I'm "going in circles", but that's the way life has been for a lot of people lately.
With "IKE" hitting so forcefully, many of our friends and their churches have been affected. Jon and Brenda had some damage from water coming in through the roof, but they will get it fixed and all will be well. I'm glad it wasn't more than it was. We are just now getting ALL the power on at the District Offices. The grounds are getting cleaned up from the limbs and trees that were damaged, and things are slowly getting back to normal. Our "home" is still in the shop. It's suppose to be ready sometime Monday, but we're not counting on it. We know how those things go, so we've learned to relax about it.
Here's a little humor to help get your mind off of your problems: We have been in so many hotels lately that we don't know which way to turn when we walk out of our room!!!! Is that because we're getting OLD, or is that what happens when people travel a lot? :) What's really bad is when you get up in the middle of the night and run into the WALL! Your nose might look funny for a few days, but at least you FINALLY "find your way" back to bed!!! LOL!
Back to storms: The weather has been BEAUTIFUL this week! It's amazing how during a storm you think the skies will never be blue again, but every time, the clouds and rain go away! This song is one of my favorites.
Someone said that in each life,
some rain is bound to fall.
And each one sheds his share of tears,
And trouble, troubles us all.
But the hurt can't hurt forever
And the tears are sure to dry;
And it won't rain always,
The clouds will soon be gone.
The sun that they've been hiding
has been there all along.
And it won't rain always,
God's promises are true.
The sun's gonna shine
in His own good time,
And He will see you through.
BE ENCOURAGED! GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
My "Mini" Vacation On Hwy. 175
Today was one of those days I decided to "go on vacation". With all the terrible happenings with "IKE" I just wanted to clear my mind. I have a dear friend who said to me one day, "You know, sometimes I imagine myself being on vacation when I'm going around taking care of things." I laughed and answered, "I do the SAME thing!" Maybe I'm crazy, and I probably am a little , but sometimes "enough is enough".
Yes, I took my own picture! I think I was travelling about 55-60 miles an hour! :) As I drove down Hwy. 175 I saw a "gated community" that I had always wanted to drive into. This time the gate was OPEN, so I drove through it and saw some beautiful homes sitting beside a lake. I dreamed about how awesome it would be to have a house "right there" so close to the water. The kids could come and we could picnic out on a deck. We would have a boat, and all the "lake toys" to enjoy. Of course, I knew I would not ever live in a place like that, but there's no sin in dreaming, is there? I had to take a picture or two to show my husband where I'd gone on vacation today. :)
I kept driving and dreaming, and remembering the trips we had made in a convertible. The plains of Texas,
and rolling hills of Oklahoma.
Cattle and horses grazing in the fields, and new born colts frolicking near by. Then I was reminded of the white steeples of churches that speckled the country side on Prince Edward Island.
There were so many beautiful, old churches as we traveled through cities back East and I wanted to stop and take pictures of everyone of them. Today I couldn't resist, and pulled off
to take this picture.
If churches and steeples could talk I wonder what stories would they tell? As I travelled I saw this old home that someone has lovingly taken care of, and thought about the little wooden houses I'd seen on the back roads of Maryland when we were lost!
We were so far out in the country that we ran out of paved road. There were no shoulders on the side of the road, and the cows were almost sticking their heads in the car! LOL! I'm so glad we got lost, because I will never forget the beauty that surrounded us.
Last Thursday I left for the Minister's Wives Retreat. With Hurrican IKE coming in I hated to leave my husband, but he told me he would be okay, and that he was going to drive the motorhome to Quitman, TX, since we would be preaching there on Sunday. I was to meet him there on Saturday. He left Lufkin and 45 minutes later the motorhome was broken down on the side of the road! He was out looking things over, wondering what he was going to do, "the hurricane was coming, he had no car, I was in Arlington for the retreat", and from out of no where it seemed, a man walked up and said, "Sir, I have an RV pad over at my house. My son bought my trailer and has taken it, so you can use my cement pad for as long as you need to." Talk about a blessing! God sent that man and we were so thankful to have a safe place to park our "home". It's the only thing we have to live in at this time, so we sure didn't need anything happening to IT! Wendell then called Bro. Rhoades, a WONDERFUL friend and asked him if he could come pick him up. He did, and a little while later Wendell was back to "square one", Lufkin! :(
Now, what were we going to do? The storm was coming, and I would have to travel in it on Saturday to meet Wendell. The way it was looking it was going to be terrible, and I couldn't bring myself to drive in that kind of storm. Wendell got in his car and came on to Dallas and we were together once again! We hated to cancel the weekend with the Clark's but they definitely understood.
Then, we received word from Bro. Rhoades that the storm had hit, and the power was out all over Lufkin. Now, we had a problem for sure. Where were we going to live since we were putting the motorhome in the shop when we returned, and the power was out in the apartment we would live in on the camp ground? The answer: We will stay in a hotel until we can get power on, or the motorhome back. So, that is where I am again tonight. Thank the Lord I'm not out on the street!
Needless to say, after hearing all of this, and hearing about all the devastation to the gulf coast of Texas, and receiving reports from friends who are going through much more than I was, I decided to take a "mini vacation" today. Wendell left early so he could get a tow truck to meet him and pick up the motorhome, so I was going to travel by myself.
When I walked out of the motel in Dallas, the weather was perfect! It was 76 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! I decided right then to put the top down on my convertible and travel! It was lovely!
to take this picture.
Oh, I dreamed! I dreamed about driving through Pennsylvania and the Amish country, Niagara Falls and the power I felt as I stood watching the water crash over the rocks! I could imagine what it was going to be like in Heaven when the saints start worshiping and praising God. When I was there I felt God in a powerful way, and I stood in awe of Him!
I travelled to Prince Edward Island and saw the red sands and fishing villages, lighthouses and lobster boats. Yes, I remembered and enjoyed the beauty that surrounded us while we were there. The quaint towns and beautiful flowers were so tranquil.
I travelled to New York City and thought about seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time, and going to Brooklyn Tabernacle to hear the choir sing. Colorado, the Hill Country of Texas and the bluebonnets in the Spring. Canada, Lake Louise, glaciers, and mountains of majesty. Glacier National Park and Going to the Sun Road, Yellowstone National Park and seeing Old Faithful as she spewed her hot, steamy water up from the earth, just one more time!
I've been beautiful places and have enjoyed each one. As I enjoyed them and remembered I thought of AMERICA. My Home, My Freedom, My Country, and was thankful to be living in the greatest country on earth.
Then, I prayed! I prayed for our President, George W. Bush, and his lovely wife, Laura. I prayed God would be with him as he leads our country through perilous times. I prayed for his strength and wisdom. I knew his heart must be broken to see the devastation of our state as he toured the gulf coast today, and I knew he would pray for the men and women, boys and girls, and grieve for them. I prayed for the people who have lost so much, and saw with my own eyes just one example of what a storm can do.
Then I was "home". Home once again to my husband, my town, and my "hotel".
I was thankful, happy and refreshed! I enjoyed my vacation today, and just think....I did all of this on my way from Dallas to Lufkin on Hwy. 175.
I've been beautiful places and have enjoyed each one. As I enjoyed them and remembered I thought of AMERICA. My Home, My Freedom, My Country, and was thankful to be living in the greatest country on earth.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Please Pray Against Hurricane Gustav!

NEW ORLEANS — On the same day that residents marked the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's wrath, another storm strengthened into a hurricane miles away and threatened to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast once again.
I am asking my blogger friends to please pray that this hurricane will turn and go back to sea! After the terrible hurricane devastation from Katrina and Rita, the people who were affected are just now recovering. Thank you for your prayers!
Katrina was a Category 3 when it made land fall. They are saying Gustav could be the same strength.
I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things awhile ago and some of the shelves are almost EMPTY! Canned meats, bread, some paper goods, etc. People are preparing for whatever will reach here.
Jonathan and Brenda are in Beaumont and are waiting to see what they should do. We have a place here for them, so if they need to evacuate I expect them to come here. Unless, we all have to go further away from the storm. We'll see.....
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