Some thoughts on having peace in the middle of the storm

We have massive thunderstorms in our area today. In fact, the country has been riddled with unusual upheavals of tornado, hail, wind and unstable weather activity.

The weather has been harshest to those in the southwest, particularly parts of northern Texas and Oklahoma.

In our family we are all reacting differently according to our realities.

My sister is first on the list of heroes. She and her husband and children are seeking to help those in their area who have been less fortunate, including a family who lost everything to a recent flood.

Others are staying put as getting out in this weather may pose more of a hazard.

That's me.

With parents who count on us, it's not wise to rescue others at our parent's expense. They need us here and now. Meanwhile I continue to work at my desk and stay tuned to the weather.

I also know I am privileged to have the time to blog at will and don't take it for granted. I am very grateful and seek to use my words wisely and in a way that leaves you better for having visited my writings.

John, on the other hand, is out making it happen. He's "hunting something down and killing it" so we can have dinner tonight, if you know what I mean. The weather is not keeping him in, partly because his work is not where the most severe troubles are. Yet, the troubles are all around. He understands the risk and is tuned in and ready to get to higher ground if needed.

I could be frantic, but chose focus.

I could chose to fixate on horror, but chose humor.

I could be jittery, but chose joy.

I could chose non-sanity, but I chose service.

I could be worried, but chose wisdom.

I could panic, but chose peace.

Check with me at the end of the day to see if I met my goals. My prayer is you'll pray for me as much as I am praying for you in your circumstances. We need each other, and it's so good to know people are wishing you the best where ever you are, and they know you are wishing them the best.

I have work to do today. So do you.

May you find peace within in the middle of the storms that rage without.

Finally, may we all make peace with the past,

preside over our present-day well

and feel deeply optimistic about the future.

For I believe more today God blesses those

who stay connected with their own

and who realistically seek to bless everyone in their path.

This post is dedicated to all the trained workers, reliable rescuers and loving volunteers who serve those affected by the storms of life.

The Barometer and the Rudder

Feelings are barometers, not rudders. Facts are rudders. Both are needed to navigate life. Take a journey of mixed metaphors with me...

It is amazing how our personal barometers struggle with our much needed personal rudder for control of our lives. I believe the reason being that a barometer is exposed, and if the attention is not good, our barometers increase in pressure. If our external barometers are not guided by our internal rudder, the pressure keeps rising, possibly to explode under pressure.

The rudder, however, is under water. Who knows what it looks like and if it is strong enough to withstand the waters it is traveling. But the waters have a way of testing us and pressing against our internal rudder. The barometer pressure rises and because it is tethered to the rudder struggles to gain control.

Decisions are made, words are said, all never to be taken back except in apology to another and confession to God. How great is the news of forgiveness in Christ, that we have Him to turn to when others may not forgive us, or when forgiveness returned and trust restored may delay longer than expected?

To whom do you go when your barometer's pressure is high? How sturdy is your rudder to withstand the uncertain waters below? Our internal rudder can only be formed by one thing, the words of God. What does He say are the facts about the matter? And if the matter is not clear, what does he say about the barometer of my attitude towards the uncertain matter at hand?

When my internal rudder is steady, my barometer returns to normal. If I know nothing but God in flesh born, died and raised, seated at God's right hand, I will have the courage to withstand, for God promises it to be so.

"You will keep in perfect peace [barometer] all who trust in you, all whose thoughts [rudders] are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3

The Lord fills in the gaps

Failure, lack, inadequacy, all these characteristics can be hindrances or they can actually be tools for our spiritual growth. So why any discontent among believers? And when one is discontented, has a gap so to speak in their soul, what next?

I've lived long enough to have had this happen a few times now (the situations will remain anonymous to protect the innocent). My first bout with discontentment lasted way longer than I ever could imagine. I was thrown off guard and didn't know what was happening. But I was just blind, immature. Yet in it all, God's grace washed over me and in time I learned to take those opportunities to grow spiritually.

When I'm tempted to be discontent with something, I must ask myself, is this a real or a perceived problem? Just a thought from experience: Deal with real problems by seeking God's wisdom, but drop perceived problems, and always, always be in prayer (I Timothy 5:17). Like anything, maturing takes time, but those long gaps of silence and ambiguity have a way of tempting us to saying or doing foolish things. The book of James is a great one to meditate on to hang in during any tough time.

When my soul is unsettled, the following has never failed me: Pray, get close to God in fresh study and do my best to listen to others without filters from past experience. What has never helped me is to think that if I could just change others/a situation [using my present understandings of Scripture without bringing my new unsettled situation to God in humble study and prayer], that then the world will be set aright [and a "little" benefit to me is that I'll finally be happy].

My husband John is a construction manager and a gifted carpenter. He uses the old carpenter's motto, "measure twice, cut once." I say this first for me, but feel it worth sharing. It is wise as well in spiritual growth: Think twice [as well as pray twice, study twice, meditate twice, and as John says, two ears, two eyes, one mouth so as to] speak once. And let the Lord fill in the gaps.