We experienced gale force winds and weather on Tuesday evening. Many trees and branches were down and many people without power. We did not lose power, but our neighbors 1/4 mile from us, all the way to the lake, have not had power for two days. The only damage we had was a tree at the front of our property that fell in the yard, missing anything but grass. Also, we are supposed to be having a snowstorm today, but only spotty, light showers. The Lord is faithful to keep us in the storm, if we trust Him. In fact, Father allowed me to visit a couple people in need before the storm on Tuesday, and to go clean for Joe and get John’s milk at the farm before mixed precipitation and more wind started on Wednesday.
I am going through the files on my computer, preparing to work on my next book, and I found this day I’d recorded a couple years ago. It is so similar, although from December, I want to share it with you here. I think the conclusions I came to and exhortation at the end are still relevant for 2024!
From Tuesday, December 7, 2021: Sunday, about the time we went to bed, it started raining. It was very windy, and we heard a thousand people in the area lost power for about an hour in the middle of the night. The temperature hovered just above freezing, so we had no snow at our house.
When I awoke, it was still raining steadily and windy. I had an eye doctor appointment at 9:05, so John and I both packed up a traveling breakfast because he wanted to stop at the lab and get his fasting bloodwork done for his next appointment. He also planned to go home that way from my appointment so he could get a haircut. We left the house at 7:30, which should have been enough time to get across the city to my appointment. When John walked into the building for the lab, he found a line of people waiting. He realized he would not get done in time, so we headed right to the eye doctor’s office and sat in the parking lot to eat breakfast.
About fifteen minutes early, I headed through the rain from the parking lot to the appointment. The assistant and doctor kept me busy with multiple examinations and I lost track of time. When they finished, I had an excellent report, an appointment for eleven months later to repeat the vision field test, and another for twelve months to do the yearly testing. Heading back into the rain, I found my way to our vehicle. John had been sitting for over an hour and had a revelation: scrap plans for his haircut, head out of town the other way, deposit my check, eat at Cracker Barrel, and Christmas shop.
What grace Father God showered on us! We noticed the rain, but it didn’t hinder. John usually gets completely undone by the end of Christmas shopping, but his good mood hardly wavered. As we cruised several stores, he kept saying, “It’s alright, we’re not in a rush and I’m with my honey.” I want to remind you all, the Bible says, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it unto the day of Christ Jesus”. [Philippians 1:6]
As we pulled into the Walmart parking lot, we saw fleets of electrical bucket trucks amassed. John said National Grid was setting up to send them where needed because they expect many wire problems with the wind and rain; possibly turning into an ice storm. Our area previously dealt with a couple of major ice storms, and this shows they have learned from those experiences.
As in the natural realm, so in the spiritual, the saying goes. National Grid and our weather people are preparing for a major catastrophic event. The prophets have been speaking about a major event likely coming from the power grid being damaged. I believe the power of our spiritual enemies also has impending damage. Also, the rain and wind, which turned to sleet in the wee hours of the night, stopped after about twenty-four hours. I’m reminded that God promises in Psalms that weeping endures for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
The time is ripe for a move of God. Are you ready to roll with the punches and come out victorious? God’s plans are good, and this time of tribulation shall come to an end soon! We will see the victory if we do not faint before the end. I ask for and receive grace from Father God each day. It keeps me in His peace in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4]
I hope you can grab on to His strong anchor and hold on. If your job is to be the “bucket trucks” with boots on the ground, step up to it. If your job is to be the one on your knees, drop down and pray in power. If it’s your part to write encouragement, then get to it. Man the positions God has planned for you since before you were born! We’re going to see the victory if we stand firm and do the good works before us.
Rejoice in the LORD always and be led by the Holy Spirit. Shalom, dear readers!
Notice this says “every morning”? It includes this morning in that promise and tomorrow. Let us continue to encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and songs of praise. If you don’t have a song of joy in your heart, ask Holy Spirit to provide one. This world is getting darker, but that means our light is growing brighter as we walk in Christ. Our salt is getting saltier as we share what God has done for us! How will others know of the goodness of God toward those He loves if we don’t share His goodness we’ve experienced? If we join in rehearsing all the problems and how the world is ‘going to hell in a handbasket’, we just add fuel to the funeral pyre that’s being built with words and chaos in our nation and around the world. I can see the forces of evil dancing with glee as we devour each other without them lifting a finger!
Notice the things that trip us up: carousing, drunkenness, cares of this life. Translate these to overeating, binge watching, lost in a video game… crisis or drama in your life fed by social media. 
Musings along life's journey 