Happy New Year 2020

Happy New Year 2020

Wishing You A Happy New Year 2020

Is it me, or did the month of December just speed by like a freight train?

Phew!

Are you ready for the new year?

I need to start remembering to write “2020” now.

That might take about a week. 

Looking Back on Challenges From Last Year

challenges

Looking back over the year 2019, I can honestly say that we have never been hit with so many challenges.

These were both emotional and physical challenges that packed a wallop.

It was surreal because they came without warning, in rapid succession, seemingly out of left field.

We got through it all by holding onto our faith, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.

And, the challenges weren’t just happening to us.

It seemed like most of our friends were dealing with major difficulties during the topsy-turvy year that was 2019.

A Close Call For Someone We Love

There’s something on my heart, and I have to share it.

I’d like to encourage you to pray for God’s protection over all of the dear ones in your life, both now and for their futures.

I believe this is crucial to add to your prayer lists.

You know as well as I do that this is a dangerous world that is getting even worse.

There are hostile people, in need of a Savior, who are running around unrestrained and hell-bent on hurting others, whether through words or deeds.

Recently, and as delicately as I can put it, we almost lost a shining light in our lives in the midst of a horrific crime.

It was that close.

We praise God for His hedge of protection over this situation.

Physical injuries can heal, but emotional wounds take much, much longer.

Comfort from God’s Word, our prayers, and the support from loved ones is vital when life deals a blow.

Honestly, I don’t know how people can get through this life without a strong faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Beauty Of Grace

I‘m grateful that God places certain people in our lives whom we can mutually love and support, pray with, and pray for. There’s nothing sweeter in my eyes than to have someone put their arms around you and pray right then and there for a situation, or to hear the sweet voice of a friend on the phone as he or she prays for you. Prayers are not shackled by distance in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

In the following passage from Scripture, the Apostle Paul is talking about the sufficiency of believers being found in Jesus Christ. We can often see His grace most clearly in the valleys of our sufferings.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB.

See The Miracle

Every day is a gift.

Cherish those in your life who love you back, and pray for those who don’t.

We have our mission.

the Christian life

Happy New Year 2020

Make it count!

the new year 2020

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1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2Francis August Schaeffer, (1912-1984), evangelical Christian and theologian. Schaeffer quotation, courtesy of AZquotes.com. “The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian view of the church.” Accessed 22 December, 2019. 

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Catastrophic Flood In Houston

Catastrophic Flood in Houston And Surrounding Areas

Have you seen the pictures and videos of the horrible flooding in Southeast Texas?

My heart breaks for the residents of Houston, Beaumont, Rockport, and surrounding areas along the Texas coastline.

Catastrophic flood in Houston

*Photo credit, NOAA/NESTA

As you may already know, Hurricane Harvey, once a category 4, eventually became a tropical storm.

The storm continued to move along at a snail’s pace, all the while dumping record amounts of rain on Houston, Port Aransas, and surrounding areas. You’d think and hope it’s over, but it isn’t.

Our neighbors to the south are picking up the pieces of their lives. Livestock, family pets stranded – the list is endless of those in need.

They all desperately need our prayers, as do the first responders, emergency personnel, and volunteers headed to the flood zones.

Waters Rising Higher

After church last Sunday, my husband and I ate with some friends at a local restaurant here in North Texas. While we were eating, it started pouring buckets and buckets of rain.

The rainfall lasted about an hour, but then it was over and the sun came out. I couldn’t help thinking about how, if we had lived in Houston right now, the flooding would seem like its never going to end.

I saw one estimate from the weather prediction center that, as of Tuesday morning, August 29th, Houston had over 25 inches of rain. This is a crowded metropolis with a huge population. **Four major bayous pass through the city. Not a good combination.

rainfall totals

I can’t emphasize enough, it’s not just the residents of Houston taking the brunt of the storm. For instance, ***the Cedar Bayou area had over 48 inches of rain.

There’s an estimate from the weather service that rainfall totals could reach 50 inches in some places.

Fifty inches? Oh my word.

It must be some comfort to the flood victims to see the many volunteers from all over the country pitching in. Texas Governor Greg Abbott was on top of the situation from the very beginning. We are very grateful for his leadership.

God Is There

While some in the mainstream media seek to lay blame, what I’m encouraged by is the epitome of the American spirit on display. People are pitching in, donating money and supplies, and arriving in watercraft to help the stranded.

God is there in the midst of the flooding.

He is there in the spirit of these American heroes who are putting the lives of others above their own.

Houston and surrounding areas, we are praying for you!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB.

For those of you who would like to donate to the relief efforts, I would be remiss if I didn’t list two links to reputable online giving opportunities:

Samaritans Purse

Texas Baptist Men

God bless.

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*Hurricane Harvey photo courtesy of NOAA/NESTA. Released into public domain. (Uploaded 2017, August). [originally uploaded in NESTA]. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs398/en/

**Wikipedia statistics,courtesy of Wikipedia contributors, “Houston,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Houston&oldid=797881601 (accessed August 29, 2017).               

***Rainfall statistics retrieved from http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html  

****Scripture quotation is from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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