Day 6

It is hard to believe that it is a holiday weekend. It definitely doesn’t feel like one for those affected by Katrina. We went to Costco today and started stocking up water, non perishable foods and other items we’ll need when we head back. Jon also bought another generator (we have a feeling that the one we bought earlier this summer may have been ruined by flood waters) and gas cans. I called USAA to notify them of the damage to our home. Since we did not have flood insurance, they will only cover our food items lost due to lack of electricity. I also filed a claim with FEMA online. They’ll send us a claims package and send an assessor to our home, eventually. I still need to notify our other insurance agency about wind damage. We may be eligible for roof repairs.

We’ve received additional information on friends and coworkers. Some have suffered very little damage, while others have lost everything. It just depends on the locations of the home. There are still many we are hoping are okay, that we have not yet heard about.

I thought about our losses and what our insurance will not cover. It occurred to me that those who lost much or lost all they had may be angry because of those who did not lose anything. There will also be some that will feel guilty for having come through the storm unscathed. The Lord, however, reminded me of the fact that Job probably did not have insurance on his belongings when Satan was allowed to take away all that he had, even his children. Job’s response? “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God and not receive the bad?” (Job 2:10) In the long run, his trust in the Lord was the best insurance he could have. For the Lord “restored the fortunes of Job”, “gave Job twice as much as he had before” and “blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning”. (Job 42:10,12) Of course, I’m not saying the God will give us more than we had before, I am merely trusting Him with what we’ve lost. We cannot understand God’s plan in all of this, we can only praise Him for His goodness and ask that He would be glorified through it. Be assured, I’m not dismissing the pain, anger and frustration that trials bring. Especially for those who lost loved ones, jobs, homes and all their possessions. Job experienced all of these for many days and I know that we too will have some very trying days ahead. But to God be the glory and to Him be submitted everything, because we do not have control over it anyway. We must keep in mind that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). Even all things that include a hurricane called Katrina.

We found a wonderful church nearby, Bandera Road Community Church, (very much like the Church at Rancho Bernardo that we attended in San Diego) and attended the Saturday evening services. As I prayed during worship, my prayer was that through the winds and waves of Katrina, the Lord would bring salvation to those who would never have otherwise known the name of Jesus. May God raise up His people to speak hope and bring healing to the lost and hurting. May countless numbers inherit the imperishable through the loss of what is only temporary. From the flood waters that filled a city of darkness, may God cause of flood of His mercy and grace to fill the lives of people who never would have known Him, had Katrina never blown. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. May God bring them face to face with His love through His people. May the Christians who live (or lived) in the disaster stricken places be a light to those around them. May God provide us opportunities to share Christ and His purpose with people whose lives we touch because of a hurricane called Katrina.

In His mercy and by His grace

Grace & Peace