Day 7

“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change. Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its water roar and foam.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

True confession. Last year, Jon and I started working on a book. We were going to call it CAT V. The premise of the book was a category 5 hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast. Ever since Jon saw the Treasure Bay Casino, he imagined a storm pushing the pirate ship casino barge on to Highway 90. With each miss of a storm, I would often comment that one day New Orleans would be hit and become Lake New Orleans. Never did we imagine our idea of fiction would actually become reality. We planned to weave the stories of several characters together as their lives crossed due to the hurricane and its aftermath. I had even begun character development and Jon was working on the storm track and timeline. Never could we have come up with the scenario such as what has played out this past week. Somehow, I don’t think our story will be written. Because it is being lived out in the lives of millions.

Over the years, I have developed the desire to talk to missionaries and capture stories of God’s grace and power in their lives. The future Jon and I are praying about would provide the opportunity to do so. However, maybe the Lord would have me write about a real category 4-5 storm, hurricane Katrina, and the real stories of God’s grace and power in the lives of survivors. In the midst of devastation and loss, I know God’s love is evident in His people. What a blessing it would be to be able to tell their stories.

We took a drive to the Texas Hill Country today, to spend the afternoon at our land. It was good to get the kids out of the house and outside for a while. The land is always so peaceful and quiet. The kids had the opportunity to run around and swim in the river. Sitting on the swing, over looking the countryside, it is hard to imagine what we’ll soon be going home to and what our friends and coworkers are currently dealing with. It seems very surreal, like an incredible action packed movie with awesome special effects. But it’s real and there are real people living through the tragedy.

Continue to pray for our policemen, our firemen, our emergency workers and our military personnel involved in the rescue and clean up work. They are facing death, fear and despair every day. They must be bone weary and soul weary. Pray that God would strengthen them through His great power. And continue to pray for those who are still looking for loved ones. Pray that God would provide them joyous reunions.

God bless each one of you as you consider each day how you can be a part of our country’s help and healing to those living on the Gulf Coast.

Grace & Peace