If Satan was a Hurricane

"Be prepared!" For the past several days, this has been the message for those of us living in the path of Hurricane Matthew who has grown into a big, deadly storm here in the Atlantic waters. Haiti, Jamica, Cuba, Bahamas and now the US East Coast are on alert from the authorities. 
Prepare NOW, they say. Why now instead of waiting till we know his more specific path? Because practical wisdom tells us once the storm hits, it not only is more difficult to work and prep outdoors as you fight the elements, it could even be impossible. In the event of a severe storm (such as the one we are facing this weekend), evacuations are necessary, a life and death decision that has to be made and acted upon NOW...not tomorrow...NOW! There is also the chance it's course will change direction or strength at a moment's notice. 
Many locals have shared stories of waking up in the middle of the night to storms that had changed direction. Had they not taken precautions before they went to bed, just in case, they would have endured more damage than had they not. Imagine replacing the hose nozzle on your garden hose as the water pressure continues to flow against you. Imagine folding sheets outdoors in gusty winds. There is a slight chance you can get these things done, but it will be extremely difficult and take more time and energy than if they had been done before opposition came against you. And worse case scenario is you won't be ready at all and the storm will overtake you.  
Here in Florida, we are currently bracing for Hurricane Matthew. It is being classified as a Major Storm as it directs it's path as a Cat4 heading to Central Florida. Media on every channel, in every country, on every island, on every website are pleading their case to Be Prepared and the time is NOW! Once the storm is here, it will be too late. Now is the time to gather supplies. Now is the time to secure your belongings. Now is the time to fins supplies to lock down your boat and home. Now is the time to formulate a plan to evacuate if it becomes necessary. Now is the time to prepare.
Of course, there are those who wait till the last minute only to find gas stations who are sold out of gas, stores sold out of water, food and batteries and . Left without essentials needed, they create for themselves a crisis within the crisis. If only they had heeded advice of those who know the devastation storms produce and listen to their warning...Be prepared!
As I clear my yard, secure the house and boat, gas the cars, buy hurricane friendly foods, stock up the water supplies, check in with friends and family, make safety plans and prepare for the impending threat, I can't help but think of the storms in our lives we must be prepared for so we are not overtaken. 

"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 (NIV)

Satan is just like a hurricane. He appears out of the middle of nowhere, has his own unpredicatble path, he is destructive, causes chaos, creates great debt and loss. He tears things down and never builds things up. No one wants him in their home and yet he comes knocking on our doors, often pushing his way inside. He threatens our security and messes up our plans. If Satan was a Hurricane.
God's Word warns us to be prepared. There is a season for everything and Satan prowls like a lion, ready to destroy when the time is right...his timing, his way, regardless of who you are or what you do or where you live. Satan is fierce and like a hurricane, has many destructive levels and creates havoc along his path. 
The time to prepare yourself for a storm, is before it comes and since we don't know when the storm will show up, we must be prepared now. Spiritual muscles take time to build and it is often during the crisis they are strengthened. But if you haven't already been working them out, you're gonna hurt worse than had you already begun the process of strengthening. You may fair well through life's Tropical Depression and maybe even a Cat1, but should a Cat4 or Cat5 hit your dwelling place, will you have been ready? Will you have done all you could possibly do to manage well, heeding the advice of The One Who knows all about storms?

How can we prepare now for Satan's storms in our lives? 
~ Read His Word and know The Plan. The Bible is full of wisdom and instruction for how we can live our lives under His protection, receiving His provisions. Nothing happens without His permissions, therefore we can trust the Plans and Person of God, our Shield and Savior.
~ Pray and cast your cares on Him. Storms remind us how small we are in the universe and how big our god is. We cannot hide from Him and He truly is the best place to cast our fears and insecurities, because He loves us unconditionally. There is no greater Savior of Friend than our Lord.
~ Do your part and let God do His. We cannot control the surge, size, path or category of the storm heading our way. We are not in complete control. God is. Preparing for a Hurricane doesn't make the hurricane dissipate. It simply prepares us to endure it better than if we were fully open to it's destruction. 
~ Remember Who God is. Bad things do happen to Believers. God does allow crisis and storms to rage at varying degrees. Some will make a mess and some will devastate us but thanks to our great God, we will not be destroyed. He is faithful and good. Storms can clear away debris and refresh our waters. Crisis can bring us to our knees and teach us vulnerable hope we could learn no other way.
~ Gather together. We are not meant to weather storms alone. While our faith is our own, our journey is not. We need each other. Storms have a unique way of bringing communities together under one cause, for one hope...survival. When storms come, we have personal responsibilities as well as the care we ought to show our neighbors. 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

I Just Assumed...not any more!

I met a new friend this past week and in our "get to know" moment as we shared our story, a sentence came out of my mouth I had never thought of before and certainly had never said. I can only assume it was a God moment. Sometimes my assumption are right. Sometimes they are wrong.
Being the new (guy) gal in the community, I have been asked close to hundred times now, "What's your story? Why are you here?" Each time I get to share, God reminds me of His plan and the perfection of His timing. Last week was really no different...same testimony, different new friend. After sharing the summary of details and God's divine leading us in our move to Florida, I said these "crazy" words as a summery point of how God has been working on me over the past several years. This phrase came out my mouth for the first time... Assumptive Living. Assumptive Living. I said, "God has taken me from living a life of assumptive living to intentional living." I sat kinda of dumb founded for a minute trying to process why in the world did I just say that. 
Over the past several years, God has been walking me though Intentional Living. So much so, he even brought a dear Mentor and Friend into my life who actually used those words every time she talked. God could not have been obvious. She was a huge part of the refining process my heart and mind needed to endure and be shaped by. Knowing why I do what I do. Choosing to own my actions and not play the blame game in life. Stepping out in courage after the things God calls me to. Being intentional about growing in my knowledge and deepening my love with my Savior and Abba Father. But the years before this....not so much. I intentionally...assumed.
I have always described my personality issues as anxious and shy. One who fears the unknown, a follower not a leader. But then there were these words...Assumptive Living...wow. It was true. I had never thought about that before. For most of my life, I have been fearful and anxious. I feel it inside me, raised blood pressure and heart racing, feeling as if I couldn't breath. Double checking everything I do in fear of judgement, which would lead to fear of rejection. Ever watchful of my surrounding, fearful of personal harm to me or my kids. Choosing to always follow to avoid failing. Avoiding others or opportunities felt safer to me than putting myself out there. I assumed the worst. I assumed. There it was. Assumptive Living.
If we go through life assuming we will fail, we will never try. We will never accomplish what we have been called to do. If we assume rejection, we will never have victory or courage to embrace and enjoy meaning relationships and friendships or partnerships in the work place. If we assume someone is always looking to harm us or one of our loved ones, we will never fully appreciate the beauty of God's creation. We will see so narrowly, that we miss the big picture. What kind of life is Assumptive Living? I will tell you. 
It's one thing to assume the worst and plan for the worst verses planning for the worst and hoping for the best. I realize now in hindsight how much anxiety and fear I self-created simply by assuming. How I must have grieved the heart of God with how I lived so wrongly fearful and anxious...never resting in His arms or grasping my identity in His Name. Oh the power I didn't claim, the grace I rejected, the blessings I missed. Something no one else knew, and I didn't even recognize myself back then. Thank God, His mercies are new every morning! Lamentation 3!! Looking back, my identity was not His...
I assumed I wouldn't be successful. Inadequate
I assumed I was making wrong choices. Doubting
I assumed my friend would not like me once they got to know me. Insecure
I assumed everyone else must be right, assuming they must be more intelligent or talented than I. Minimal 
I assumed I was the "lesser than" of the group. Pitiful
I assumed others could do it better, whatever "it" was at the time. Dumb
I assumed my husband would find other women sexier than me. Ugly
I assumed other parents has mastered this thing called parenting. Judgement
I assumed all the other Stay At Home Moms had perfectly cleaned house and dinner prepped for week on Sunday and all their clothes were in their rightful place. Comparison
I just assumed everything, even spiritually....
I assumed God loved me because that is what I had been taught in every church, in every Bible study, at every conference. 
I assumed and hoped He would always be with me. 
I assumed and hoped He would give me Peace when I needed it. 
I assumed and hoped He would be my Rock, my Comfort, my Healer.
Seriously, what a horrible way to live! Assuming everything...not knowing anything except doubt and fear, always hoping for being right. With a smile always on my face, no one could have known, and even today, people don't see the splinters, scars and thorns. Grace, Grace, Amazing Grace!!!! I have learned to receive Grace. I have learned not only Who God is personally, but who that makes me as His child. What an amazing feeling inside your soul when you know that you know. When someone asks you why, and you can confidently give an answer to the hope and the reason of your life.
God, gracious and gentle, looooong suffering over me, for sure, gave me the opportunity to get over living life assumptively. Through a season of panic attacks and anxiety attacks, I had to do some deep heart, soul, mind and spirit searching! 
I assumed I could handle life controlling myself, my circumstances and others. Here is where I learned my assumptions were all wrong. 
I assumed the life I was trying so hard to be perfect at would be the best life. Wrong! My best life has been lived ever since. The best life is living an intentional life!
How great to walk through a day nervous, sure. Feeling a little insecure, sure....yet doing life anyway! I certainly haven't arrived, and I still find thorns to pull out of my flesh at times, but how grateful I am to get the chance to have a do-over in this life! Every day I get to be more intentional! Thank You Lord for being steadfastly intentional for me!!
I know that I know God has a plan to prosper me and not harm me. Jeremiah 29
I know that I know He will never leave me. Deuteronomy 31
I know that I know He forgives me, loves me and hears me. John 3
I know that I know He is the Orchestrator of my life, leading me in my endeavors, my relationships, in my parenting, friendships, service, ministry, etc. Isaiah 40
I know that I know nothing escapes His care or His provision. 
Yes, bad things will still happen this side of eternity, but I know that I know I am Redeemed by the Great I Am. I am protected by The King of Kings. I am not a loss cause. I am not alone. I know that I know He hears my cries and my prayers and rejoices in my accomplishments even if I have failed the 10 times before. 
I know that I know God loves every single one of us and has a divinely great plan for a beautiful life, free of....assumptions!
If this is you too, (I am assuming I am not the only one who has been here), don't assume another day. Live fully, embracing each day's plan and grace for every moment. Be intentional in knowing what it is you need to get your head and heart wrapped around, to bring glory to the One Intentional God. How? Let go of being in control and Trust The Only Faithful and Steadfast One. Surrender your fears and assumptions into Hope Himself. You must be in His Word. You must pray and talk to Him, learning to listen for His voice. How else will you know Him? It was through digging into His Word searching for Him, worshiping Him in truth, not feeling. Praying in petition and in waiting for His response. It was remembering Who was in charge of my life, the comings and goings, the direction and the provision of every day. Calling out to The One I knew heard me, saw me and held me. Knowing in my head the Truth while embracing the Heart of The One who held mine together. It was remembering that God was ultimately in control and I needed to trust Him, loving Him above all else, with all my heart and might.
Life is best lived, intentionally living and loving, giving life and blessings, while receiving life and blessings!! Life is good because God is good! Hallelujah!!!!!
Thank You Lord for intentionally creating the world, and all that is within it, seen and unseen. Thank You for the grace You alone cover us with so that we can work out our insecurities, inadequacies, our callings for Your glory this side of Heaven. May we never assume Your love, mercy, forgiveness, peace, comfort. May we never assume Your grace will run out. Help us in our minds to embrace the knowledge of who You are and help our hearts to grasp how deep and wide Your love for us is. God, we are so sorry for taking the weight of burdens in this life upon our own shoulders. May we call to mind Your love and friendship that are never ceasing. Thank You for Your Word to teach us what we need to know. Thank You for your friendship and Fatherhood that proves it. Thank You Holy Spirit for leading us, encouraging us, prompting us to remember and to worship in truth! You are a great, great God...I know that I know this is true!! Bless Your Holy Name, amen.

Psalm 57, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.  

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me.
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves.
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!"

6 month review

Half way...we are half way through our year of adventure. WOW!!! I can hear the pages of the calendar flip rapidly with the passing of each day. It's almost as if the deep gonging of Father Time marks every passing hour now. 6 months flew past! So, I have to ask myself, and ultimately The Lord, Have I accomplished so far what You purposed me to? and What is left that I need to do?
We know beyond a shadow of a doubt The Lord called us here allowing us to live out a desire deep in our hearts to experience an adventure as a family outside of our hometown of Houston, as well as to live on intentional mission for Him. We just never had the guts to do it before. We didn't make the time to commit it to serious prayer over the years either. No wonder we didn't do this earlier. Honestly, I am not sure we would have had the faith to go if He would have told us to go. A crowded schedule, busy minds and divided hearts, kept us from seeking and asking what His plan and His way was for us. We lived like so many do, one day at a time, status quo, keeping our head above water, the way we wanted to, assuming we were on a continuous path in the same direction and yet fearful (and honestly, lazy) to live how we really wanted to. 
Of course, God's timing is always perfect. Maybe He reigned in our desires till it was time for us to be ready. As we look back over the last few years, we can see God's hand preparing us and equipping us to step out on faith and say Yes to a move that would cause us to rely heavily on trusting Him with every detail. Leaving wasn't easy and neither will it be leaving here.
While the move has been a great adventure, we have also been on mission. God made it very clear that this was a purposeful move. We needed an uprooting to a place we could experience pruning and new growth, reconnecting to the Lord individually and as a family, and to each other. A sabbatical of sorts. Our busy, disconnected life was tearing our family's core to pieces. Being here on mission has re-focused us, re-centered us and God has drawn us back to a whole. We are stronger now. 
No, it hasn't been perfect. We have not lived every day as perfectly as we dreamed we would. After 6 months, my journals for the kids still sit in the box, I haven't opened my spanish workbook once, I am not a master chef, my house is not Pinterest picture worthy, my kids don't choose family devotional time over tv or game time, my marriage is not without selfishness or disagreements and my picture taking skills remain "pretty good"....but....God has been faithful to bless, give, take, correct, allow, teach, heal, restore, prune, bind together His children who desperately are seeking, asking and knocking on His door. I know we have missed opportunities but I have also learned over the years that God's ways are not mine and neither are my thoughts like His. I rest and rely on the grace of my God knowing He sees our heart's desire to live a life on mission for His purpose alone as we love Him and love one another.
"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11

I pray the remainder of our days here are full of His purpose as we seek to follow after Him, accomplishing what it is HE has for us individually and as a family, and to those He has placed us in community with. 

For those of you personally following our journey, here are our personal updates:
Josh: has been given an opportunity to teach his favorite group of lessons called the Basic Bible Truths on Wednesday nights. He is excited to teach these 6 week lessons again. He continues to work hard on his sales from the home office. He is intentional in taking time to engage with each of the 4 kids. If there is something interesting, educational or fun to do in our local community he makes plans for us to do it. I am glad he does otherwise we would spend all our days floating on the water or sitting at home, but what's so wrong with that!?! LOL. He has remained committed to leading our family spiritually and physically. He has enjoyed running with the older boys, although the 2 younger ones have done their best to keep up! He loves me well and thinks more of me than I think of me.

Big Boy: My Senior has done well with his Cross Country, placing 24th in State for 2A. He is now training for track and is playing on the Varsity baseball team. He is trying to figure out exactly where he wants to attend college and we are waiting to see if any Florida scholarships appear. He has become an amazing spear fisherman bringing home dinner every week. He absolutely loves being on the water. As often as he can, he takes the boat out.

Big Boy #2: has played football and tennis and made lots of friends. I think he knows everyone now. He had hoped for a golf team but they didn't have one this year. He has maintained a high GPA with his AP classes. He has also just earned his Learner's Permit!

Princess: she loves her teachers and school, especially GLEE Club. Singing,acting and dancing are her passions. She is such a prayer warrior and keeps our family focused every morning before school reminding us to do our devos and initiating the prayer time in the car on the way to school for all the kiddos. She loves church even though she misses our Houston Church and her friends there often. She loves to read, run, play, dance, sing, worship, write songs, and has even blogged a few of her own posts.

Little Guy: has adapted well as the youngest. This week he begins coach pitch baseball. He is so excited! Academically he is excelling and has a wonderful teacher and has made friends easily here. He loves being here but he also misses the Houston house's trampoline and pool, and his friends. Can't blame him!

As for me: it is God's overwhelming grace and beauty that fills my heart. God has been beyond generous in His protections and provisions. He has shown Himself in new ways and that is always exciting. He led us to a wonderful church family that has embraced us and welcomed us from day one. The kids love their children and youth ministry and Josh and I have enjoyed the men and women's Bible studies and meeting new people. I miss my Houston family and friends but through God's abundant grace, I have been blessed with meeting wonderful people here and developing what will sure to be forever friendships. 

I continue to ask God to help me be the person, wife, mother and friend He has called me to be, as I strive to honor Him in how I love and serve my family, others and most importantly...Him! He shares His "hearts" for me even here! I love love love the intentional time with the family. My favorite things are sunset dinners at our local beach and time on the boat snorkeling. 

My playtime with the camera has been so fun! Of course, it's always been fun! I continue my quest to learn better health for myself and my family, learning new recipes (how to cook fish!! and make salsa which we miss), exercising, drinking more water, playing more outdoors (kayaking, swimming, tennis, walking, biking). 

Spiritually: hard to imagine learning more but the more I study the more I realize I don't know...however the more I get to know Him, the more I really know Him! I pray the same prayer for my kids today as I did when God placed them in my heart- for God to reveal Himself to them daily, for them to fall deeply in love with Him, to fear Him more than man, to desire to live a God honoring and purposed life according to His plan. And last but not least, I know God has called me to writing for His glory, so I am taking one step at a time following His lead, trusting Him by faith, certainly I can do nothing on my own. Yes, I would love to publish a devotional or two that everyone thinks I should publish, so I wait for God to show me exactly how and when. There are solo many choices and ways to do it and I am overwhelmed and honestly not all that confident in my writing skills or my message. Enough about me.

I am so thankful and honored that you have stopped by my blog and spent a few minutes of your valuable time with me here. This blog has given me the opportunity to share my life journey with many of you whom live across the miles.
Blogging was one of the first tools God gave me to learn and practice being bold in my walk and talk of faith while discovering more of who I am along the way. I am still shy at the core of my heart, but He has helped me strengthen my voice for Him! I definitely make a little more joyful noise than years past! How I pray He would be pleased.
That's it for my time of review. It's been 6 months of sooooo much learning, growing, experiencing...I could fill in so much more but this will be all for now! Thank you to those who continue to pray for us!! His Peace and Purpose have been amazing! Hugs and Blessings, Michele

Here are some highlight pictures: