Thank you all so much for the much needed prayers, encouragement, and advice. I am still struggling with fear,(but God has given me peace too)I am taking time to stop every now and again to just pray, take a deep breath and rest in JESUS. I know God is in control through this all. I have done up all the laundry, cleaned my house from top to bottom and bought water, and some non perishable food items. I also made sure I had my bbq stocked with propane for cooking. I spoke with the water company and they did say that they are on generators so we will have water.(thank you Lord) They are saying the power will go out and could be out for days( praying for best case scenario here) we are expected to get many downed trees and this has me most worried because we have already had lots of rain(ground is soaked) and the trees in my back yard are huge twenty year old pines. Praying none of them come down. All my neighbors homes are surrounded by trees so praying for everyone! As far as flooding, I am not close to the CT River so that is good, there are some wet lands and small river about half mile from my home but I am up a hill from it so not considered a flood zone. Praying the drain systems will work well in the neighborhoods.

Both my son and husband are expected to be in to work on Monday so life does carry on. Its strange to me that no employers allow for time after this kind of thing but perhaps its better to keep people busy working I guess?

Those are some of the practical side of getting things done. For what truly matters in all of this, I am praying for the families around me to be safe, that during this time all of us would reflect on life and how empty it is with out JESUS! I pray that all would see their great and desperate need for CHRIST! My own boys, I pray and have been sharing with them, they sometimes think they are young and have all the time in the world but no one ever really knows the hour and day they will stand before the LORD. I am praying for them to see "now" is the time to seek GOD and to live for HIM only no matter what comes during or after this storm. The rain is suppose to start tomorrow and then on into Sunday, with the wind picking up Saturday night and at its worst Sunday. I will be praying often. I am trying not to give into fear, and to just trust in JESUS. HE really is all that matters.

Thank you again everyone over the next few days I will be really praying for any others in the midst of this storm and grateful for the prayers of my brothers and sisters here on SI. I pray that many hearts will turn to the LORD. God is awesome and I am reminded that if HE is with me all things are possible!!

God bless
maryjane

MaryJane,

There is one more thing I want to share...

I find storms fascinating, not because of the damage they inflict upon nature, but to witness the sheer power unleashed by that wind. It is awesome!

You see, hear that wind blow and there is absolutely nothing any human being can do to stop it! NOTHING! All you can do is work to protect your hide. You cannot stop that wind; no state legislature can stop it; no President can - whether he be Democrat or Republican, no dictator nor king. No amount of technology can stop it. It runs roughshod over everything.

To me this is a powerful demonstration of the power of God. He controls it because He is the Creator. When I heard, observed the wind we had during Katrina, I was amazed. It was awesome, if I may say so. Did you know this wind stayed here in our town at treetop level? And it roared...

Excessive wind damages buildings, uproots trees and any other thing that happens to get in its way. Somehow, when I see this happen, I also sense that God does not value things like man does. "Throw it away - get rid of it!" You don't do that to anything of value, but God does it to his creation..."get rid of the junk, got to clean up...!" Is God using storms to help people rid their lives of the junk that is there? the junk that interferes with repentance?

Ahhh, the power of God. And to think that someday He will roll the sky back and come with clouds! Can you imagine that? The wind we experience is but a hint of the power that will be demonstrated some day in which no man can limit or hide from.

Yes, storms are a powerful teacher - if you are a serious student.

Blessings,
ginnyrose

_________________
Sandra Miller

Ginnyrose,
I agree; it reminds us of the power of God, that He is to be greatly feared.

By His power He stilled the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab. By His wind the heavens were made fair; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of His ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?"
(Job 26:12-14)

When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then He saw it and declared it; He established it, and searched it out. And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
(Job 28:25-28)

"And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty--we cannot find Him; He is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness He will not violate. Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
(Job 37:21-24)

It also reminds us of the coming storm that no one will escape, except those who have found shelter in Christ, our refuge:

Behold the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.
(Jeremiah 30:23-24)

Praise the Lord! He is to be feared!
(Psalm 96)

I agree Ginny... our kids love to sit on the front porch with me and watch thunder storms roll thru... unless they start striking too close. Then we'll head inside. But what power and awe!

I'm kinda like the storm chasers that were depicted in that movie "Twister". I would do that.

Krispy

"our kids love to sit on the front porch with me and watch thunder storms roll thru... unless they start striking too close."

Me, too.

Nature's fireworks! Beautiful - just don't let it strike close or I might jump out of my skin!

_________________
Sandra Miller

Just wanted to come back one more time and say thanks again for the prayers. Right now in Ct. there are hundreds of thousands of people who have no power, and may not have it restored for days. There are many people whose homes are flooded and severely damaged by winds that they are now homeless. Its not just here in this state its many people all along the east coast. Please keep praying for these families as the days and weeks pass if the Lord leads you too. I know God is in control, He has been with me this entire time and I give thanks unto HIM. There will be many different opinions concerning this storm and the aftermath but for me I will always remember this time when I was in such great need and JESUS came for me. HE saved me as HE always does!

This afternoon as the clouds were clearing away and the winds had calmed down, I looked around my home, my neighbors homes and I gave thanks to JESUS for HIS love and mercy. Even when things are sometimes at there darkest, the light shines through.

God Bless you brothers and sisters
maryjane

“I know God is in control, He has been with me this entire time and I give thanks unto HIM. There will be many different opinions concerning this storm and the aftermath but for me I will always remember this time when I was in such great need and JESUS came for me. HE saved me as HE always does!”

AMEN MARYJANE !!!
Glad you are save!
Shalom,
Browny.

MaryJane,
You said, "There will be many different opinions concerning this storm and the aftermath but for me I will always remember this time when I was in such great need and JESUS came for me. HE saved me as HE always does!"

Praise the Lord! I am so happy to hear this!

Now that He has delivered you from the paw of the bear, you can have confidence before the giant. (1Samuel 17:37)

In Christ,
Renoncer