Hurricane Force Winds - My personal experience with Hurricane Irma

(Our Neighbor's Uprooted Tree, Roots reach 15ft High)

It seems that the summer of 2017 has been a very destructive one. I’m not going to begin to say I know what the people feel like that lost everything from these storms. All I can do is tell you my own personal experience during hurricane Irma. We really didn’t know exactly where the storm was going for a week or so, but all I can say is, I prayed for God’s protection the whole week so when we saw the tract move from the east coast to the west coast we knew it would be very bad for us. I live in the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and eventually this is right where the storm was to make a direct hit / landfall. I continued to pray and that is when we saw the track of the storm move inland east of us. We, me and my elderly mother were thanking God we didn’t get a direct hit.

We still weren’t out of reach of the damaging winds, so we continued to pray for protection for not only us but our neighbors as well. The winds pounded us all day and night. I walked the house telling God and thanking Him for keeping us safe. The lights would flicker off and I would ask God to not let the electric power go off and this happened all day and night and we never lost our electric power and neither did any of our neighbors. 

The only thing the wind took down was our neighbors Ficus tree and some fencing. It was a complete miracle because I watched as the winds just battered that tree and I would ask God if it has to fall let it not hit anyone’s house or car. That tree stood 50 feet high and was at least 40 feet wide. Because of the direction the wind was blowing it fell straight south missing all the houses and cars, but especially the roots missed turning over a car park 5 feet away from where they came up out of the ground.

(Top Branches of Tree Completely Covered Across Our Road)

Even though the wind gusts hit about 65-85 mile per hr. We really didn’t hear all the noise from outside it was peaceful in our home. As if the storm wasn’t as bad as it really was. Whatever the kinds of winds may come we can pray for God to calm them the same way Jesus did when He calmed the wind and waves.

They might be straight line winds, hurricane force winds or tornado winds; no matter the kind they can destroy everything. I can’t explain why some people have all their property destroyed, it could have been mine just as easily, but I believe God heard and answered my plea for help and protection. He answered my prayers.

I still pray for all those who were affected by all the hurricanes and storms this summer. I know people put on a brave face and say, “It’s only things”. But I see their eyes and they tell a different story. It is their life long belongings and some cannot be replaced. So I will say again I pray for them to recover quickly what was taken from them and the memories and hurt will fade.

I will never forget September 2017 when Irma was supposed to hit my city directly but God moved it east and protected my house, my family in their houses, and my neighbor’s houses. I want to say one last thing about these types of storms, they happened before the weather people knew how to track and record them. By reading the Bible you can see these type of winds happened long before. I believe there is so much more that could have been destroyed when they hit. Thousands of years ago there weren’t all the buildings, cars, bridges, and roads we have now.  It’s a different time now, more can be destroyed. So when the winds come again, and they will, trust God and pray that He protects you from harm. He did it for us more than once, so I know He can do it for you.

(After the City Cut and Bulldozed the Branches Off The Road)

Peanut, Our Youngest Survivor

I Kings 18:45 (NKJV)
[45] Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

Psalm 55:8 (NKJV)

[8] I would hasten my escape

From the windy storm and tempest.” (a violent windy storm)

Ezekiel 13:11 (NKJV)

[11] say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down.

Jonah 1:4 (NKJV)

[4] But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest (a violent windy storm) on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.

Matthew 7:26-27 (NKJV)

[26] But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
[27] And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Mark 4:37 (NKJV)

[37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

Acts 27:4 (NKJV)
[4] When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

Acts 27:13-21(NKJV)

[13] When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
[14] But not long after, a tempestuous (a violent windy storm) head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
[15] So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.
[16] And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.
[17] When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
[18] And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.
[19] On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.

Jesus Will Still Be There (Video)

When things are difficult and you think it's not worth it anymore and you 

want to give up or end it. Jesus is saying you are worth everything to Him. Jesus 

is there for anything you might feel is too big to handle on your own. He is always 

right there just waiting for you to ask for help. Call out His name and He will answer.

An Invitation

Greedy for Money and Power

~ We have seen little change in our societies. Matter of fact they have gotten worse. Mostly due to people becoming so complacent about the situation the world is in right now, not to mention most people are just self-absorbed and greedy. Big businesses are not all to blame for this mess the world is in, it falls on everyone who thought that their glass houses would not break. It has become all about me and what I can get, what others can give me and sadly what I can take from others. It’s so completely sad that people are so addicted to money, power and things.

Why, is a question hard answered. Maybe it is because they are searching for something to fill a void in their lives. Most people who have an abundance of wealth aren’t really happy. They put on a good face (mask) but if you look at recent events, how many of them have died with all their wealth, because they overdosed, committed suicide or even got murdered for it? They are not happy or content, they are dead.

So why would anyone want to strive to be the richest, most popular, or the most talked about on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or any other internet (thing) you can get attention on. You can’t take any of it with you. Things are out of control and God is the only one who can help get it on the right track. So what is it worth to you to have everything you ever wanted but lose your life to an eternity in Hell? Besides Heaven has so much more then what we could ever own here on earth. It’s always been our choice, Heaven or Hell. What or who do you worship?

Psalm 37:16 (NKJV)

16. A little that a righteous man has
is better than the riches of many wicked.

Proverbs 11:4 (NASB)
4. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

But righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 11:6 (NASB)

6. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

Proverbs 11:28 (NASB)

28. He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

Proverbs 14:20 (NKJV)

20. The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,

But the rich has many friends.

Proverbs 19:4 (NKJV)

4. Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

Proverbs 23:4-5 (NLT)

4. Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.
Be wise enough to know when to quit.
5. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,

for it will sprout wings
and fly away like an eagle.

Proverbs 28:22 (NKJV)

22. A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

Jeremiah 6:13 (NASB)

13. "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,

Everyone is greedy for gain,
And from the prophet even to the priest
Everyone deals falsely.

Luke 18:18-23 (NASB)

The Rich Young Ruler
18. A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
19. And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
20. "You know the commandments, 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
21. And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."
22. When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
23. But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

James 5:1-6 (NKJV)

Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged
1. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
4. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
6. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

Luke 6:24-26 (NASB)

24. "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.
25. "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

Haggai 1:5-7 (NASB)

5. Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!
6. "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes."
7. Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!

Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)

19. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I Timothy 6:7-10 (NKJV)

7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

~ What it all comes down to is you can’t put money or things before God. When we do that we are saying, God is not important. You might not think God is not important at all. Things will to go good for a time but then all of a sudden you will be making money and saving it, but it seems you have none left over. As fast as it comes, it goes just as fast. Can’t serve God and money, it has to be God first and God will help with the things you need.  He says, “He will supply our needs, not our wants”. So please just look to see if you are making the right choices. It will make all the difference.

Exodus 20:3 (NASB)
3. "You shall have no other gods before Me.

Matthew 6:24 (NASB)
24. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.

Philippians 4:19 (NASB)

19. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 23:1 (NASB)

1. The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not want.