God In The Midst of the Storm

This past week the most devastating tornado the world has ever seen ripped across my home state of Oklahoma taking the lives of 24 people and damaging hundreds of homes. It is hard to grasp or wrap your mind around the horrifying extent of devastation & grief which these tornadoes have caused.  There are so many without all the things which I was so blessed to wake up to this morning. While all my loved ones are safe, so many have not been as blessed. It breaks my heart to hear & see all the devastation so near home.  I am so thankful for God's incredible protection over my home state in the midst of this devastation. It really is an act of His mercy that so many lives were spared and so many are being given a second chance at life.  Just hearing the incredibly moving stories of the literal miracles that have occurred and seeing so many families, neighbors, strangers, communities and people from all over the country rallying together to help those who have lost everything is so stirring and encouraging.

I would like to share one such story with you.  My sister, Jennifer Cushman's home was right in the way of the tornado yet her family and home were completely unharmed.  However, not far from where she lives is Scott and Sheri Cushman, her brother and sister-in-law; a wonderfully Godly family who survived the Moore tornado inside their closet. Their home was completely destroyed and I am convinced the only reason they survived is because of God's miraculous protection. My sister has created a blog with their story and pictures. For those of you wanting to bless tornado victims with tangible hope during this difficult time of recovery and healing I ask that you prayerfully consider donating to this family. What they need most at this time is the funds to pay for the temporary housing, food, gas, and of course all new household items. On the blog my sister has set up a link where the cash you give will go directly into Scott and Sheri's hands. 

As you continue your every day life, remember each day you have, each moment with those you love, all the earthly blessings you possess, these are all temporary gifts from God, you never know when you may loose them so thank God for every blessing He's given you and enjoy it to the fullest and when you have opportunity, share the over-abundance with those who may not have the privileges you enjoy daily!

As you count your blessings this week please continue to lift up the Cushman family and all those affected by the May tornadoes in your prayers!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CUSHMAN'S BLOG: http://cushmansrecoverhope.blogspot.com/
 

And Your Praise Goes On...

I am ashamed that there is such an incredibly long interval between this post and my last one which was written in...eesh...November. But as always, just because the posting has slowed does not mean the blessings have ceased. I am always experiencing too many to count and the time that has elapsed between posts just proves that I have been so caught up in living and experiencing life and it's constant joyful and painful blessings that I have not had a free moment to post. Today I am just feeling so overcome by the blessedness of life that I am unable to contain it any longer and must share some of its joys with you.

The past few months have had their constant challenges, blessings and trails but through it all, the Lord has continued to draw me closer to Himself and lift my eyes to Him.  This week, today in particular, has been a prime example of this. As the lack of sleep and the struggles of life were wearing me down a bit, I was struggling to contain my emotions as I stepped outside to join my sister who had come to pick me up on her flower delivery rounds.  I was taken aback when she greeted me unexpectedly at the front door with a pot of breathtakingly beautiful Anemone flowers of the deepest purple. It took my breath away. 

My purple Anemones from Sara!

I had never seen real Anemones, only pictures. This one was so strikingly beautiful and since it was potted it would continue growing.  The reason this was so special was because for weeks I had been raving over the pictures I had seen online of this gorgeous flower which I had learned meant “love ever steadfast”.  Some of you know I love Sunflowers because of the meaning they hold for me, but in general I’ve never been one to be enraptured so greatly by the simple elegance and beauty of a flower as I had ever since seeing a white Anemones on Pinterest. So when Sara noticed they were being sold at Lowe’s, while buying flowers for the flower shop, she purchased one for me as a random act of love.  An overwhelming sea of emotion swept over me and I was again reminded of God’s love that is ever steadfast, unmovable, constant, never changing.  He loved me so greatly that the petty little cares and concerns that had caused me to feel overwhelmed the past few days mattered to Him and He used my sister to bring me flowers, a sweet reminder of His unfailing love.  I am so incredibly thankful for my sister, Sara and all the dear friends and family who have continually filled my life with blessed reminders to lift my eyes to the One who deserves all my praise and all my love.

The link below is a song by one of my favorite Christian artists, Chris Rice, who expresses and sums up these past few months so perfectly in his song "And Your Praise Goes On". 

http://youtu.be/FPwYyj6uR1U

Please share with me in the "comment" section how the Lord has been blessing you recently and don't forget to thank Him for these blessings!