July 11, 2011

"We pray for blessings, we pray for peace, comfort for family, protection while we sleep..." (Blessings by Laura Story)

Every night when I tuck my little ones into bed, I pray for sweet dreams, good night's rest and that they would be watched over and kept safe. July 10th, when I tucked them in, I prayed just that, not knowing how much they would need that protection on that particular night.

Looking west, this is remnants of the west wall in the entry way.

We live in the country, so we have a weather radio to alert us to potentially dangerous weather. From May to July, it goes off several times a week, letting us know severe weather is possible, or is moving nearby, or that we should stay inside for safety. Most times, we listen to the warning, turn it off and go back to whatever it is we were doing. Most times, it is nothing serious.

Twice that night, the alarm went off, there was a potential for severe weather and we should stay in doors for safety. Winds were expected to gust up to 70 mph (which is strong, but not a concern). The second time Ben turned off the alarm, he decided to pull the suv inside the garage, just in case. On his way back to bed, he double checked a couple weather sites, just to be sure. Everything looked fine, just a severe thunderstorm. Then he checked one other site, one I honestly had never heard of, weather underground. There was a report from a Tama county sheriff's deputy (the county to our west) of winds of 100 mph. No other report backed up this claim, but it was enough to prompt Ben to move us. I believe this was God...

He woke me and we got the kids in the suv (which was safely tucked out of the winds and rain) and drove to his folk's place (about 3 miles east). We did all of this inside of 15 minutes, which if you've ever tried to wake and transport four youngsters, you understand the marvel of that feat. We had all dressed, Ben had grabbed his laptop, I grabbed my purse, and the car was left outside. I believe this was God...

Ben woke his dad, while I took the kids to the basement. Then we lost power. As Ben's dad was coming down the stairs, a tree fell and broke a window. I knew then that this storm was a nasty one, that Ben had made the right decision and that we should be prepared for damage at our place. I believe this was God...

Thirty minutes later, the winds were still ravaging the house. After an hour, Ben finally felt it was safe to take a peek outside. A lot of trees down, a couple windows broken, but things looked ok. Then the phone rang, a neighbor was standing in our driveway freaking out, trying to find us...our house was gone! I believe this was God...

What was our front door.

Step by step that morning, it is evident to me that God was walking us through. Every step. Every piece. We were not alone! That morning, my babies were saved from almost certain death because God prompted Ben...and Ben listened! I am so extremely grateful to my husband and my God! Here is His Glory revealed! In the midst of such great loss, I was overwhelmed by His protection. We did not lose all...for He is all we need!

Little Miss's crib, about 40 yards from the house.

"...We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise"