my heart after going through Hurricane Sandy

They took their dog for a walk, she stepped into a rain puddle, some decided to stay and ride out the storm, while others were calmly watching TV. These are just a few stories of some who lost their lives during Hurricane Sandy. Reading about them made me take a moment to prayerfully consider. These choices that people made on Monday when Hurricane Sandy came raging through the east coast area, these simple everyday choices that we all make every day and how they can effect our lives. For these people there is no tomorrow, their lives ended, tragically much to soon. These were family members, loved ones, people who had futures and hopes for what the next day would bring all gone in a moment. That is the nature of this life though, we all think we will always have tomorrow but that is not always the case. Life here, life now is short, it can be over in a blink of an eye, in the flash of a moment. Everyday we all make choices, how we will live, what we will do, where we will go and those choices can and do effect our eternity. Life lived in rebellion to God, life lived for self and sin will lead one to a broad road that ends in hell. Right now, in this moment is the time to turn to Jesus, repent of our sins, and cry out to Him for life! The stories, the pictures of the destructive power of this storm do not do justice to the heartache and pain millions are going through and suffering, so we need to be in prayer. We need to stand in the aftermath of this storm and cry out asking God to open hearts, to help them see how dearly He loves them, how He longs to care for them. We need to be Jesus to the lost and remind them that God can and does bring healing to the hurting but its their choice, its our choice...how are we going to live today??

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Mary Jane,

I always view natural disasters from this perspective as written in Isaiah 26:9b-10a:

9...For when the earth experiences Your judgments
The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10 Though the wicked is shown favor,
He does not learn righteousness;

You may want to read more in Isaiah to get the feel for this statement. Isaiah 2:12-17 speaks more specifically to this issue.

12 For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased.

13 And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up,
Against all the oaks of Bashan,

14 Against all the lofty mountains,
Against all the hills that are lifted up,

15 Against every high tower,
Against every fortified wall,

16 Against all the ships of Tarshish
And against all the beautiful craft.

17 The pride of man will be humbled
And the loftiness of men will be abased;
And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

We see judgement directed against:
1. People. v.12
2. Nature. v.13,14
3. National security. 15
4. Commerce. v.16

Somehow I sense these principles are still operational today. What do you think?

I agree that we reap what we sow on the face of all the earth. Sow wickedness and reap the whirlwind.

But I have another thought, what if what we are seeing has a duel application. What if it is allow to test the heart of believes, and whether we will show love, or selfishness? What if we ignore the plight of those in need? Just a thought. I posted this video on another thread but I post it here again. It is very timely in my opinion. What will do when we see a need?

http://youtu.be/G5RP6mQK4N8

Thanks for the video, its really a good video Goldminer.

Also I just wanted to say thanks to those who have been and are praying for us here on the east coast.It means so much to so many just knowing that others care enough to intercede on their behalf.

Honestly with how much that has happened my heart is so heavy. I am so thankful that God showed mercy on my little corner of the world, my house is undamaged, my family is alive and well, and my power is burning brightly but I just don't want to sit here and play at being a Christian any more. We have all seen so much destructive power all over the country don't you just feel like the time for sitting around "talking" about stuff is over and its time to start "walking" it out daily in our lives, one to another instead!

God showed love and mercy to me so what can I do, how can I go out and show that love and mercy to others...that is what really on my heart right now! There are so many lost and deceived souls I want to go and share the good news with them in what ever means Jesus calls me too.

This quote really touched my heart:"It will take FEARLESS SPIRIT to have the Wisdom, Love, Discernment, and Courage to DO and LIVE Biblical things-rather then merely “believe” Biblical things!!"

God bless
maryjane

amen Maryjane you are correct, we are being called, the church is being shaken out of our slumber.

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QUOTE:
"But I have another thought, what if what we are seeing has a duel application. What if it is allow to test the heart of believes, and whether we will show love, or selfishness? "
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It is my understanding that this is the norm more often then not.

I believe you are correct ginnyrose, but it seems that much of the church sees only judgement and not the call to action on our part. We can only change ourselves, with the Holy Spirits guidence and power, but we spend more time seeing it a someone else to blame.

It falls on our heads, the churches head, but few want to hear that.

2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The church is steeped in sin, materialism, and selfishness, the fault lays at our feet in my opinion. It is a call to God's people not the world.

hi, just to add something way out there... one night last year ,that still small voice said to me in my prayer closet "if my people will humble themselves" i said go on Lord and He spoke to my heart ... we are a proud and haughty people who think we are something because we have a little knowlege of God and His word... we beat each other up in disunity because of our pride and think we are watchmen.there is no reason to go on until we humble ourselves before God and man,then we can start to seek His face.jimp 1 john 4;7,8