ABOVE IT ALL

My husband and I just returned from a trip to Florida and Washington D.C. We found ourselves vacationing during Florida's tropical storm Andrea! Evidently, as a native Californian, I have truly been sheltered from any destructive climatic conditions. However, I was abruptly made aware of just how menacing and traumatic “mother nature” can be. We were caught off guard in a thunderstorm at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando. A large group of us tourists huddled together under a gazebo as the rain poured down in torrents, lightening cracked, and thunder roared. I have never in my life heard thunder crash with such vehemence. The ground practically shook. Literal jagged bolts of lightening split the sky merely one second after each peal of thunder. I was no longer innocent as to how powerful and intimidating nature can be. While we were in “the sunshine state” the media warned of possible tornadoes and locals advised us that falling trees posed real danger. We survived the storm and traveled to Washington D.C. While in D.C. we continued to hear reports of how the fearsome weather was, chasing around and heading up the New England Coast. It was rather unclear as to where all the havoc was truly happening at any given time.

While waiting in the airport for our return flight home, there was a threat of a coming storm. We did depart, however, and soon climbed above the mire of sinister dark clouds in the sky. The climate above the ominous clouds was serene and placid. Our flight was quite smooth and peaceful and the sky above the clouds was blue. We sailed through the air and arrived home safely.

I thought back to my brush with a T-storm in Orlando. In the airplane, I was reminded of the fact that during the situational storms of our lives, we can ride high above the turmoil. When adverse life circumstances threaten and alarm us we can seek the Lord and be carried heavenward on wings of comfort and repose. Through praise and worship, reading God's Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship we can rise to an elevated level in the spiritual atmosphere.  I am so grateful for our Lord who bears us up beyond the emotional distress of negative circumstances.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 

whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” 

(Isaiah 26:3)

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

(Philippians 4:7)

By Cathy Friberg

A Prayer That Speaks Into Our Lives

This is a prayer written with teachings of AA in mind. In AA people are encouraged to give all to God and submit themselves to Him. The 12 steps work for many people to be delivered from Alcoholism it they are worked and God is sought. These principles also hold for people who are not alcoholics face many of their challenges and problems in life and find victory.






12 step prayer

God, I admit I am powerless and my life is unmanageable without Your help and guidance. I come to You today knowing that You can and will restore and renew me to my needs of the day, and that You will restore my life to order and harmony. Since I am powerless and You are all powerful, I make decision to give You my life, my will, my thoughts, my ambitions; I give You all of me, the good and the bad. All of my character... defects and shortcomings, .my selfishness, self-centeredness, resentments, self-will. . .all of my defects I admit to You and give to You.

I turn my loved ones over to You and the old idea that I can change them. I turn my problems over to you knowing You can work them out for the good of all concerned. I humbly ask You to remove these shortcomings from me; if there is any changing, You'll have to do it and make me willing to be changed so that You can use me to be of service to You. Help me and keep me ever mindful of the people I have harmed and keep me willing to make amends to them all. Please teach me to watch for the sly little foxes that creep back into my life. The sins of my personality that harm You, myself, and others that separate and cut me off from the sunshine of Your spirit. And when I commit these errors, make me aware of them and help me to promptly admit it.

Please show me the way to one of Your children today who is still suffering and does not know the way of Your love, mercy and forgiveness that I might share with them what has been so freely given to me. Prompt me to be ever loving, giving, caring, sharing, surrendering, accepting, releasing, grateful, and honest in. all my affairs, Amen ( in Jesus name I pray)

Shared by
Angie Madison

Garden

Sounds of all sorts entered her newly-formed consciousness. Awareness of light seeping slowly past her closed eyes.  Breathe, in and out.  Listen, feel. Opening eyes slowly, seeing colors and shades.   Soft breeze carrying scents of…flowering things.  A tickle across her face makes her smile.  She thought it was her tangled, curly hair, but discovered it was a butterfly, stopping to rest its new wings by stepping delicately across her new face.

She turns her head cautiously, allowing the next breeze to lift the butterfly into flight once again.  She raises one hand to encourage its journey, waving farewell.

Her eyes slowly take in more colors and shapes around her.  Growing things; trees, plants; water, flowing from mountains unseen into rivers; like the one she rests beside.  Moving things in and on the water.  Fish and frogs; leaping and diving to swim.  Birds of all colors, shapes and sizes. Huge ones standing on long, stately legs as thin as her smallest fingers.  Tiny birds, with wings beating so quickly, she almost did not believe that they were really there.  Feathers like flowers and the shimmers she could see in the mists churned up as the river leapt across the rocky places; or the muted colors of the rocks and sands she had yet to see. 

She sits up slowly, allowing her mind to hear the naming of things.  Grass, sky, ants, fruits and vegetables; an amazing array of things spread out before her, as far as her eyes could see.  Oh! The variations of color exploding before her eyes were almost too much to take in.   Almost as if these things came into existence, just because her eyes moved to that space.

Animals..um, cats!  Many different kinds of cats.  Small, fluffy things that are softer than anything she could imagine.  These were huge, tawny ones right across the river.   They were majestic and solid; drinking deeply from the water. Looking at her and watching for other movement around them.  Appearing completely relaxed and yet alert at the same time.

Other creatures approached the river cautiously, aware of the incredible power resting in these…lions. Their obvious strength and subdued ferocity demanded careful planning by the other animals wishing to share this tranquil, fruitful place.

Slowly she stood, arms spread to balance herself as she adjusted to the strange feeling of standing fully upright.  She frowned briefly, wondering why and how these thoughts came to her. 

Suddenly, she knew.  “The Creator!”  She smiled feeling the joy of knowing that The Creator of All was pouring thoughts and knowledge into her mind.  Telling her that she had a mind, and body.  Allowing her to identify everything she saw.  Letting her know colors and sounds and what she touched and what scents drifted to her in the breeze.

Laughing, she startled some birds nearby, causing them to leap from the tree branches and dart away into the sky.  The branches were shaking, leaves fluttering and snapping loudly.  Then she realized that the noise was coming from somewhere else.

An upright figure was heading towards her, running through the brush and overhanging branches.  She tilted her head, waiting for her thoughts to name whatever it was.  These thoughts were not clear, like most of the others were.  Words tumbled around; confusing her and making her heart beat quickly in anticipation.

Suddenly, he was there.  Panting a bit, he stood with his hands reaching out, almost as if he was going to take her in his muscled arms.

They stood silently looking at one another, noting the similarities and differences.  Somehow knowing that they were meant to be together.

He, the man took her, the woman by the hand. Smiling at one another, they walked together, each waiting for the other to speak.

Written by Lynda Kinnard