Frozen water in Taylor, Texas
Edward read Ecclesiastes in his forties and has been somewhat concerned ever since. But the truth we are supposed to hold on to is God hearing our prayers. Even in 200 A.D, when Europe had unknown tornadoes and people suddenly struck by lightning. When earthquakes were experienced. The whole Roman Empire began to fear counting down the years was a mistake.
I doubt we are in this time. But Pandemics are when extraordinary events occur. The last one had a world war not being widely printed and reported to make sure we won the war.
Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
21 people died in Texas this week from the cold.
Covid is a cold virus where the immune system suddenly goes in to overload. Not very effectively. I've lost 1% of my Facebook friends to Covid or sudden illness during the season. Cold, no one voted on wind turbines and outdated systems. No one voted on a nuclear reactor that failed. One of our Energy Companies has shut down an amazing number of nuclear reactors across the USA, rather than keep repairing them.
The Late T Boone Pickens encouraged Wind Energy. The UK did this and the early reports told about the bird devestation and the pillage of the poorer part of the UK, Wales. A very expensive rich man's game, with a lot of oil and parts. Not great. Not voted in by wholy owned, not government owned, energy providers. California summer energy failures.
Ecclesiastes 11
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight
For you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Today, I felt extremely overwhelmed.
My sinuses were showing a cold, and showed a dime size amount of blood. I hadn't bathed or changed clothes in freezing weather. Our discussions ran between making sure sinks dripped and who got to avoid the toilets near the exterior walls. The house looked like everything fell out of the cabinets. Candles, matches, gloves and hats. Most of our towels are outside over very frozen plants. Most of our coats were on top of the covers on the bed to combat the 12' weather. At one point I told Edward, we might die of the weight of the blankets, throw rugs and coats on us on the bed.
And as I prayed, I knew my job was to get along with everyone.
Even Edward who has gone into some anger and some confusion with the total disarray. Outside electrical circuits needed adjusting. Snow on the ground isn't conducive happiness there.
Our electricity came back. We were more fortunate than 3 million other Texans.
Who have heartbreaking stories: Like apartment ceilings collapsed and now everything they own is under the upstairs neighbor's water pipes bringing down the ceilings. People who did everything to their pipes and preparations and the city had water mains break, damaging their pipes. Cities frozen in to staying at home by icy roads. Hotels suddenly charging $500 a night.
It took hours and hours for the heat to feel like heat.
I took vitamins and looked at what was the messiest house I'd ever seen here. I physically felt tired and drained. Chunking out dismal thoughts, I decided, do what I could. Suddenly, the ball was rolling. Edward was really helping.
Friends and neighbors texted solutions and questions.
Neighbors brought us extension cords. Visiting as we walked down slush streets. Happy Dogs. Sunshine. Reason to Hope. One neighbor had a pipe burst, and they were off to Home Depot to find out how to fix it because plumbers will be very busy. Our Pool Repairman sent his ideas on repair. We are praying for those frozen pipes. Took off the pump lid and put Christmas lights on the exposed pipes.
1. We have learned to run the car in the garage to protect the pipes and the car battery. Run it 3 minutes. Don't breathe it. Several hours later do this to the other car. Don't breathe it.
2. Keep the pipes dripping.
3. Frozen pool pipes, remove the pump lid and put on Christmas lights to allow the pressure in the pipes somewhere to go.
4. Pray over the plants and trees. Pray a lot. Pray for everyone you think of.
5. If you decide to buy a generator, and you have limited electrical knowledge - according to what we have seen this week - it takes the genius men about 2 hours to get it working. Shockingly, one government official is asking us to do this. If you put this in your garage, you will find carbon monoxide could kill you. This isn't for kicks.
And if the grid was being taken down with iffy power ideas, why didn't we get the choice to put in systems ahead of time. Tesla might be great some day. Bloom Box seemed all that. I'm not happy to find these changes were done, it's a fat surprise. Voting is for us to live life. As adults.
Is Ecclesiastes 11 Depressing?
Could be. But Casting your bread on the waters is a faith effort. It was always a favorite expression of my mother's. Who wants soggy bread? No one. Jesus provides abundantly.
Watching all the disasters that could possibly overtake you, could make you sit out life.
And in the Gulf of Mexico, it's possible warm air arrives immediately - with prayer. It's not even remote when we consider how the Hurricane Storms change in forecast. Please God, less weather of this type this week. In Jesus, our hope, Amen.
How are we going to remove Vexation
Well planning to. Being kind to someone will erase a lot of internal venom. Allowing the kindness given to seep in. Enjoy Kindness done for you. Pass kindness along.
Lately, the phrase, "Forsake Wrath and Forsake Anger." Has helped. God can do God sized jobs. God doesn't take Wrath lightly and Nahum 2 says, God doesn't even have to take wrath twice. Once is plenty. Let God weigh out all the options on that and decide. Maybe the phrase is Living Word! This has really helped me this last couple of weeks.
The Scriptures indicate just putting out our effort will take us out of problems.
Good point. Jesus helps us sleep late at night. With God's Comfort we rest and renew.
A prayer worthy to have, to sleep like Jesus in the Boat of the Sea of Galilee. Letting God help us to make it to the situation easily and to pray and see results, hopefully Jesus quickly.
Abba, Father God,
We pray to seek You first.
We pray You will hear our prayer for those we love to seek You First.
And we have taken every care and concern we have, to You.
You told us not even to plan our words.
Let the Winds and the Water Obey Jesus
We will rest to have the thoughts of our heart,
the inspiration of our lips
be always Pleasing and Acceptable to You
Oh Lord,
Our Rock and Our Redeemer.
In the Highest Name of Jesus.
Cover All. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †