Does what I feel matter?

This past month has been difficult. Well, really this whole year. I have made it through some trying times. I've found out a lot about myself and learned to deal with it. I've grown closer in my relationship with God and become a more self reliant woman. But does what I feel matter?

I haven't been the easiest person to be around at times. I admit it. But I am working on my flaws every day.

The other night a family member asked me what I was talking about. So I began to tell them. Now if you know me, I am a to the point kind of person. I like to condense information down to what's important. So, about halfway through telling this family member what about the troubles of my day that I tried to keep to myself, another family member interrupted and turned the tv volume up to 40 signaling me to shut up. By this point, I was ignored and in tears. I couldn't help but think "Why did you ask, if you didn't care?".

I tend to keep things bottled up inside. With so much other things going on in the lives of those around me, I try to work through my problems on my own. So it is rare for me to open up about what is going on in my mind.

While wallowing in my hurt feelings, the thought crossed my mind, "Is that how God feels? Does He want to tune me out when I am bringing my troubles to Him?". If my earthly family feels that way at times, does my Heavenly Father feel that way too? Just as soon as the question crossed my mind, God reassured me with His love and patience. He reminded me that my troubles are His troubles and what worries and hurts me is important to Him.

I know that we all make mistakes and have bad days. I know that I've had my share. I just pray that we all take time to listen to what each other is really saying and feeling. It might not interest you or you might not even want to waste your time, but to the other person, just knowing that someone is there makes all of the difference. God is always there for us when we need Him and even at times when we think that we are just fine. Sometimes God answers our prayers by speaking to us and sometimes He answers them by nudging someone to listen and be there for someone else. And sometimes He sends a little one year old to smile at you and say "Hug?".

There is a storm coming. Are you preparing?

There is a storm coming. Are you preparing?

When the weather man warns that a storm is coming, everyone prepares.

We rush to the stores frantic to get the supplies needed for our family's survival. We fight the crowds of people and pay ridiculously high prices because really how can you put a price on survival?

The first three things gone before a storm are ; water and bread to help fuel our bodies and fuel for the generators so that we can have light.

We board up our homes to protect it against anything that might be thrown at it. We help others to board up their homes and prepare as well. Then being as prepared as we can be, we wait...

We listen to updates of the storm on the weather radio. We keep an eye on the sky to see if we are almost out of danger and sometimes we sit in silence and pray that we did everything that we could to prepare ourselves for the storm that we are currently in.

Once the storm has lifted, we survey the damage left around us. We start to pick up the pieces of debris scattered everywhere and begin a hard labor of clearing things away that don't need to be in our yards.

Sometimes when the damage seems to be too much, an insurance adjuster surveys the damage done, reminds us of the price of our valuables and writes a check to cover the damages...

While you were reading this did you see what I just saw? Did it connect?

One announcement of an impending storm had the power to move us to run out and prepare for what was about to come. The three things we grab for first are;

WATER- John 4:14

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

Bread- John 6:32-35

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Fuel/light- Psalm 119:105

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

If you don't continue to fuel the generator that powers your light, then the light begins to grow faint and eventually goes out. We must continue to fuel our generators with God's word and help others to fuel theirs as well.

God is the board of protection around our heart. He knew that there would be sin so He sent His only Son to pay the ultimate price because to God, we are all precious in His sight and more valuable than we could ever know. It won't be easy and there is some heavy labor involved to clear out the debris of storms passed. But it is worth it!

There is a storm coming. Are you preparing?