NOAH'S FLOOD - 2013

OK, so call me Noah.

Let me tell you, we have had some *WEATHER* this past week up on the mountain!

They say that California has four seasons:

Fire, flood, earthquake, and drought.

Well, we have had all four "seasons" already this year.  I'm fully expecting a 5th season later this year - blizzard.

Yup, this has been a wild week.  I began the week lulled into complacency, waking up Monday morning to beautiful blue skies and very hot weather.  Ah, but Mother Nature is a fickle woman – and by noon a storm had rolled in over the mountaintops, complete with pouring rain.  This little exhibition was also accompanied by a symphony of thunder and lightning.

Tuesday we had a hailstorm.  Thursday, "The Hub" saw a bolt of lightning streak down out of the sky into the ravine right behind our neighbor's house.

One day I had to go into town, forgot my umbrella, and got SOAKED in a mad minute-long dash to the ATM machine.  (The irony is that I was wearing shorts and sandals because it was still a hot day!)

You can't believe how quickly a 15-minute downpour can turn our streets into rivers.  Eddie the Explorer has had fun pretending he's a pontoon boat. Sharon has not had as much fun pretending she's a pontoon boat captain.

The truly weird thing is that by dinnertime, the sky has cleared up again.

Gotta admit, it's been pretty exciting.

I happen to like thunder and lightning (maybe because my mom used to tell me that it was just God moving His furniture around...would that make lightning God fixing the electricity?!) - and rain when I can stay indoors.

But I have had mixed feelings this week, because we are also trying to get the outside of our house painted!  Several months ago, we planned to have the work done this week.  What is that old joke?  If you want to see God laugh, make plans. 

I hear Him chuckling.

Luckily, we have a hard-working painter, and he's been showing up earlier every day to get as much done as possible before we re-enact portions of Genesis, chapters 6 and 7.

Sigh.


But, of course, I have pondered this rather unusual week in light of my walk of faith.

And I am thinking about this...

Isn't life just like this - one sudden storm after another?

And aren't we caught off guard most of the time?


I'm thinking about old Noah.  I'm sure he had many years of heckling from the land-lovin' crowd.

"Hey Noah, I don't see any clouds in the sky at all.  But hey, it's a nice boat you're building there.  Let me know when you're done, ha ha - we'll go for a harbor cruise."

"Uh, Noah, the homeowner's association met and we voted that the ark should be dismantled.  It's in violation of the CC & R's, you know."

"Yup, nice Man Cave project there, Noah buddy.  But it's kinda an eyesore in the neighborhood, just sayin'."

No one saw clouds, no one was ready when the storm hit.

I'm not ready when the storms hit in my life.

Are you?

I often feel like those disciples sitting in a boat on a placid Sea of Galilee. The Bible says that the squall came up unexpectedly.  

"Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat." (Mark 8:24, NLT)

Life is like this – blue skies, and then gathering clouds, thunder and lightning, drenching rain – a hailstorm once in a while too?

Case in point…

I'm down for *my shift* taking care of my parents.  On Sunday I went with my family to the LA Kings Hockey Fan Day.  It was a long, long tiring day – but great fun!  (I love hockey season!)

When I returned, I went in to check in on my parents.

And found my dad, sitting on the floor next to the couch, and my mom trying to pull him up to his feet.

Adrenaline rush…

"What's going on?  Dad, did you fall again?"

Well, yes.  He did.  Fortunately, it was an "easy" fall, and he didn't get hurt.  I got him situated in his recliner again, consoled my mom, and made sure everyone was calmed down.

But, I was reminded how quickly life could take an unexpected turn.

I am often unmoored by my lack of control in life.  If I'm totally honest, I like control.  I enjoy being the boss of things.  I think it would be a lot easier if I ran the show, directed the players, and took the bow at the end as the Queen of Everything.

I think that – but I know better.

And so does God.

So sometimes God needs to move the furniture around.  Sometimes He needs to fix the electricity.  And sometimes we are deluged with drenching rain and pounded by hail.

Yup, sometimes He allows blue skies to suddenly change into stormy weather.

No, He isn't mean – He's just the King.

Of everything.

This past week I was reminded of that indisputable fact.  Storms are inevitable in life.  And most often, we are unprepared for them.

But God knows.

And He promises that if we trust in Him, we will NOT be shaken by foul weather.

"'Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.'"  (Matthew 7:24-25, NLT)


Hand me an umbrella, Noah.

Raindrops keep falling on my head...

"'When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.'"  (Isaiah 43:2, NLT) 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  
(Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)

What unexpected *downpour* has overwhelmed you lately, and how is God helping you through it?

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Jen at UNITE
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW

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