Quote from Forum Archives on September 25, 2004, 5:27 pm

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear friends and family,

 

Thank you for all the lovely notes of prayer and encouragement, and even an offer of a place to stay (with a generator!) if our power goes out again this time.  Hurricane Jeanne is predicted to make landfall possibly as a category 4 storm on the east coast of Florida late tonight, and reach our part of the state in the morning.  We expect hurricane force winds, supposedly stronger than Frances, to last for about 12 hours.  Right now, our county is currently under  a tornado watch, too!  As you can imagine, lots of activities -- church, NHE home school co-op classes, baby showers -- are being cancelled again!  Oy!  When will we ever get back to life as normal?  Honestly though, Florida is usually a great place to live and visit!

 

The boards are back on our windows, the roof has been patched, and we're stocked with supplies.  Now that this stuff is done, we're watching the news (and an FSU vs. Clemson football game...GO FSU!!!) on TV.  I'm rather impressed at Governor Jeb Bush's fluent command of the Spanish language!   During one of the other hurricanes, after finishing his Spanish rendition of his message to Florida residents, he quipped, "Sorry I can't do that in French!" As this storm stirs up, I am reminded that God -- who is fluent in Spanish, French and all othe other languages -- is still in control!  He even speaks the language of the winds and waves! Remember the storm story in Mark 4:35-41?

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

 

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.   He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

 

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him! "

 

And now, a little pertinent prayer from Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet, for those who are still in the mood for a little culture.

A Prayer, Under the Pressure of Violent Anguish

by Robert Burns

 

O Thou Great Being! what Thou art,

Surpasses me to know;

Yet sure I am, that known to Thee

Are all Thy works below.

Thy creature here before Thee stands,

All wretched and distrest;

Yet sure those ills that wring my soul

Obey Thy high behest.

 

Sure, Thou, Almighty, canst not act

From cruelty or wrath!

O, free my weary eyes from tears,

Or close them fast in death!

But, if I must afflicted be,

To suit some wise design,

Then man my soul with firm resolves,

To bear and not repine!

 

I hope that all of you are in a safe place right now, and not under the pressure of too much violent anguish!

 

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

www.TheHopeChest.net

 

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