With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all. ~Acts 4:33
We rarely lose our electricity where we live. Oh, sure, we get a few blips and brief episodes from time to time, but nothing to even make us think that we should invest in a generator for the house. We are most fortunate, indeed.
Fortunate, that is, until a week ago Sunday. At around 5:30 that evening, Danny is just getting ready to prep for dinner when BOOM! Not only do the lights go out, but we sustain some eerie electrical pulses that are downright scary. Danny rushes to unplug our computers, hoping that said pulses haven't already fried the wiring. Whew! Thankfully, they survive the shock, but we are left in the dark (yes, pun intended).
What to do? Both of us have had a long day and our stomachs are getting restless. Lunch seems to be light years in the past, and cooking is now out of the question. Danny declares that we'll simply have to go out to eat if we want to have anything decent. That's okay by me, except for two reasons: 1) What happens if we can't find a restaurant with power? and 2) Neither one of us is comfortable driving in the dark.
Danny reminds me that while our neighborhood is serviced by Georgia Power, many others in the local environs subscribe to another electricity provider, Cobb EMC. He is sure we can find some place that is up and running just fine. The only obstacle now, it seems, is getting our garage doors open without the automatic assistance we're so accustomed to. Turns out, they are no match for Dan-the-Man with an engineering degree from Georgia Tech!
We drive through our dusky neighborhood, made gloomier by overcast skies and no lights in sight. But as soon as we turn onto the main road leading to Kennesaw proper, the promise of maintained power welcomes us and fills us with renewed hope. Danny's original idea is to head toward Highway 41, but when we get to downtown Kennesaw, only a mile or so from our home, we decide to try a new, for us, restaurant whose facade is pictured above. Yes, it's pricey, but we rationalize not having eaten out for Valentine's Day, and the short distance back to the house, makes this a worthwhile venture in every way.
We are not disappointed!
We split an entree of mahi-mahi tacos and fries - delicious! And our waiter gives us excellent service without hovering as is the case in some places we have dined. We enjoy every morsel of our meal and will most definitely return there in the future for a special occasion.
By the time we're ready for the drive back home, we wonder if the electricity will be there to greet us. Lo and behold, as we enter our neighborhood and see lights in all the houses, it has! No LED flashlights nor lanterns required, and full stomachs to boot.
What first appeared to be a power catastrophe becomes a powerful memory, and we are so grateful to God for His powerful light shines eternally shines into our lives and our hearts.
Amen!
What a great way to turn an unexpected power outage into a memorable adventure! I love how you and Danny made the best of the situation, and that dinner sounds like a delicious silver lining. It’s amazing how little inconveniences can remind us to be grateful for the everyday blessings—like electricity and a good meal!
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings, Martha
The everyday blessings should always be celebrated, Veronica, no matter what. May we be thankful even when we're inconvenienced. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, too!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I feel your pain. Fortunately, we have been spared too many black outs. We live in our small town so if the lights go out, Duke Energy will work to bring them back on asap. The church building is on another electric system so very often when one is out the other is on. On the other hand, Jo would love for a drive to some restaurant to eat out. :) She would not argue at all, nor would she want me to touch a pan or cooking utensil. Thanks for the fun post but also the lesson. (Now that song is rambling through my head)
ReplyDeleteI thought some folks would get that old song stuck in their heads, Bill. I remember it like it was yesterday. And I'm so glad you enjoyed this post and the lesson here. May we ever be grateful even when things don't go our way. And, yes, stay out of Jo's kitchen - LOL!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Amazing how many things (and people) we take for granted until they are there no more. I wonder what God feels about that !!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless always, Martha.
I sure hope we never take God for granted, Victor. Yes, it's sad when we forget that He is in the details and is ultimately in control. With His help, we can always make the best of any situation.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
It's amazing what we take for granted. The power kept going off yesterday at work (yes, work i.e. the prison). The heavy rain and winds we had contributed to it. ANYWAYS, the food looked really good. Have a beautiful day my friend.
ReplyDeleteI can only begin to imagine the possible chaos that could have ensued at the prison when the power went out, Linda. The odd thing here is that we had no high winds or storms - the electricity just up and quit for seemingly no reason at all. Let's remember to be grateful for all our conveniences.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
From about 2005 to 2012, we went through a period when it felt like we were living in a Third World country. Often, for no discernible reason, the power would simply go out. The culprit was an aging, and vastly overloaded substation, and a city government that was trying to hide the fact it was flirting with bankruptcy and couldn't afford to replace it. It took a near uprising by the peasants to make change happen. We learned to adapt - extra coolers for food, battery-operated fans, disabling the garage door, and a list of home phone numbers of city officials, shared with affected neighborhoods. It left a lingering mistrust of local government that has never gone away.
ReplyDeleteA mistrust of government? Now, where have I heard that before?! I have to say, Glynn, that I do love that imagery of the peasants (with their pitchforks) rising up to protest the malfeasance and certainly within their rights to do so. Thanks so much for sharing this story with us here.
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I’m thankful your lights came on quickly. May we always walk in the light of God’s love.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, Diana, we were so grateful, too. And yes, may we ever walk in the light of God's powerful love.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Sometimes life situations can become inconvenient for us, but God always provides solutions. Thankful that you found a good place to eat and not far from your home..(I don't like driving at night either). What a Blessing that your computers were not damaged and another big Blessing that the lights were back on! The last time we had a huge power outage, it was due to a big snake that had made it's way to a main transformer at the power sight outside of town...It caused several transformer to blow leaving the town with no electricity for a few hours. lol....Thankful all is good for you all...
ReplyDeleteA snake??? Wow, Shug, I'd never think of that one! We never did figure out what caused ours, but were so thankful to have light and heat when we got back home.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Oh, I love how the two of you turned an otherwise catastrophic evening into a pleasurable date! How the restored light and warmth welcomed you home again. Suppose, that's how Heaven will feel?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this splendid lesson!
I imagine it just might feel that way exactly, Myra. What a great observation! I'll be sure to remember that imagery. So glad you enjoyed the lesson here, too.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
We did not have a power outage - I hope you got yours on pretty quick after that delicious meal. You know the same restaurant is in Acworth, but bigger. I love that place too. Glad you did.
ReplyDeleteMaking a good out of a bad. :)
I'll bet you're with Cobb EMC, Chatty. Yes, I knew there was an 1885 in Acworth; but did they close and move to Kennesaw? Enquiring minds want to know - LOL! And it is a wonderful restaurant.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
No, there are still two 1885 Restaurants.
DeleteYou coped well with the power outage!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine, we certainly tried to do just that.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Haha, in a way I find it funny. It can be an ordeal when the electricity goes out, but you turned it into a wonderful evening! Much better!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found some humor here, Marja. It did turn into a serendipitous adventure for both of us, though we weren't seeing the funny side at that moment. That's life!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I'm glad your power outage was, all things considered, short-lived. As for what to eat, I prefer going out, as you did; but peanut butter in the pantry is always an option for me.
ReplyDeleteWe have all natural peanut butter in our pantry, too, Barbara, but because Danny has done some research on how toasting bread can reduce the carb/sugar intake, we would not have been able to do that either. Plus, I'm the peanut butter lover and he would rather have anything else. Great meal and an endlessly great God saw us through.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
We lost water for 2 weeks but had to boil it when it came back on. What an incredible eye opener. The things we do everyday without even thinking about it until they no longer work.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bill, any time we lose the modern conveniences upon which we've all become too dependent, it can throw us for a loop. I think it's God's way of telling us that He will always provide for us and that we should always turn to Him first when problems come. Remember, at least you had water to boil!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I'm a Georgia girl too. Luckily we rarely loose power but we did lose Cable for 12 hours a few weeks ago. Glad your powerless night turned in to a delightful experience. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Leslie, for stopping by here and letting me know that you're a Georgia girl, too! We are so blessed as we live in a country with first world problems, ones that we have been given the will and the way to overcome. As it's said, all's well that ends well, and yes, it will absolutely one day with our Lord.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I'm thinking that if you and Danny had decided to eat at that restaurant--let's say for Valentine's Day--you'd remember a lovely evening of fine dining. But because this little adventure began with distressing circumstances, the surprising turnaround was all the more delightful. Lesson to self: Look beyond the challenge toward the blessing. God no doubt supplies many!
ReplyDeleteOh, Nancy, how your words here filled my heart with blessings! God so often works best to offer the answers to any problem when we are at the end of our rope. God is most definitely in the business of grace and blessing, and we should always live in gratitude.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
What a nice way to turn things around and not sit in the dark moaning about stuff
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head, Jo-Anne! What use is complaining? May we all hold God's hand and thank Him for the journey before us.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Power outages are frustrating, but sounds like you made the best of it!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it didn't last too long.
Blessings~
Oh, yes, Joyful, we did make the best of what might have been a bad situation. Isn't that why God tells us to always trust in His plans, not ours?
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Most people here (me included) have both an electric cooker, and a..gas cooker. So, a power outage does not leave us hungry.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful that you have both, Duta. We have a gas stove, but the igniter is powered by electricity. We can use a match to ignite heat at the burner level, but it was so dark at our house, we made an alternative decision. Thanks for stopping by today!
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Sorry you lost power, but glad it turned out to be a nice evening after all. Sometimes we just need a little nudge to go out and do something special! Glad it all worked out. God is always in control, even when things go crazy. We just need to trust His plan. (((hugs))) and cheers!
ReplyDeleteTrusting in God and His plans is always our best choice, Pamela. And sometimes, He uses our inconveniences to make us look in His direction and depend upon Him alone and His provision. Lesson learned, for sure, and humbled by God's love for us.
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Martha, enjoyed your adventure. Glad your computer wiring wasn't fried and you were able to get out the garage. We always wondered about that in a power outage and we had to do it also once. Your food looks delicious. Thankful we know the light of the world and we don't have to stumble in spiritual darkness. God bless!
ReplyDeleteOh, Karen, I'm just as grateful as you are to live in the light of Jesus and know that no darkness can ever overcome or defeat us. It was an unexpected adventure for us, but I certainly can think of many stories in the Bible where people faced adversities and God saw them through the seemingly impossible because of His great love for each one. Thanks so much for commenting here today.
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Very inspiring. Much what we endured last week. The Lord mis Good.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings
Oh, yes, Jim, God is good all the time.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Bom dia, Martha
ReplyDeleteGraças a Deus vocês encontraram um restaurante e na volta tudo tinha voltado ao normal, Deus cuida de nós, desejo um ótimo feriado, um forte abraço.
Yes, Lucinalva, God always takes care of us even when we think we don't need His help. Hope you have an amazing day!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Neat adventure for you! Been there when the lights went out in our area with two service providers too. Sometimes though the candlelight is romantic for Valentines Day!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Jean, candlelight is definitely romantic, but not when you can't have a good meal to go with it - LOL! It was a grand adventure, though, and we just might be going there for my birthday lunch tomorrow.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I love this! You turned something difficult into a lovely memory.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this post, Mrs. White. Yes, it's all about turning lemons into lemonade, isn't it?
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Hi Martha Jane, it is often that what we consider to be something against what we wanted turns out to be better than what we wanted. Be anxious for nothing comes into my mind many times when this kind of thing happens in my life. Every day of our lives is written in His book, and we will see many things in the scriptures that link spiritually to what happens in our own lives. God bless.
ReplyDeleteWonderful observation here, Brenda, about how God's ways are always higher and better than ours. He knows the beginning to the end, and what might seem an inconvenient setback to us is only a journey on the better path He has chosen for us.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
Beautiful post
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajani!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
I'm sorry, Martha-- I we had another week with more to do that we could get done, and I simply lost track of days and missed your post until last night. Your story about how you and Danny reacted opened the door to some similar "unplanned dinner dates" that Diane and I have been blessed with over the years. And all of us who have had those unsettling reminders of how much we depend on electricity can certainly relate to the impact it has on us when the lights go out.
ReplyDeleteIt also reminds me of how helpless we are against the evil in the world individually and collectively when we let the lights go out spiritually. And then I can recall times when I was wandering in the gloomy dusk of failures and tough times and how inexpressibly wonderful when the light of His presence flooded my life again. All in all, dear sister, I'm almost glad to be late on this one, because it fit so much better into this week than it might have last week.
God works just in the way you described here, Ron - He always knows what we need when we need it, and will provide when the time is right. Keeping our spiritual lights on is the crux of it all, and only God can do that for us. And you know what? Sometimes, those unplanned dinner dates are the best and make for such great and lasting memories. Let's always cling to His promise to always be the lamp for our feet and the light for our paths.
DeleteGrace and blessings!
So many things we take for granted! Glad everything worked out and you had a nice dinner date to boot! B Blessed Martha!
ReplyDeleteYes, Mike, I certainly agree that we take too many things for granted in the 21st century. Let us always remember to thank God for His remarkable provisions in our lives, especially when He lifts us from darkness to His glorious light!
DeleteGrace and blessings!
How wonderful that the lights out meant a new adventure and favorite new place to dine for you and Danny! So glad that your lights came back on quickly, as it certainly brings a reality of how dependent we are on electricity when we don't have it! I love how you always bring your stories around to an uplifting word of encouragement! Many blessings to you dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI always believe God has a Divine purpose for things like this. Maybe He wanted to bless you and Danny with that special memory in the new restaurant, or maybe on a return visit there, He will arrange a Divine appointment for the two of you to meet someone meaningful. Now, I have the Reba song going through my head! LOL!
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