Zapped by Zeta!

 

As they sailed, He fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Can you guess what the above photo represents?  Believe it or not, this is our driveway after the recent tropical storm, Zeta, zaps us!  What a mess doesn't even begin to describe the debris strewn all across our yard and decks.

The day before the storm is scheduled to hit us, my husband, Danny, and I carry our valuables down to the safe shelter of our finished basement.  We make sure our phones are charged just in case we lose electricity, though we rarely do at our home.  And we're pretty sure the high winds will knock out the internet service, too, which it does.  We even take our coffee pot downstairs!

Why?  Because Zeta's entrance into our neighborhood is predicted to be around four o' clock Thursday morning.  We have to set our alarms in order not to sleep through the impending chaos.  Oh, how difficult it is to rouse up in the dark, leaving a warm, inviting bed behind!  Especially when we are uncertain what will even be left of the upstairs rooms in the wake of the gusty winds, which are sure to topple limbs and possibly trees.

We are praying without ceasing that God would spare our roof the moment the winds begin to wail.  Actually, I start praying several days before the impending storm.  Just the thought of more damage to our roof right after we've had a new one installed, churns my stomach.  Yes, there is damage in the yard, but thankfully and miraculously, our home survives unscathed.  God is so good!

This huge limb fell out of a pine tree that took the secondary hit from a lightning strike another pine suffered a year ago last summer.  I don't know if the following photo makes it clear where it fell off, but do try to see it.  If you hover over the photo, it will probably enlarge.

Yes, this tree will now have to be taken down, but we will be all the safer for it.

Our former pastor, Wallace, was renowned for saying this about the storms of life:  "Sometimes, Jesus will calm the storms and rebuke the rising water.  But other times, He says, 'This is a good storm, Wallace; let's ride it out together!'"

Indeed, Jesus most certainly rode out Zeta with us, and we can't thank Him enough for His shield of protection, caring and love.

Amen!