He's Still God In The Storm

     

     February is ending with a dreary, cold, rainy, wintery weather day here in south GA.  North & even west of us are blanketed in snow with even colder temperatures.  We drive home in the rain.  My mind runs back to a storm in our life.  Our youngest daughter, Raegan, was born with an absence of skull on the top of her head about the size of a quarter.  Otherwise, she was a healthy, happy baby.  We soon became regulars at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, which is almost a 3 hour drive.  X-rays & tests were run over & then over again.  I watched them draw blood & listen to talk of putting her to sleep for this or that more times than I want to recall.  Hotel rooms were not cheap.  The medical care bills were racking up.  Leaving my 7 & 3 year old overnight for these trips became part of our life too quickly for this mama.  A storm had set in around us.
    At 6 months old, Raegan would be facing brain surgery on a Monday morning before sunrise.  That Sunday at church we showed up as usual.  I have no idea what we were wearing, how our hair was fixed, nor what purse I carried at that time.  None of that frivolous stuff ever matters in the scheme of things.  We were, in fact, enduring a storm.  I remember how our pastor Bro. Steve had us bring her up for special prayer.  Family that was present & special friends surrounded us.  Different ones passed her around.  Everyone prayed & cried, begging God to intervene.  The love one for another & for our little family was what was so overwhelming.  After service, we headed out with those prayers surrounding our path.
     We dreaded facing this storm that continued on ahead.  As much as I love to travel, love Atlanta, love staying in the luxurious hotels, love the 5 star restaurants & shopping surrounding us, none of these seemed appealing during this storm.  I remember feeling sick to my stomach.  I stayed up all night long watching her sleep & holding her between us.  She couldn't eat after midnight.  That concerned me.  I didn't know how that would go once she woke up.  I dreaded the whole day ahead.  I felt forced to face the storm of our life.
     Before dawn, I picked up our Raegan & headed out to face the unknown.  Not a word was spoken in the elevator.  I don't think I'll ever forget standing just inside the oversized sliding doors of the Westin cradling our baby girl.  Nathan had gone to load our bags & fetch the truck.  It was dark & flooding rain.  I began to cry as I sang quietly, "I woke up this morning.  Rain was pouring down.  I felt my spirit sinking as I looked at the darkest storm around.  Then, I thought of all my blessings & the good things in my life.  The day is dark but my soul is filled with beautiful light.  It sure looks like a beautiful day.  I woke up this morning & went on my way.  There are troubles around me, but still I can say it sure looks like a beautiful day."  A calm settled around us.  I knew Jesus had showed up on the scene.
     Soon, we were in a tiny room with our parents & pastor, handing our gift from God into the hands of a stranger.  It was the nurse who would take our baby into surgery.  We briefly met with the anesthesiologist & surgeon again.  The clocked ticked by.  Not much was said.  We just waited.  & waited.  & waited some more.  Before too long, a sleeping Raegan was returned to us.  Relief flooded my bones.  The storm passed.

    Like that storm, the one we are facing now was not asked for.  Storms just have there way of popping up every now & then on us.  It's kinda like pushing out a buggy load of groceries to learn that it has suddenly decided to flood rain.  Do you just quit?  Do you just leave the groceries behind?  No!  You just deal with it.  You suck it up, & RUN for your life!

       I invite you to RUN to Jesus!  I listen to this song as I type.  The glory of God fills my heart as I listen.  I'm guessing that the lyrics were inspired from the following scriputures.  It's the verses I cling to in the midst of this storm.

     It's still raining outside.  I can hear it making a beautiful, peaceful sound as the drops land on the metal roof above.  I think of how at the beginning of the week it seemed like us running a revival was almost impossible.  Yet, God knows just what we need.  He is leading us in the midst of the storm.  We've weathered them before with Him.  He is guiding us once again.  He is not scared.  He saw the beginning & sees the end.  He is taking care of us.  We've seen God move this week.  Nathan has preached wonderfully.  We are so encouraged in the strength of the Lord.  Revival has continued on.  The rain doesn't stop God.  He does NOT forsake His people.  We don't even have to understand it!  

Hold on...Nathan interrupts my typing with more GREAT news!!!  I better go celebrate!