Ramp It Up, bring life up to the next step,
Maybe faster than slow, but not necessarily at break-neck speed.
Tone It Down, drop the rhetoric or emotional response
To life as it exists today. This, too, shall pass.
More than speaking your plan,
Do something about it.
The time is short.
Pick up the pace, and do what you say.
Last night was a restless night.
We have been scrambling, of a sort, to get ready for some weather.
“Bomb Cyclone” is what they call it.
Lots of wind at cyclone speed, dropping rain or snow, depending on where you live.
We store our resources in case the electricity goes out.
Propane, gas for the generator, and water set aside—a well doesn’t flow unless the pump is charged.
Firewood, Finger Food, Batteries, and, of course, a safe place for the dogs.
They live outside, but their house is ready with straw should they stay inside their doors.
Regardless of the preparatory steps,
And I know I’m not yet done,
Disaster can pass us by,
Or it’s worse than they forecast.
But at least I’ve prepared.
And that’s my thought this morning.
Better than nothing, I’ve done something.
The efforts are not wasted; it may happen next weekend,
The steps we’ve taken are necessary and good.
But, I ask of you, what about your spiritual attitude?
Have you prepared for that main event?
David writes his most popular psalm.
The Lord’s Pray is often how we describe it.
It’s words of preparing against a certain day,
But did you catch it? God prepares equally for us.
A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
(Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV)
Though David shares what God has done,
If you read the lines, you’ll find that he has continued to live his life.
He’s been in barren places, so God gives him green pastures.
He’s plunged into raging water rapids, so God gives him some still.
He’s spent and plundered his soul, but God restores it.
He’s even wandered a bit, but God leads him down better paths.
Oh, and for that valley of death,
We seldom realize how close we were,
God walks with us. Never leaving nor forsaking us.
Then we pick up His Rod and His staff and are suddenly comforted.
Before our enemies, God prepares a place to dine.
Perhaps even to show off how good we have it.
He anoints us with sacred oil and fills our life with abundance.
Then He reminds me…
His goodness. His mercy… They follow me everywhere
And they are there all the time.
So I will dwell where He dwells.
Fourteen years ago, back in 2010…
I wrote one of my first blog posts…
“The Road Ahead...”
And I find it useful even today.
Life keeps throwing us about,
But God doesn’t change.
Steep Hill Ahead, Crank It Up…
Thank you for reading.
Please share with others.
It helps me get my book written!
(Below, you may find other topics similar to this one. Please read on!)