Storms

One thing about living in north Texas is that it is flat, very flat.  So, when a storm is coming, you can see it.  There aren't any mountains blocking the view.  When we moved here last August I was amazed at how routine the storms seemed.  I finally asked a "native" Texan, "Does every Thursday start off nice and beautiful and end with a magnificent thunder and rain storm?"  It had done that about 4 weeks in a row, so I thought maybe this was usual.  She was surprised and said, "Really, I hadn't noticed that."  Sure enough, Thursday rolled around and with it the storm.  It eventually stopped that cycle, but I was thinking how nice it would be if we could see the storms of life coming with such predictability.

Sometimes, we can see the storm coming and there is nothing we can do but hunker down and go right through it.  I kind of feel that way right now.  There is something brewing.  It may just pass over, but it could get powerful and kick up some stuff too.  I don't know what "category" of storm it's going to be, but I do know how I want to respond.  How I respond is all the "control" I have over the situation.  I can't control how others respond.  We've been warned in Scripture that storms are coming; it's a part of life.  Scripture uses "when" instead of "if" to prepare us for trials and troubles.  I think we prefer to read "when trouble comes" as "IF trouble comes."  Somehow "IF" is more comforting, but it's the "when" that grows us up in character.

So, at least now I know why I am camped out in the book of James (still).
"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
"...let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
"Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."