The Northridge Earthquake ~ 30 Years Ago

I didn't mean to disappear for almost two weeks!  I got really sick last week.  I saw an article yesterday about the 30th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake.  That is still the biggest earthquake I've ever felt.  I wrote about it in 2010 after the massive Haiti earthquake and thought I'd re-post it here today: 

With a jolt we were awakened that morning. Sleeping on the third level of our townhouse it seemed someone had taken our little place and was violently shaking it. An earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude struck the Southland at 4:31 that Monday morning. Along with the shaking there was the noise - dishes falling out of cupboards, pictures falling off walls, drawers flying out of dressers, the crack of our kitchen window as it broke from the force.


It was still dark when we hurriedly dressed and made our way outside looking for safety. The normal LA sky glow was gone. Power was out and the freeway was empty. The same freeway that would be closed for more than a month due to extensive damage.


We spent the day in numbness. Shock kept the tears at bay as we viewed cracks in nearly every wall. Power and water were both off. We purchased plywood to cover our kitchen window and began the process of sweeping up glass and figuring out what was salvageable.


As night fell, we were unsure of the stability of our home and chose to move our van to the street and sleep there. Still no electricity. It would be many weeks before I slept peacefully as aftershocks were a constant reminder. One large crack in our bedroom seemed to haunt me.


I remember later that day standing on the sidewalk talking to Les' boss.  His dog started getting very agitated just before we experienced a large aftershock.  It was so big, our car BOUNCED in the street!  

 

My Bible reading today included Proverbs chapter 18.  I'm very thankful for verse 10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

I Remember

 

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America.  "We will never forget" was the constant refrain.  A generation has been born since that day.  They have nothing to remember, only stories told them.  

 

 

I've written about 9/11 many times.  On the 10th anniversary I wrote this: "It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the terrorist attacks. Growing up, I remember hearing people say, "I remember exactly where I was when I heard that JFK was shot" and I didn't understand. Unfortunately, now I do. The flood of emotions will not be forgotten."

 

 

I was working at Amgen at the time and was on my way to work when I first heard the news. Both Towers had been hit, along with the Pentagon. What in the world was going on? What an eerie feeling, so sobering and frightening. I looked into the shocked faces of my co-workers and knew that's what I looked like as well. I don't remember getting any work done that day. Just staring at the images on my computer, reading over and over reports of the attacks.

 

 

We in California were blessed that none of the attacks occurred in our state, but the impact was still felt. As the day progressed, word spread that an Amgen Clinical Development team had been in Washington, D.C. The team was there for meetings with the FDA regarding approval for a new drug. Later in the day, team members checked in, reporting they were okay, but stranded in D.C. for the time being. They had been scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon flight. Then we got word that Dora Menchaca, the team leader, had changed her flight to Tuesday morning. She was on American flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.

 

 

I remember the first time we flew after 9/11. We flew from the Burbank airport and I was a nervous wreck. The sight of guardsmen did not give me comfort, it just reminded me of all that was lost on the day.

 

While I remember, I also know where my hope is found.  Governments and armies can't give me hope or peace, but there is a Rock that I can stand on.  Psalm 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

 

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Peace of God

I'm continuing my look back at the changes that occurred in our life ten years ago this month...

 

I don't have much to add to this post.  I'll just call it my Paul Harvey post, "and now you know the rest of the story..."

 

My post yesterday was really the end of a chapter.  Today, I'll tell you about the chapters we have lived since September.  In September we had our annual Youth Alive services.  That Friday night the choir sang "Cover Me" by Mark Condon:

Peace of God, cover me
Cover me, cover me
Peace of God, cover me
Through the storm, cover me.

Only in You I am safe
Only in You I'm secure
Only in You I find peace
So cover me, cover me 

Cover me when I am hurting
Cover me when I'm not strong
Cover me when I am going through the storm
Cover me when it all seems hopeless
Cover me when my faith is gone
Let the peace that passes all I understand

As I stood on the platform singing, I thought of friends who were hurting.  I sang for them.  But sometime in that song I felt like I was singing for me.  I didn't know it that night, but my life was getting ready to be stormy and I would need peace like never before.  I haven't blogged about every part of the storm we went through, but here it is...

Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

On the following Saturday, September 15th, Dad was hospitalized in Fresno, then transferred to San Francisco.  This started a very long journey that we are still on today.  Dad spent 7 1/2 weeks in San Francisco (hospitals and rehab center) before returning to Fresno.  He was back in San Francisco in December for surgery and is now back in Fresno.  (I'll just add here that my Dad passed away on March 5, 2013.  We were home from our second trip to Hawaii and I was able to spend several days with him.  I still miss him very much!)

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

On the weekend of October 7-8, Les and I traveled to Fresno.  That Saturday Kim and I drove to San Francisco to visit Dad.  On Sunday morning, Les and I went to church in Truth Tabernacle.  We drove home that afternoon with plenty of time to make it to church that evening.  When we got home, we discovered that our house had been broken into.  Nothing was taken, the police said they were looking for cash and jewelry.  But it was a horrible feeling!

Only in You I am safe

Only in You I'm secure

Only in You I find peace

On October 22nd, Les was laid off his job.  In today's economy, we knew it might be a while before he found something else.  That ended up being three months.  But during that time, everyone of our needs were met.  We paid our bills, we had food on the table.  We were covered.

Cover me when I am hurting

Cover me when I'm not strong

Cover me when I am going through the storm

The same week that Les was laid off, Dad had his worst week in San Francisco.  For several days we were very concerned that his body was just shutting down.  His chemicals were completely out of balance.  The doctors were concerned about his heart.  After a few days back in the hospital, he started doing better and returned to the rehab center.

Cover me when it all seems hopeless

Here we are four months later and the peace of God has covered us through the storm.  There were days that I felt I was barely hanging on, but the peace would come.  Days when I worried, until I prayed and found peace again.  It's been a journey, but one that I never walked by myself.

Cover me when my faith is gone

Let the peace that passes all I understand

 Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:7

Burning Down the House

Your home is on fire.  Grab five items (assume all people and animals are safe). What did you grab?

 

This post practically wrote itself, because I've done this!  Our house has never caught fire, but we have received evacuation warnings because of fires that were in our neighborhood. 

I wrote a post called "Why I Pray for Rain" in October 2009.  I shared our first experience with fire in our neighborhood that happened in October 2003:

After a restless night, we awoke to more fires in Simi on Sunday morning. Les got up for a while, then went back to bed around 7:30. I was following the news and talking to neighbors. A nearby development received evacuation warnings at about 8:00, they were told to pack up what they wanted to take, and be ready to leave with 10 minutes notice.

I decided to start packing things at that time. If you've never had to determine what is really important in your life and what is not, a fire in the neighbor will help you do that very quickly. I loaded about 3 boxes of pictures and financial records in the back of our van and decided everything else what just that - things!

I wrote another post called "Southern California Wild Fires" in December 2017.  Les was traveling for business, so I had to plan on my own.  Sometime between these two events, we moved all our computer files to Dropbox so I didn't need to pack any financial records or pictures.

I received an email from Nextdoor.com yesterday afternoon that first alerted me to possible trouble, "Simi Valley residents are advised that the Rye Fire in Santa Clarita may travel to Simi Valley this evening due to the weather conditions and heavy winds. Residents on the northern side of the City should be aware of this possibility and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Residents will NOT be encouraged to shelter in place should the fire breach Simi Valley and will be encouraged to evacuate. Please be prepared to Ready, Set, Go if the situation requires."

We live on the northern side of the city so I knew I needed to pay close attention.  As the evening wore on, with winds howling, I decided to pack a few things in the car.  You might be surprised at how little I packed.  Les' trumpet and bass guitar, our wedding photo album, our Bibles (including Mom's), and an overnight bag.  I had all my electronics in a bag by my bed and woke every hour last night checking out the window for the glow of fire (did not see any) and my phone for any updates (did not receive any.)

One final post, written in October 2011 is called "Trusting in God or Riches."  This sums up my feelings about "things." 

 

We received an evacuation warning that said if an evacuation notice came we would have ten minutes to leave our home. That notice never came, but I did pack a few things just in case. I still remember the peace I felt as the fire raged ~ nothing that mattered was inside our house. Les and I were safe.

 

The process of deciding what to pack in case our house burned down wasn't as difficult as you might imagine. I packed very little. Don't get me wrong ~ I enjoy nice things. I have a closet full of clothes and shoes. We have a lovely home. We have also lived on unemployment checks that didn't come close to the income we were use to. None of those things change who I am... unless I let them.

The Bible has a lot to say about riches. Not all of it is negative. Riches themselves are not the problem ~ it's how we treat them:

 

Proverbs 11:28
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Proverbs 23:5
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Luke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

It is not wrong to enjoy the blessings that God sends. It's wrong to think that we brought the riches upon ourselves.  His riches will never fade away.

In a Crisis

Honestly evaluate the way you respond to crisis situations. Are you happy with the way you react?

 

My ability to handle a crisis situation goes back to my childhood.  Rod's health was always in danger. Due to his hemophilia and the lack of his blood's ability to clot, a simple cut for most of us could turn into a serious bleed for him.  Both my parents were extremely calm when something happened to Rod.  At least they seemed calmed!

I remember one Tuesday night when Rod and I were teenagers.  We had "Teen Time" at church, which was always a fun time.  That particular night, we met at the church then split up.  We girls went swimming at someone's house and they boys went to some lake/pond.  When we met back up at the church, Rod told me he had stepped on something that cut through his shoe.  I knew this was serious.  Of course this was in the 70s so I had to use to church pay phone to call Mom to come get us.  I remember being completely calm while relaying this message to her and saying, "You might want to hurry because Rod has a cut on his foot."

Other times of crisis come to mind - the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the weekend that Les was in a bike accident and the hill behind our house caught on fire, the false alarm in Hawaii that a ballistic missile was headed our way.  Each of these times I was afraid and shaken, but I was able to keep calm.

The question this post should really ask is, "How can you react calmly in a crisis situation?"  I'm not capable of handling a crisis on my own.  But thankfully, I don't have to!  Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

 

Matthew Henry's commentary says, "Here is, 1. God's sufficiency for the saints: His name is a strong tower for them, in which they may take rest when they are weary and take sanctuary when they are pursued, where they may be lifted up above their enemies and fortified against them. There is enough in God, and in the discoveries which He has made of Himself to us, to make us easy at all times. The wealth laid up in this tower is enough to enrich them, to be a continual feast and a continuing treasure to them. The strength of this tower is enough to protect them; the name of the Lord is all that whereby He has made Himself known as God, and our God, not only His titles and attributes, but His covenant and all the promises of it; these make up a tower, a strong tower, impenetrable, impregnable, for all God's people. 2. The saints' security in God. It is a strong tower to those who know how to make use of it as such. The righteous, by faith and prayer, devotion towards God and dependence on Him, run into it, as their city of refuge. Having made sure their interest in God's name, they take the comfort and benefit of it; they go out of themselves, retire from the world, live above, dwell in God and God in them, and so they are safe, they think themselves so, and they shall find themselves so." 

 

The Pulpit Commentary says this, "The Name of the Lord signifies all that God is in Himself—His attributes, His love, mercy, power, knowledge; which allow man to regard Him as a sure Refuge. The words bring before us a picture of a capitol, or central fortress, in which, at times of danger, the surrounding population could take refuge. Into this Name we Christians are baptized; and trusting in it, and doing the duties to which our profession calls, with faith and prayer, we are safe in the storms of life and the attacks of spiritual enemies. The righteous runneth into it (the tower), and is safe; literally, is set on high;  he reaches a position where he in set above the trouble or the danger that besets him. Thus St. Peter, speaking of Christ, exclaims, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Prayer is the wall of faith, our arms and weapons against man who is always watching us. Therefore let us never go unarmed, night or day.   From the greatness of his might is the Name of the Lord; and running unto it the righteous are exalted."

 

We don't have to be in control when a crisis happens.  We have a place of refuge where we can run.  Run!!  Run to that safe place, the name above all names, Jesus!

30 Days of Thanks, Day 8: Hiding

It's Sunday!  This is the that the Lord has made.  I have so much to be thankful for!  I'm alive, I'm blessed, I've got a great family, a great church, great friends, and a GREAT GOD!

The book of Psalms talks about a hiding place.  It's a place of safety.  A place of peace.  2020, with all it's turmoil, has been a tough year.  But there is a hiding place, under the shadow of His wings.

 

Psalm 32:7, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."  

 

Psalm 119:114, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."

 

Psalm 17:8, "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings" 

 

Psalm 27:5, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."

 

 I'm thankful for that hiding place!

PSA: Look Both Ways Before You Cross the Street

Since March we have seen an increase of people exercising in our neighborhood.  I am happy to see this - active people tend to be healthier.  One problem I keep seeing is where people are walking, running, and riding.  The rule of thumb is:

• Bicycles should be on the road, in the bike lane if there is one.  They should be going the same direction as traffic.  Bicycles do not belong on the sidewalk.
  
• Pedestrians (runners and walkers) should be on the sidewalk if there is one.  If there is no sidewalk, they would be going the opposite direction as traffic, facing vehicles and bicycles.

 

I have seen so many people on the wrong side of the road.  Here's why it matters:

If you are walking or running with your back to traffic and someone else is walking or running facing traffic, one of you will need to step further into the street to maintain social distance.  If a cyclists is in the bike lane at the same time, the pedestrian moving with traffic will more than likely step right into the path of the cyclist.

 

Way back in March, in the early days of social distancing, I was out for a bike ride.  I was riding where I was suppose to be.  I saw a runner up ahead, running with his back to traffic.  He was not on the road, but on the grass.  Just as I caught him, he decided to step into the street.  I had about a second to react before he yelled, "Six feet!"  He never even glanced over his shoulder.  He was just the first of many who have stepped into the street without looking.  Isn't that something you're taught in preschool?

Stay safe out there!  Be active, be healthy, be courteous, and look both ways!

Peace-filled Posts

Well it's been an interesting few weeks, hasn't it?  Les and I traveled to Hawaii on Sunday so he could spend some time working in the office.  He found out on Tuesday that all employees would be working from home starting on Wednesday.  Thankfully, no one has COVID-19, but they are taking precautions to keep it that way.  We have a nice condo here, with food and necessities, we're together and healthy, so we're doing fine.

The headlines can be quite disturbing.  Panic buying is real.  While I was out for a run this morning, I was thinking about other times when life was uncertain.  I've blogged about many of those.  I've also always tried to make my blog a place of encouragement.  That being the case, I want to share links to some of those posts today:

Peace that Passes Understanding
Casting Down Imaginations
Everlasting Arms
Changing Seasons 
What Mean These Stones?
Commitment
Thoughts on Osama bin Laden and 9/11  
A Future Filled with Hope
Trusting in God or Riches 
Smiling During Losses
The Curse and the Scarlett Thread 
What is the Will of God 
Rainbow Reminder 
Already There
Great Peace
The Ultimate Battle 
Safe Zone 
According to His Purpose
The One Thing Everyone Needs 
Is He Your Shepherd?  
Under the Shadow of the Almighty
Jesus is the Answer
We Have An Anchor
Exhale 

I wanted to share one full post here.  It is what I wrote after Les took his current job here in Hawaii and all that I had thought and prayed as we journeyed through that time.

The Peace of God that Covers

My post yesterday was really the end of a chapter.  Today, I'll tell you about the chapters we have lived since September.  In September we had our annual Youth Alive services.  That Friday night the choir sang "Cover Me" by Mark Condon:

Peace of God, cover me
Cover me, cover me
Peace of God, cover me
Through the storm, cover me.

Only in You I am safe
Only in You I'm secure
Only in You I find peace
So cover me, cover me 

Cover me when I am hurting
Cover me when I'm not strong
Cover me when I am going through the storm
Cover me when it all seems hopeless
Cover me when my faith is gone
Let the peace that passes all I understand

As I stood on the platform singing, I thought of friends who were hurting.  I sang for them.  But sometime in that song I felt like I was singing for me.  I didn't know it that night, but my life was getting ready to be stormy and I would need peace like never before.  I haven't blogged about every part of the storm we went through, but here it is...

Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

On the following Saturday, September 15th, Dad was hospitalized in Fresno, then transferred to San Francisco.  This started a very long journey that we are still on today.  Dad spent 7 1/2 weeks in San Francisco (hospitals and rehab center) before returning to Fresno.  He was back in San Francisco in December for surgery and is now back in Fresno.

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

On the weekend of October 7-8, Les and I traveled to Fresno.  That Saturday Kim and I drove to San Francisco to visit Dad.  On Sunday morning, Les and I went to church in Truth Tabernacle.  We drove home that afternoon with plenty of time to make it to church that evening.  When we got home, we discovered that our house had been broken into.  Nothing was taken, the police said they were looking for cash and jewelry.  But it was a horrible feeling!

Only in You I am safe

Only in You I'm secure

Only in You I find peace

On October 22nd, Les was laid off his job.  In today's economy, we knew it might be a while before he found something else.  That ended up being three months.  But during that time, everyone of our needs were met.  We paid our bills, we had food on the table.  We were covered.

Cover me when I am hurting

Cover me when I'm not strong

Cover me when I am going through the storm

The same week that Les was laid off, Dad had his worst week in San Francisco.  For several days we were very concerned that his body was just shutting down.  His chemicals were completely out of balance.  The doctors were concerned about his heart.  After a few days back in the hospital, he started doing better and returned to the rehab center.

Cover me when it all seems hopeless

Here we are four months later and the peace of God has covered us through the storm.  There were days that I felt I was barely hanging on, but the peace would come.  Days when I worried, until I prayed and found peace again.  It's been a journey, but one that I never walked by myself.

Cover me when my faith is gone

Let the peace that passes all I understand

 Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:7

Finally, this is something I have posted before.  While it is called What Cancer Cannot Do, I believe we can also read it as was the COVID-19 or Coronavirus Cannot Do:

What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendships
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
-Author Unknown

Now, if you've made it this far, I have a favor to ask.  I know my blog has readers, but you've all been very quiet lately!  I haven't had a single comment in months.  Now is the time to reach out!  Please tell me how you're doing.  Is your family healthy?  Is your community quiet or in full on lockdown?  Is there something I can pray for?  We all need each other, now more than ever.  Take the time to reach out to your friends, family members, and bloggers.

One more thing!  I follow quite a few Christian authors.  Right now, a group of them have Kindle books for FREE.  So if you're housebound and need some new reading material, go HERE.

False Evidence Appearing Real

After yesterday's post about fear, it's crazy that today we had a scare:

We are currently on Oahu.  This alert popped up on phones all over the islands.  Not exactly how I planned to spend my Saturday morning.

I'll admit, I was a little freaked out.  For about 10 minutes it appeared that the alert was legitimate.  I kept searching the internet and finally found out it was a false alarm.  About 40 minutes later it was officially confirmed.  This turned out to be false evidence, but it sure seemed real for a while!

Under the Shadow of the Almighty

It seems every week we read another headline about another terrorist attack.  This week's occurred in Turkey, a country we visited last month and one I am still writing about today.  Istanbul, where the latest attack took place, is about 300 miles from where we were in Ephesus.

It would be very easy for us to say, "I'm not going to travel.  I won't fly internationally.  It's just not safe."  Just a little over a year ago, Les crashed on his bike.  When people questioned me about him continuing to ride I had an answer they weren't expecting.  "I guess we need to quit going to church, too, because it's not safe."  It just so happened that Les' crash took place the same week as the mass shooting at the church in Charleston, S.C.  I wasn't trying to make light of that attack, but we aren't going to find safety in this troubled world.  When we make the decision to climb out of bed in the morning, we've made the decision to face an unsafe world.

We can live our lives in fear, pulling bubble wrap around us, or we can live under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91 says,

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Matthew Henry's commentary says, "He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and encourage others to trust in him also."

Without a doubt we live in perilous times, but don't let fear of what might happen rob you of today's peace.  Read that Psalm again, let it get in your heart and mind.  And remember, "I can see to the corner, but God sees around the corner... don't worry." - Mom's Bible

Cover Me

Our choir sang Mark Condon's "Cover Me" for service last night.  This is truly a powerful song.  I testified a little before we sang.  The complete testimony is one I posted on January 21, 2013 and felt to repost it this morning.  I don't know what you're going through today, but let the peace of God cover you.

My post yesterday was really the end of a chapter.  Today, I'll tell you about the chapters we have lived since September.  In September we had our annual Youth Alive services.  That Friday night the choir sang "Cover Me" by Mark Condon:

Peace of God, cover me
Cover me, cover me
Peace of God, cover me
Through the storm, cover me.

Only in You I am safe
Only in You I'm secure
Only in You I find peace
So cover me, cover me 

Cover me when I am hurting
Cover me when I'm not strong
Cover me when I am going through the storm
Cover me when it all seems hopeless
Cover me when my faith is gone
Let the peace that passes all I understand

As I stood on the platform singing, I thought of friends who were hurting.  I sang for them.  But sometime in that song I felt like I was singing for me.  I didn't know it that night, but my life was getting ready to be stormy and I would need peace like never before.  I haven't blogged about every part of the storm we went through, but here it is...

Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

On the following Saturday, September 15th, Dad was hospitalized in Fresno, then transferred to San Francisco.  This started a very long journey that we are still on today.  Dad spent 7 1/2 weeks in San Francisco (hospitals and rehab center) before returning to Fresno.  He was back in San Francisco in December for surgery and is now back in Fresno.

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

On the weekend of October 7-8, Les and I traveled to Fresno.  That Saturday Kim and I drove to San Francisco to visit Dad.  On Sunday morning, Les and I went to church in Truth Tabernacle.  We drove home that afternoon with plenty of time to make it to church that evening.  When we got home, we discovered that our house had been broken into.  Nothing was taken, the police said they were looking for cash and jewelry.  But it was a horrible feeling!

Only in You I am safe

Only in You I'm secure

Only in You I find peace

On October 22nd, Les was laid off his job.  In today's economy, we knew it might be a while before he found something else.  That ended up being three months.  But during that time, everyone of our needs were met.  We paid our bills, we had food on the table.  We were covered.

Cover me when I am hurting

Cover me when I'm not strong

Cover me when I am going through the storm

The same week that Les was laid off, Dad had his worst week in San Francisco.  For several days we were very concerned that his body was just shutting down.  His chemicals were completely out of balance.  The doctors were concerned about his heart.  After a few days back in the hospital, he started doing better and returned to the rehab center.

Cover me when it all seems hopeless

Here we are four months later and the peace of God has covered us through the storm.  There were days that I felt I was barely hanging on, but the peace would come.  Days when I worried, until I prayed and found peace again.  It's been a journey, but one that I never walked by myself.

Cover me when my faith is gone

Let the peace that passes all I understand

 Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:7

Unseen

Last Friday morning I headed out for a trail run.  After about a mile my left foot really started hurting.  I stopped and adjusted my shoes, walked a bit, adjusted again, and started running again.  About two miles up the trail I started seeing bear tracks...

Yes, there really is a bear that lives close to us.  According to the rancher, there is a mama (Big Mama) who has had cubs in the past.  When I first saw the tracks, I stopped and looked around.  Hmm... is he/she still close by?  I didn't hear or see anything, so I continued on my way.  I followed the trail and the bear tracks for about another 1 1/2 miles.  The trail split at that point, I went right and the bear tracks went left.  After my initial pause, I really wasn't too worried about running into a bear.  I know they are nocturnal, so the tracks may have been a couple of hours old.

I told Nicolas Flores about this on Sunday morning.  I showed him the pictures and he thought it would be pretty neat to see more than the tracks, but to actually see the bear.  I said, "I'm not sure what I would do if I ran into a bear."  He, in his nine year old wisdom, simply said, "You could pray."  He's right and I do pray, I often pray for protection while I am out running. 

I ran the same trail yesterday morning.  No bear tracks and no foot pain.  Same shoes, same trail, but no pain.  That's when it hit me - God knew exactly where I was and where the bear was.  If I hadn't had any foot pain, it is possible that I could have caught the bear while he was out on the trail.  The delays from foot pain probably took about 5 minutes, and that may have been just the amount of time I needed to stay safe.

Three quotes from Mom's Bible came to mind:

I thank God every day of my life for what I have come safely past.
You are God's property and God is going to take care of you.
I can see to the corner, but God sees around the corner... don't worry.

I thank God for every time He has rescued me from dangers, both seen and unseen!

Safe Zone

I saw this sign again while at the Honolulu Zoo last Friday:

I picture stampeding elephants or a stalking lion, causing everyone to panic and head to the safe zone.

In life we have a safe zone, Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."  When life seems scary, there is a name.  There is a name that was revealed.  The name is Jesus.

I've said the name in praise.  I've whispered it in prayer.  I've called upon it in fear.  That name brings peace.  That name brings joy.  That name brings healing and deliverance.  I've never needed to find the safe zone at the zoo, but I'm thankful for the safe zone in life that I can run to.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Acts 4:12

Thanksgiving Week ~ Monday

We are on our way to Florida this morning for the annual McElhaney family gathering.  If I include where we were last Thursday (Hawaii), we will be in each U.S. time zone with the exception of Alaska:

Honolulu - HAST
Simi Valley - PST
Phoenix (we have a layover here) - MST
Atlanta (our flight lands here) - EST
Mexico Beach, FL (our final destination) CST

I've scheduled my posts for the week - I have so much in my heart that I'm thankful for! I got these done in advance because we aren't planning on taking a laptop with us.  It's time for family!

Since we are probably on an airplane as you are reading this, I want to give thanks for traveling mercies.  Just this year we have taken nine round trip flights to Hawaii, Les has traveled to Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, DC, New York, and Philadelphia!  I am thankful that each trip has been without incident.  Flights have been long, some with lengthy delays, we're usually exhausted when we land, but we have landed safely each time.

I am also thankful for God's protection when we are on the road - especially when Les is on his bike or I'm running!  I've read plenty of stories about cyclists and runners getting hurt.  Les is never out for a ride without my prayers.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. " Psalm 4:8

The Peace of God that Covers

My post yesterday was really the end of a chapter.  Today, I'll tell you about the chapters we have lived since September.  In September we had our annual Youth Alive services.  That Friday night the choir sang "Cover Me" by Mark Condon:

Peace of God, cover me
Cover me, cover me
Peace of God, cover me
Through the storm, cover me.

Only in You I am safe
Only in You I'm secure
Only in You I find peace
So cover me, cover me 

Cover me when I am hurting
Cover me when I'm not strong
Cover me when I am going through the storm
Cover me when it all seems hopeless
Cover me when my faith is gone
Let the peace that passes all I understand

As I stood on the platform singing, I thought of friends who were hurting.  I sang for them.  But sometime in that song I felt like I was singing for me.  I didn't know it that night, but my life was getting ready to be stormy and I would need peace like never before.  I haven't blogged about every part of the storm we went through, but here it is...

Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

On the following Saturday, September 15th, Dad was hospitalized in Fresno, then transferred to San Francisco.  This started a very long journey that we are still on today.  Dad spent 7 1/2 weeks in San Francisco (hospitals and rehab center) before returning to Fresno.  He was back in San Francisco in December for surgery and is now back in Fresno.

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

On the weekend of October 7-8, Les and I traveled to Fresno.  That Saturday Kim and I drove to San Francisco to visit Dad.  On Sunday morning, Les and I went to church in Truth Tabernacle.  We drove home that afternoon with plenty of time to make it to church that evening.  When we got home, we discovered that our house had been broken into.  Nothing was taken, the police said they were looking for cash and jewelry.  But it was a horrible feeling!

Only in You I am safe

Only in You I'm secure

Only in You I find peace

On October 22nd, Les was laid off his job.  In today's economy, we knew it might be a while before he found something else.  That ended up being three months.  But during that time, everyone of our needs were met.  We paid our bills, we had food on the table.  We were covered.

Cover me when I am hurting

Cover me when I'm not strong

Cover me when I am going through the storm

The same week that Les was laid off, Dad had his worst week in San Francisco.  For several days we were very concerned that his body was just shutting down.  His chemicals were completely out of balance.  The doctors were concerned about his heart.  After a few days back in the hospital, he started doing better and returned to the rehab center.

Cover me when it all seems hopeless

Here we are four months later and the peace of God has covered us through the storm.  There were days that I felt I was barely hanging on, but the peace would come.  Days when I worried, until I prayed and found peace again.  It's been a journey, but one that I never walked by myself.

Cover me when my faith is gone

Let the peace that passes all I understand

 Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:7