Preparing For The Storm
Another tropical storm, Dorian, is barreling across the Antlantic towards the windward islands.
On Tuesday when I wrote this post it had a maximum sustained wind of 50 mph. It is not considered a hurricane as yet.
The storm is moving west- north west at 13 mph with tropical storm force wind extending outward up to 45 miles from the center.
The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for Puerto Rico.
The center of the storm will past near the western and central part of the island dumping heavy rain and stong winds of approximately 74mph.
Even though this storm is nowhere as powerful of Hurricane Maria that was packing winds of up to 165mph, many people have gone into panic mode.
The memory of the beasts – hurricane Maria and Irma – is still fresh in the minds of the people and they are not taking any chances.
Consequently, there was a rushed on the supermarkets and gas stations as crowd of people were buying food and water.
Most of the shelves in the stores were empty. The governor of Puerto Rico – Wanda Vazquez – has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency.
Some of the other islands such as St Lucia, Dominca, Martinique and Grenda are on storm watches.
They are preparing for the worst and expecting the worst.
Panic! Panic! Panic! This is our worst enemy.
The caribbean is situated in a hurricane zone so every year we can expect a storm or hurricane.
The hurricane season begins in June and ends in November.
It is, therefore, imperative that we prepared by stocking up on food and water before a storm threatened.
In spite of this, most people do not prepare so when a storm threatened there is a mad rush on the grocery stores.
It is also understandable that any storm threat irrespective of its magnitude will cause fear because many of the islands are still struggling to recover from hurricane Irma and Maria.
However, panicking will cause you to overspend and increase your stress.
As I watched the scene on TV, I began to reflect on our spiritual life, wondering how prepare are we for the return of Christ?
Are we trimming our lamps and stocking up on oil?
How prepared are we for the occasional storms of life that suddenly popped up on us?
Should we be preparing for the worst and expecting the worst?
I can just imagine the comotion that will occur if suddenly the night turns into day as a bright piercing light illuminates in the sky.
People will be screaming and running around trying to find a hiding place.
Some people will even be calling on the rocks to cover them.
While trying to hide from the burning light, people will be falling on their knees trying to repent.
All the evil that occurs in the dark will suddenly be exposed for all to see.
All the secrets that take place behind closed doors will be revealed because the light will penetrate through even the thickest brick building.
When Christ appears in the sky, the first thing that He will do is to call you,
“Adam, where are you?”
What will your answer be?
“I heard your voice, but I am afraid because I am naked so I am hiding myself.”
“Who told you that you are naked?”
Or will your answer be: “Here am I, Lord, I am ready!”
I know for a fact that the bride of Christ – the oil and wine – will not be hiding because we will be caught up to meet our bridgroom in the clouds.
Hallelujah!
There is a saying that said “prevention is better than cure!”
Therefore, we should not be so unprepared that when calamity strikes we panic and hide.
The best thing to do is to prepare for a storm before it develop.
Every caribbean island has a hurricane disaster plan.
The basic instructions are to plan, stock up and protect.
Plan with your family your route of escape if you need to evacuate, stock up on food and water and protect your life and property.
Preparing for the coming of the Lord and the spiritual storms of life.
1. Prepare your hearts and mind by comitting your life totally to God.
2. Watch and pray.
3. Spend quality time in the Word of God.
4. Fasting. Jesus said that we need to fast when the bride groom is away. (See Luke 5:34-35)
5. Do not be deceived by all the drama that is going on in the world. Remain steadfast in faith and be firmly attached to the vine.
6. Ensure that you do not invest in earthly treasures where moth and rust will corrupt; not to mention the thieves that can break into your homes.
Instead, store your treasures in heaven where they are safe and the investments guaranteed.
7. Be patient and establish your heart. Wait until you receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)
Are you ready for the storms of life? Are you ready for the return of the Lord?
Additional reading: Genesis 3; 2 Thessalonians 2; James 5; Matthew 6:19-20
Beautifully done! God’s protection in every regard!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. We are doing okay. Have a blessed day.
LikeLike
🙌🙌🙌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love how you compared being ready for a hurricane with being ready for the return of Jesus. I am so ready for him to return but also want more people to come to know him first.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes indeed. The harvest is plentiful but the reapers are few. We need to harvest people for God. Blessings to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I started reading this post, my mind went to Christ’s second coming not knowing that was where you were going with it. I pray we all are well prepared🙏🏾
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hope we will be prepared. Indeed it will be a huge storm for some but calm for the bride. Have a blessed day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In prayer for Islands and the people. I am ready to go when He calls. Amen.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you my dear. The storm has passed with minimal damage. Thank you Lord.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen Beverley! I will be praying for all of you too! God bless you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ryan. God bless you too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your blog post today, Beverley What a great comparison! Praying for you and all the people of the islands today and in the days to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Janet. The storm has passed us with minimal damage
Thank the Lord. Have a great day.
LikeLike
Very powerful, anointed Word. This really blessed my soul and calls for self introspection. You expressed in words what I have been thinking for some time now.
It is of utmost importance that we make preparation for our spiritual life as we do for the physical. May I encourage us to ponder and examine our heart. The question have been pondering is: Am I indeed preparing myself, making myself “ready” to be Christ’s Bride? Living a life that is sincerely devoted to Christ, holy, a life of righteous acts, service to others, loving each other etc…
Christ will return unexpectedly, so we must be ready when he returns. Lord help us to prepare for your return. Thank you. May God richly bless you. Shalom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Powerful words, my sister. May God help us to prepare for His return.
LikeLike
Went through every hurricane in Miami, Florida 1954-2015. No picnic. Often the after effects were worse than the storm: no electricity, no gasoline, food and water shortages and strained tempers everywhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so also. The lack of water and electricity are much worst. I will keep you in prayers my brother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not to mention the mosquitoes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re getting ready too as they say the storm will hit Florida by Monday as a category 3. Prayerfully not. Praying for the island nations as well. I love how you compared the storm to the storms we face in life. When it comes to the things of the Lord, many don’t care until there is a tragedy or something else gets out of control. But we should be seeking His face at all times so we will know Him and have strength during the storms. Thanks for sharing this! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Puerto Rico prepared for the storm but we in the Virgin Islands did not because we thought it woud hit PR. But, the storm changed course overnight and headed closer to us. Thank God it was not a powerful storm so we only had minor damages. I will be praying for you. Keep safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thankful it didn’t do much damage. Thanks for the prayers. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
To God be the glory.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beverley you did meld the two storms together in a thoughtful way. Both storms are coming. We also in Florida are seeing the warnings. Jesus gave us warning, by way of signs for His coming. I’m concerned that the world will heed the signs of the weather much more than the signs of His return. But as you state the bride will make herself ready. What may concern us in this analogy is the fact that it is not until the storm is over in the Revelation that it is said, “and the bride hath made herself ready”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jerry for your concerns. I will be praying for you and the other residents in Florida that the impact of the storm (if any) will not be so significant.
I believe that it is now that the bride should be preparing because we are indeed facing some serious storms of life. There are a lot of debates about the storm in Revelation. God has revealed some things to me which I recorded in the book that I wrote. I don’t think I am on par with your knowledge in theology, but I believe with all my heart what God has revealed to me based on my personal experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the things you write about, and I’m sure that you are led by the Holy Spirit. Keep up the good work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jerry. The Lord is indeed speaking to His children and we all have a role to play.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen sister
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lord be merciful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes He is merciful. We are praying for the other countries that are in the path of the storm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Praying with you as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and God bless you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still praying
LikeLiked by 1 person