Heartprints

Scary Close- How will you live this year?

Scary Close

This past week, many of us in Texas found ourselves taking shelter in inner rooms, until tornado warning sirens ended.  Like many I turned to facebook when I couldn’t see the television news. Friends were posting closet and bathroom selfies. One friend had posted a picture of herself in her bicycle helmet in the past, during a tornado warning. I was hoping to see another picture of her in her helmet, so I could show my niece and distract her from the current situation and maybe make her smile.

Because we had family over;  there were seven people and five dogs in one bathroom.  We joked about it being a little too much family bonding. What we didn’t know was that only 15 minutes down the road, friends of ours – neighbors of ours – co-workers of ours were in the path of a F-3 to F-4 tornado. Many of them lost their homes and everything they owned. Others were caught off guard on the highway and lost their lives.

In thirty minutes, the tornado was over but the recovery process and shock was just beginning.

So much devastation and so many lives changed in a brief few minutes. It made me think with the new year approaching that we are not guaranteed today much less tomorrow.

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2015/12/how-you-can-help-tornado-victims.html/

James 4:14 (NIV) says, Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

If we knew today was our last, how then would we live? Would we react in anger or kindness? Would we be abrasive or gentle? Would we take time to talk to our children, parents or grandparents? How would we respond and act? Would we reach out to the elderly neighbor, the homeless, the veteran?

Today when I sit down to make my new year resolutions, the things at the top of my list are going to include matters of the heart.

 

Join me in prayer and ask the Lord to reveal to you what it is He wants for you this year.

Isaiah 30:15 (NIV) says, This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,….”

Don’t be caught unprepared when the storms of life hit this year. Make Christ first and then when the unexpected happens you will be ready. Let’s make 2016 a truly great year by putting Christ first!

To help victims of the Garland tornado go to: https://garlandtx.recovers.org/

Sherry Shepherd is an experienced, adaptable professional specialized in writing for faith-based organizations. She has worked as an editor and writer for newspaper, movie guides, publishing houses, churches and several non-profits. Her scope of work includes corporate and fundraising materials, advertising, web, brochures, booklets, books, blogs and biblical training materials. However, her heart is drawn to any type of creative writing, where she can motivate while conveying a biblical message and telling a story. Sherry is the mother of three grown children, who have been the source of some of her greatest joy, laughter and material!