| > | | | | Everything was destroyed." |
| Last Saturday morning I jumped from the bed, | | | | I figured this was probably the point where I |
| excited about the day. | | | | needed to start listening for the Lord... |
| I made the bed quickly and threw my hands | | | | He went on to say that his neighbor had put her |
| toward the ceiling as I walked to the bedroom | | | | first-born baby in her car trying to escape the |
| door. | | | | rapidly rising waters, and found the automobile |
| "Lord," I declared, "I just want to thank you that | | | | and her baby underwater after running back into |
| I'm a child of the most high God this morning! This | | | | the house to grab a few items to save. |
| is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice | | | | "She's still a wreck emotionally," Jose said. "I don't |
| and be glad..." | | | | think she'll ever get over it. And, my wife and kids |
| SPLASH! | | | | just finished putting our place back together, |
| In mid-sentence, I had thrown open the door to | | | | finally." |
| my bedroom and stepped into a pool of water | | | | I looked down at my replaceable wet carpet and |
| covering my living room carpet. | | | | realized, like usual, God had shown up to teach |
| "..and be glad in it, Lord," I finished, shaking my | | | | me a valuable lesson. |
| head. | | | | Folks, our God is good all the time. We are |
| The hot water heater had apparently gone out, | | | | abundantly blessed and have so much to be |
| and running water had been covering an entire | | | | thankful for in every situation. He is just as |
| bedroom and the living room...all night long. | | | | worthy of our praise when a situation seems to |
| I would have plenty of time to rejoice in the Lord | | | | turn sour as he is when everything is rosy. |
| as I vacuumed water and tore out carpet. | | | | I asked Jose what part of town he lived in, and |
| "I will bless the Lord at all times," wrote David in | | | | he indicated it was in a neighborhood very close |
| the 34th Psalm. "His praise shall continually be in | | | | to my church. |
| my mouth." | | | | "I spent the night in your church sanctuary, you all |
| I wonder if he wrote those words while fixing a | | | | gave us food, a place to stay, shots for the kids," |
| flat tire on the freeway, or picking up a treat the | | | | he said. "You all were wonderful." |
| dog left on the floor in the kitchen? David was | | | | I actually hadn't even joined my church when |
| human, wasn't he? Could he really expect us to | | | | Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston in June, 2001. |
| maintain an attitude of praise at all times? | | | | Twenty-one people lost their lives, and scores of |
| I wrestled with God on this one. I found myself | | | | Houstonians lost their homes and all their |
| fighting to stay "happy." | | | | possessions. |
| "Okay, Lord," I reasoned, "In Romans 8:28, you | | | | I would spend the remainder of that Saturday |
| said that in all things you work for the good of | | | | vacuuming wet carpet, thanking Jesus that I was |
| those who love you and are called according to | | | | not one of them. |
| your purpose. I'm going to give you the | | | | Being blessed is a matter of perspective, isn't it? |
| opportunity to prove yourself this morning. | | | | Think about places in the world where the |
| "Please show me how this inconvenient, | | | | residents would see any one of us as living like a |
| uncomfortable, potentially expensive situation is | | | | king. |
| going to work out for my good." | | | | Sometimes, we just need a little reminder of how |
| Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on my | | | | good we have it. |
| door. | | | | Did you get out of bed this morning? Do you |
| It was Jose, the water heater repair guy. | | | | have eyes that allow you to read this page? Do |
| "It looks like you're having a rough day," he said, | | | | you have a place to sleep tonight, and food to |
| taking a look at the water heater connections. | | | | eat before you go to bed? Do you have family |
| "Yes," I said, trying to remain positive. "But, it's | | | | and friends that love you? |
| just a little water. It could be worse." | | | | Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? |
| "Oh yeah, it could," Jose replied, walking out to his | | | | If you can answer "yes" to any of the above |
| truck to retrieve tools. | | | | questions, it sounds like someone is abundantly |
| His tone gave me the impression that he had | | | | blessed by God! |
| seen much, much worse. When he returned, I | | | | Let's all remember to maintain that attitude of |
| asked him what he meant. | | | | praise and gratitude. I don't know your situation or |
| "I lost 30 years of what I had worked to build | | | | the challenges you face today, but I bet you |
| during Tropical Storm Allison three years ago," he | | | | could find something to thank him for right now. |
| said. "I had five feet of water in my home. | | | | |