Hellooo my friends! It has been exactly a month since my last 'Testimony Tuesday' and for that, I am sorry. Here in Florida, we have had 2 major hurricanes and are still feeling the after effects of rebuilding our lives. For me, I only lost power for 6 days after Hurricane Milton, and my life and property made it through the storm. That being said, there was a lot of clean-up work we all had to do and we had to restock our Refrigerators and Freezers!
God is so good to me, I evacuated to Lakeland to my Mom's and she only lost power for 1 night. I returned to work partially to ensure our staff and customers were ok before returning to my mom's to await my power restoration. I always believed the Lord would cover us and protect us. Hurricane Milton was NO JOKE. With winds up to 100MPH, we had so many trees pulled up from their roots, and tree branches laying on homes and power lines. Don't even ask about the fences, most are left barely standing. Thankfully our state does really well with the clean-up and power restoration, nearly 900,000 people were without power.
Most of the state struggled with gas availability. Many stations ran out prior to the storm with mass evacuations. The remaining stores that had gas lost power so it was a MESS! I had to wait for about 45 minutes for gas at 1 in the morning just to make sure I could get back to my mom's. The limited gas really brought the worst out in people. People were arguing at the gas stations, pulling sticks, knives, and guns at each other. Many policemen had to be onsite during gas refueling as it was mass panic and chaos....just the way they like us.
Looking around me after the storm makes me so sad. The world has grown so cold and its everyone out for themselves. I have a neighbor that we kind of just pass each other with our dogs and stuff, but I offered to help her collect her items that blew all over the yard and had my son's help too. They were kind of confused and I told them, "no matter what is going on, we are here to be helpful neighbors and help each other out" My kids are being raised in this world too, and I don't want them to harden against other people.
Yes, other people can be insufferable. Yes, people can be hateful and callus. But does that mean we have to stoop to that level? No, it does not. I am so thankful the Holy Spirit dwells within me and I always look to how I can help. I remember what it was like when I had no one, and one simple offer of assistance could change my world.
God made you and I for just a time as this; This specific part of the battle. We are here to worship the most high and spread the gospel to the ends to the Earth. How can we do that if we are all fighting? We can't, and that's just how the devil likes it.
Friends, defy the devil! Help each other. Give until the last drop you have. The Lord is our portion, so we are abundantly blessed. I love you all, and I am praying that you have a blessed week! Amen.
