| You know the type situation I am talking about. | | | | flesh and praying to God for strength to resist |
| You were up all night with a vomiting child, the | | | | temptation. taking every thought captive, and not |
| phone rings at 7:00 a.m. it's the Realtor with a | | | | giving Satan a foothold. |
| potential buyer that has to see the house at 10:00 | | | | Stocking Supplies |
| a.m. You scramble out of bed, throw the pile of | | | | Bottled water and batteries are the main |
| soiled sheeting, wash cloths, towels from last | | | | preparation supplies for hurricanes. Prayer and |
| night's projectile vomiting episode into the wash, | | | | Bible study are the main preparation supplies to |
| and rouse hungry children while hubby is in the | | | | prepare for life's problems (well, actually, for life). I |
| shower. | | | | became somewhat defensive at this point. I |
| In the dining room you encounter a large puddle | | | | argued, "Wait a minute, I pray daily; I'm in the |
| reminding of your dog's weak bladder-lovely. Go | | | | Word daily! Just how much do I need to die to |
| to the kitchen for paper towels and a quick | | | | self and walk in the Spirit?" Obviously the answer |
| survey of the house tells you it is physically | | | | was more prayer and Bible study than I was |
| impossible to have this home show ready by | | | | doing -because I was not prepared. For |
| 10:00 a.m. without a bulldozer. You clean up dog | | | | whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also |
| urine, wash hands, pour bowls of cereal, skip your | | | | reap. Reaping flesh means I was sowing flesh. I |
| much needed coffee and give yourself a much | | | | need more prayer and Bible study. As I began |
| needed pep talk. You can do this. You have to do | | | | writing about this experience I realized the |
| this. Flashback to the previous night's movie in | | | | overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag in my story |
| which Spiderman's uncle said, "With great power | | | | symbolized me! (Wow, writing to learn really |
| comes great responsibility!" | | | | works.) Was this one of my warning signs? While |
| You courageously charge through the house, | | | | I was emptying the bag I was mad. Maybe if I |
| laundry basket in hand, snatching toys, | | | | wasn't feeling sorry for myself I would have seen |
| newspapers, school books, magazines, etc. You | | | | the lesson. Did a repentant heart this morning |
| ignore the children arguing over the toy in the | | | | allow me to see a lesson from the Holy Spirit? |
| cereal box because you are on a mission. You | | | | My Warning Sign |
| remove enough clutter to see the carpet only to | | | | I was just like the vacuum cleaner bag - full of |
| see it is covered with smashed orange Doritos. | | | | yucky stuff ready to explode if one more tiny |
| You reach for the vacuum only to discover the | | | | thing was added. It had not just been a stressful |
| bag is full, not just slightly full but | | | | night but a stressful month. My husband had a |
| about-ready-to-explode full. And surprise, it was | | | | heart attack, we had several family overnight |
| the last vacuum cleaner bag. | | | | guests, my business had several technical |
| Your children's verbal argument escalates into a | | | | problems this week (email, shopping carts and |
| physical battle of flying wet cheerios. You stop | | | | web design disasters), sick children, etc. It was |
| the war, demand everyone drop the weapons, I | | | | one hectic month. Overall, I was already bursting |
| mean cheerios, and instruct them to pick up the | | | | at the seams from an imbalance between |
| plethora of Legos and G.I. Joes under the dining | | | | demands and resources. Don't misunderstand, |
| table- skipping the urge to explain what plethora | | | | these are not excuses. But they are warning |
| means - this is no time for homeschool | | | | signs. I (and/or my dh) should have recognized |
| vocabulary lessons. | | | | the warning signs. |
| You move outside to fight your own battle to | | | | Bagged vacuum cleaners require that you change |
| empty the overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag in to | | | | the bag when it becomes full. Some vacuum |
| overstuffed garbage can. Your pretty pink | | | | cleaner models have an indicator light that will let |
| bathrobe acts like Velcro attracting pieces from | | | | you know when the bag needs to be changed. |
| the disgusting dust cloud of dirt, dog hair, food | | | | Wouldn't that be neat? Imagine a large red |
| items, and dust of revolting who-knows-what. | | | | indicator light on your forehead indicating your |
| Back inside with a less full vacuum bag you | | | | stress level. Hubby and the children would have a |
| (somewhat loudly) instruct the rowdy and still | | | | warning. "Mom's light is glowing again, stand back!" |
| arguing children to get dressed and not to pull all | | | | Fixing the problem would be replacing the bag |
| the clothes out of the drawers. The Legos and | | | | before it is full. How does that relate to a mom |
| G.I. Joes remain untouched under the table. | | | | full of stress? If the dirt is stress, is the bag our |
| About this time, your sweet hubby appears | | | | brain? Our emotions? Our spirit? How do we |
| freshly showered, dressed and ready for his day | | | | empty self of stress? (by the way, stress can |
| and yes, he is actually humming. His smile quickly | | | | also be good-but that's another article). Preparing |
| disappears as he hears your dark mumblings as | | | | involves mostly prayer and Bible study to |
| you stuff cereal bowls into the dishwasher. He | | | | strengthen our relationship with God. We also |
| quips, "Why are you in such a foul mood? That's | | | | need the relationship of people, fellowship-to |
| it-the last proverbial straw; the camel's back has | | | | strengthen us to be able to withstand storms. |
| just snapped. You are 100% in the flesh ready, | | | | While reading a book on marketing, I came across |
| willing, and able to dispense a savage tongue | | | | a surprising study. When women's brains were |
| lashing to your one true love. There is absolutely | | | | scanned during various experiments, their |
| nothing, nada, zero, zip inside of you prompting | | | | dopamine rose five times the normal levels when |
| you to walk in God's Spirit of self control, love, or | | | | talking to other women. Dopamine is a powerful |
| kindness. | | | | neurotransmitter that affects pleasure and |
| OK, I Confess | | | | motivation. Conversations with a friend can help |
| Ok, you probably already guessed, this was not | | | | dump a lot of accumulated dirt from our quickly |
| some imaginary housewife. This happened to me | | | | filling bags. |
| yesterday. My poor hubby got an earful and I | | | | People Need People |
| woke up this morning on a guilt trip (not even a | | | | The Bible instructs us to bear one another's |
| shiny clean house has helped my mood). | | | | burdens (Gal. 6:2); encourage one another (Heb. |
| I recently did a study on the branch abiding in the | | | | 10:25); minister to one another (1 Peter 4:10-11). |
| vine. How do I so quickly rip myself away from | | | | Christ sent the disciples out two by two, knowing |
| the vine? How is it I am so quick to jump into the | | | | that "it is not good for a man to be alone" (cf. |
| flesh? Where was my self-control? Where was | | | | Gen 2:18). Lonely Christians are often defeated |
| the love? Where was my witness? Where was | | | | Christians. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 states that "two are |
| my firm foundation? What kind of spiritual fruit | | | | better than one." When Elijah thought he was the |
| was I showing? What is the secret to walking and | | | | only one faithful to God, he began to backslide. |
| remaining in the Spirit? Where is the list of steps | | | | Jonah ministered alone and developed a bitter |
| to follow? This morning I poured all this out to my | | | | spirit. When we share, we are getting rid of some |
| friend on the phone. She was in her car and didn't | | | | of the build up. That is why there Bible often talks |
| have a lot of time for a lengthy response. But | | | | of brotherly love (Heb 13:1; Rom 12:10;1; Jn |
| before we hung up she left me with something | | | | 4:20-21; 1 Pet 1:22).Throughout history people |
| profound. She said, "The key is preparedness." So | | | | have lived in close knit groups with extended |
| I began thinking, how can I be spiritually prepared | | | | families in the same homes. The last few |
| for the next mishap or disaster? How do cities | | | | generations of Americans have been much more |
| prepare for crises such as hurricanes, tornadoes | | | | independent. It's my guess that this is this why |
| or a tsunami? | | | | homeschool support groups, blogs, message |
| Disaster Preparedness | | | | boards and egroups are so popular. People need |
| I am originally from Florida. Hurricane season is a | | | | people!I am emptying my bag now telling you this |
| fact of life in Florida and must be dealt with just | | | | story. I plan on a conversation tonight with my |
| as all of life's problems must be dealt with. | | | | hubby (yes, I already apologized) about |
| Preparing in advance is the key to avoiding | | | | overstuffed vacuum cleaner bags. Together -with |
| catastrophe. Most who die in hurricanes could | | | | God-we will brainstorm a way to prepare for |
| have been saved - if they prepared and followed | | | | future storms. Now I leave my list for you. |
| the instructions and directions given to them. | | | | Spiritual Preparation List for Disaster (or life in |
| Shelter from the Storm | | | | general) |
| The first thing on the hurricane preparation list is | | | | 1. A shelter: You must have a firm foundation; a |
| getting to a solid strong shelter (home or school); | | | | relationship with God through Christ. |
| you need to be inside during the storm or you | | | | 2. Prayer: Ask for help from your loving Father |
| need to evacuate to a safe shelter. First on the | | | | who is waiting to help you. Don't wait for your |
| spiritual preparedness list is also a firm foundation | | | | bag to be full to start praying. Ask God before |
| -a relationship with God through Christ. Without | | | | the crisis to give you the strength, energy, and |
| this, disaster is certain. | | | | kindness to deal with stressful situations. Confess |
| Hearing the Warning Signs | | | | sin; ask not to be led into temptation; enter His |
| To prepare, you must recognize warning signs. A | | | | gates with praise and thanksgiving. |
| hurricane watch means conditions are possible. A | | | | 3. Bible: Start each day in God's Word. You can't |
| hurricane warning means conditions are expected. | | | | build without the blueprint. Immerse yourself and |
| Did I have any warning signs? You have to have | | | | your children with God's stories. See how others |
| communication to hear the warnings; i.e. radio, | | | | were able to handle crises because they trusted |
| phone, TV, Internet, friend. God gave us warning | | | | Him-even when things looked bleak. |
| system to prepare people in the Bible. He gives us | | | | 4. Walk in obedience to be able to hear the Holy |
| these stories to prepare ourselves. God gives us | | | | Spirit. Resist sin; take every thought captive. Don't |
| the Holy Spirit to warn us of possible danger. | | | | give the devil a foothold. |
| There is one thing that stops us from hearing the | | | | 5. Love one another: bear one another's burdens. |
| Holy Spirit-sin. Rejecting sin in our lives is a | | | | Be there for someone and ask them to be there |
| process of moment by moment saying no to the | | | | for you. |