The Local

Fast forward 44 years from the days at "The Royal Barge" and picture with me a beautiful spring morning. The kind with baby birds chirping their first songs, the sun beaming through a background of brilliant blue that can only be surpassed by my husband's eyes, and the warm air whispering a gentle breeze that has heaven written all over it. Before you are swept away by the vivid scene I can now recall, let me disclose that my life before "this day" was anything but beautiful. God and only God could take me back to "this day" and recount my surroundings as they were in the natural and in my heart; sunny and warm. Previously, the account of my soul consisted of one squall line after another.

In Alabama, when weather persons have squall lines in their forecast, citizens take notice. Growing up in tornado alley should have prepared me for the storms of life. After all, don't all civilizations set their watch by the testing of sirens at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday morning? If you grew up in my small town, "Mobile Home Foundation of the World and Thankful for It," there is no explanation needed. However, if you happen to be reading this and have never heard of Haleyville or for that matter siren testing, let me attempt to educate you on the subject. Should you have the pleasure of visiting our fair city and a piercing blast overtakes your ability to hear anything except dogs howling at pitches that would break the sound barrier, please remain calm. This too shall pass. If the siren sounds and then slowly appears to be fading, HOLD ON! In a matter of seconds, it will return for what will seem like an eternity. Remember, this is most likely only a test and you are in no eminent danger. Sometimes I forget what day it is and have to look outside to confirm. Blue sky ----- Wednesday ----- check watch for 10:00 a.m. Dark clouds ---- locate flashlight, weather radio and bicycle helmet. Test two is the same horn with one marked difference. The deafening sound never fades. It involves one very long continuous blast indicating a Tornado Warning. Again, this is more than likely only a test, but just in case --- IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME - GET OUT!

During one very stormy night of my youth, I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of twelve. I was home alone except for the presence of my two new born nephews whom I was babysitting. My two oldest brothers Moe and Larry, and their two wives, Hillary and Nancy, were just down the road at the country club attending a party after a golf tournament the guys had entered over the weekend. My dad was in Birmingham with my mother at the hospital where she was recovering from surgery. My mother, who has been affectionately named seven different names by each set of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to suit their own tastes, was scheduled to come home the next day. To me, she is today and will always lovingly be, "my mother."

I had rocked Big E and Peanut to sleep when I received an anxious message over the telephone from my Aunt M concerning my mother's condition. She told me my mother had been rushed into emergency surgery due to internal bleeding. Aunt M continued by assuring me that she and "the ladies from the church" would be right over. As I hung up the telephone I realized her call was preparation for what was to come. After all, "the ladies of the church' only come to your house for one reason if your mother isn't home - CASSEROLES. My dad, nicknamed "Smoke" because of his incredible speed on foot, didn't care for scrambled food. As a WW2 veteran from The United States Marine Corps, he ate military style; one thing at a time until it was all gone. He didn't mix the food on his plate and he didn't want it mixed for him during the cooking process. I had very little experience with casserole eating or my mother being sick.

Suddenly, I was overcome with fear. Had my mother passed away? Was my aunt trying to soften the bolt? The only thing that brought me back to reality was one thunderous crying baby. Obviously the sound of the telephone ringing had awakened my youngest nephew, Big E, who was now screaming at the top of his lungs. I went to pick him up and walked slowly into my bathroom singing "Jesus Loves Me." Amazingly, it worked. Anyone having the unfortunate experience of sitting in front of me in church knows that singing is not one of my gifts. I guess the child's only hope was to go back from whence he came and the song beckoned him to sleep, all the while, summoning my heart to call on the name of Jesus. As I looked in the mirror confessing and repenting my sins and asking God to forgive me, I promised Him that I would follow Jesus. I knew Jesus loved the little children and I knew He loved me. Fear subsided and peace flooded my heart. I knew I wasn't alone. I also prayed earnestly that God would be with my mother and allow her to live. I didn't know fancy words or exactly what to say. None of that mattered. God heard me and He answered. Aunt M and "the ladies from the church" came never knowing I had just given my life to Christ. Soon after, Smoke called to report that my mother was out of surgery and doing much better. Although she didn't come home the next day, she did come home and I am happy to report some 37 years later, she is alive and well! God had dried up my puddle of tears and put a rainbow above. As for my promise, I was true to my word. I had been brought up all my life that one must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized in order to be saved. I crossed off all five and continued to believe, so far, so good."

Unfortunately, as my teenage years approached, dark skies began to enter my horizon. I became more full of myself than of Jesus. My choices most often did not line up with my decision making process and promise to follow Him. To add insult to my own injuries, Satan had not forgotten the statement I proclaimed "that he hadn't gotten me yet!" By choices of my own accord, I opened the door. In Genesis 4:7, the Lord is inspiring Cain to do better with these words. "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." As the story in the Bible goes, we know Cain did not heed the correct voice. He didn't choose well. Neither did I and Satan was just waiting for the moment of attack to show me he indeed could use his wicked schemes to entice me with more sin than I could think up on my own. But, enough about that scoundrel. Now, let me report about the good stuff!

Think back to the day I described as I began this writing as "this day." "This day" was THE DAY that I realized my forecast was designed by God. (Jeremiah 29:11) My radar had been connected to the wrong station. John 10:1-6 reminds us of this: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a a thief and a robber. Bu he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all of his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." I had turned from the Biblical teaching of my childhood that is summed up in the verses of a song that is precious to me - "Oh Be Careful, Little Eyes" In each verse, it tells of how we are to be careful what our eyes see, what our ears hear, what our hands do, where our feet go, and what our mouth says. It reminds us that our Father is looking with love and again that we are to be careful. We are to proceed with caution, taking cover under His refuge (Psalm 91) when the alarm sounds and sirens blare WATCH and then WARNING!

I challenge and encourage you today with these truths from God's Word concerning the storms of life. If we aren't tuned in to what He says, we may find ourselves in a rain delay or even more concerning; convinced we have suffered a complete loss. Whose forecast are you following? Be assured, God's Word is certain. It is not based on prediction; only truth.

* If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, please stop, drop, and LISTEN. 2 Chronicles 20:20, Acts 16:31, John 3:16, Romans 10:9, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Matthew 7:7, Revelation 3:20.

* If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and you are considering opening doors to the voice of a stranger, please heed the warning signs and don't talk to strangers! RUN quickly to the open arms of the Good Shepherd. Even if you aren't as quick as old "Smoke," it doesn't matter. Jesus is as close as the first step. Psalms 91, 46:1, Proverbs 30:5, John 10: 25-37, John 10:10, John 15:4, I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:18, I Peter 5:8-9.

* If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and you have already opened doors of your own choosing and have been deceived by what you have allowed to come in, TURN BACK! It is NEVER too late. Remember, there are no name games in The Kingdom of Heaven and God knows exactly who and where we reside. Psalms 51:10, 103:1-5, Acts 3:19-20, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 8:26-39, Colossians 1:13-14, Hebrews 2:14-15, Hebrews 8:12, James 4:2.

I want to THANK ALL OF YOU who have commented, posted, and encouraged me in my previous blogs. Your time is valuable and I am honored you would spend a moment or two with me and then take more time to respond with reassurance. Next time, I plan to share the 3rd most embarrassing moment of my life and unravel the question......Whose got your back? After you read it, you will be asking yourself, "You mean there are two other experiences more embarrassing than that?" No need for me to make a bucket list. My husband, Ham, just rolls his eyes with a flabbergasted grin and replies....."my life with Jubilea." Until then my friends, take shelter in the shadow of The Almighty! No bicycle helmet needed.