Category Archives: Devastation

The Human Spirit

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Memorial Day May 27 2019 Leroy Myers

 

 

On May 27, 2019, Memorial Day evening, the lives of hundreds of thousands were changed forever including mine. Here in the State of Ohio, 19 confirmed tornadoes, 15 in the area known as the Miami Valley from where I am from. My family and I were some of the very lucky ones that the tornadoes, loss of water and power missed. You can see the interactive map with all the information here.

The Meteorologists and National Weather Service did an amazing job of putting out warnings through news channels, radio stations and cities that had tornado warning systems sounded as well. Unfortunately, some of the cities hit had no siren based warning systems and the fast-moving storms left little time for some people to prepare for the onslaught of devastating weather.

Since Monday evening, my heart has been heavy for all the loss and devastation that I have seen on the news channels, social media and for all the people affected. Only one person lost their life, a gentleman from Celina, Ohio that by all accounts was one in a million. Two hundred people were injured either by the debris and storms themselves or from carbon monoxide buildup and while helping clear debris. Ohio is made up of big cities with a small hometown feel. Almost everyone knows someone that has been affected in one way or another.

But the one thing that has been prevalent since the onslaught of the storms has been the resilient human spirit from total strangers and neighbors helping one another, leaning on one another and all of the donations pouring into local centers to help out those that have lost everything. The kindness and compassion seen through local videos of people stopping to offer food and water, clothing, baby items, from everything and anything are out there for those in need.

As much division as can be seen where evil and hate are lurking, there is so much more love and compassion being poured out for everyone, it makes me proud to be living in a state where when the chips are down, the people pull up their boot strings and get to work helping one another however they can.

As my husband and I traveled North of where we reside today to see a friend that was one of the unlucky ones in losing his home and most of his things, the devastation that we passed on the way there, looked like a war zone from some far away land. As we crept along the roadway, making our way to his property, I was reminded that I am glad I live in a place where no matter what happens, everyone pitches in to help others. When we asked him his thoughts on everything, his response was, “I don’t know what happens now, but I know I will Trust the Lord to meet all my needs.”

Matthew 22:36-40 New Living Translation (NLT)
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Jesus tells us to love others, expecting nothing in return and this week I have witnessed this. My prayer is that once the cleanup is complete and repairs are made, roads are reopened, that this love for one another will continue. It is sad that it took something of this magnitude to bring out the best in people, but this is a big lesson for all of us to love one another as we love ourselves.

At the beginning of this natural disaster, there were over 50,000 people in the area without power. Our local utility company, with help from over 400 utility workers and companies across many states have been working round the clock to restore power and as of this morning, there was approximately 1,100 left without power. Kudos to the women and men who have been working in hazardous conditions since the beginning. Thank you to the many utility line workers that have left their families and homes to come help restore power. Also, thank you to the Water Plant for getting the water turned back on for all those that have been without water or were under a boil advisory.

For the residents that no longer have homes to live in, the ones that have no place to go to work, for the ones that are struggling to hang onto hope, my prayers are with all of you.

Here is a compilation video from WhioTV Channel 7, Dayton, Ohio of the Dayton-Miami Valley Area Storms.

Jesus loves you~always.

Jesus can turn any test into a testimony and any mess into a message. #HopeAlwaysHaveFaith

Blessings~Carlene

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Forgive

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This week has been a lesson in forgiveness for me. Our grandson who is inquisitive , strong, funny, hyper and a autistic has tested my patience and mercy.

At the beginning of the week, he broke my mobile screen near the speaker and spider cracks down my screen, but thankfully it is still usable.

Tonight, my laptop screen was not as lucky. I’m at a loss, as both items will need replaced, in time. Living on a fixed income doesn’t afford the luxury of going to the store and buying new. He thinks, if something is broken, we will go shop. So for now, as long as my phone holds out, I’ll be posting from it.

As I sat and cried of the loss of data that I have no idea how to retrieve, family photos, etc. God reminded me that life is precious.  As our little one cried and kept repeating sorry, I knew it wasn’t intended and I knew holding onto anger would surely give the devil a foothold. Forgiveness was easy because I love him.

Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, a chance to do over things I could have done better today.

The Lord’s mercies are new every day. Mine should be too.

May you know how much Jesus loves you-right now in this moment.

Blessings ~Carlene

Uncertain Times

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hurrican irma

In a little more than two weeks, two Hurricanes have wreaked havoc on many people, their homes and the cities they love and live in. Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017, and caused so much devastation and flooding in many Texas towns and villages surrounding and including Houston, Texas. As relief efforts going on there, donations going down to Texas from all over the country, now the State of Florida and its residents are facing impacts of Hurricane Irma, which is a much bigger storm than Hurricane Harvey was and the impact of Hurricane Irma, is far reaching, inland up through the states of GA, SC, TN, KY, even the Ohio Valley where I reside.

All week long, I have been fascinated with the tracking of this storm, mainly because my mother lives in Florida and I have many friends and other family members that call Florida home. The sorrow that comes with this fascination is knowing that there is nothing I can do or anyone else can do to stop this storm from causing impending doom to the people and properties of Florida and what will be will be.

As much of the nation watches and much of the television coverage has been on Hurricane Irma and the impact she will have, we must not forget the people in the Western United States that are plagued with wildfires out of control, no end in sight for them either.  Many people have lost everything they have, their homes, their properties, some have even paid with their lives. We live in uncertain times. But the one thing we can all cling to is Jesus. He will never leave us or abandon us. He is with us through the storms, the ones caused by nature and the ones that trap us in our fears when it comes to our jobs, our family life, our relationships, He is with you and with me.

In His Word, he promises that he will always be with us. He will sustain us. He will carry us. All he asks in return is for us to Trust Him. Going through these uncertain times, it can be very easy to ask, “Where are you, God?” But as believers, we know He is with us. It’s not something we can see, but something we can feel in our hearts and something that is so tangible that we want to reach and grasp it.

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4 NIV

7 The Lord is good,
a strong refuge when trouble comes.
He is close to those who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7 NLT

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:4-5NKJV

Heavenly Father,

We come to you Lord, and we ask that you continue to protect and preserve life in all areas that dangerous storms are approaching, dangerous wildfires are spreading. We ask that you continue to strengthen your people and allow your presence to be felt in and through all of these uncertainties and we ask that you remain forever faithful to be our shield and rock that we lean on and seek comfort. In Jesus’ mighty name, we lay our requests at your feet. Amen

Properties and possessions can be replaced. Please remain sheltered and safe and continue to follow directions of your local emergency management officials.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of you that have been and will continue to be affected by these storms, whether they be water and rain, or fire and the wind. Please be as safe as you can be.

Remember Jesus Loves You!

God Bless You All!