My very good friend Ellen is doing a series of blogs called Courage Builder, evidence of God in my life. I am totally enjoying reading her uplifting stories and so I though I would share a few of my own.
The first time I can truly remember the presence of the Holy Spirit was way back when I was a little girl. I believe I was in the 2nd grade. My fear of storms started when I was just a wee little girl in children's church. We were learning about Noah's ark. The teachers flashed the lights and banged on things to make it "storm" in our children's church and it scared me half to death. I don't remember this but my mom told me that they had to come get her out of church because I was so upset. After that day I was scared of storms! I'm not just talking a little scared, terrified! If it was remotely cloudy outside I was like glue to my mom or dad. If it began to thunder or lightening I was hysterical. During an entire storm I would lay close to my mom with a pillow over my head. If she left the room, I was right behind her. It was so bad that I would not wear sunglasses because it "looked" dark outside.
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
Growing up in Arkansas we had our fair share of tornadoes in the spring. So when I was in the 2nd grade I had spent the night with a friend from school. It was starting to get cloudy and I knew I wanted to get home before the storms started. I got home and shortly after there were tornadoes everywhere. My mom and I were the only ones home. I have no idea where anyone else was. We got in a closet when the sirens started going off. I was terrified as usual and my mom started singing. Just to pass time and to calm me down. She started singing songs from church, I knew every song she was singing but I was to scared to sing along. Pretty soon I could clearly hear someone else singing with her word for word. I knew no one else was home but I didn't say anything, I just continued to listen to "them" sing and suddenly there was a peace over me that I had never felt before. I was not scared anymore even though we knew there was a tornado close to our house. After everything was over I told my mom I could hear someone singing. She said " that was me" I said "No, I could hear 2 people singing" she told me that it was an angel singing with her. I truely believe that. I was so scared and that is how God showed me that He was there and that His angels were there to watch over us and to keep us safe. Even as a child God cared and wanted me to have a peace that only he could give me.
It was still several years before I was freed from the fear of storms. I remember my mom praying over me all the time. Praying for peace....she would speak Psalm 91 to me over and over. It was a horrible fear, I had it even into adulthood. Now when it storms I still get an uneasy feeling but nothing like before. I am not scared of thunder and lightening. Just a little concerned when they start talking about tornadoes, but the first thing I do is get out my bible and start reading Psalm 91 out loud. I want my kids to hear it. I do not want them to be afraid. I want them to have a peace in their hearts that God will protect them no matter what the circumstances.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 They say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because they love me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue them;
I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name.
15 They will call on me, and I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will deliver them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them
and show them my salvation.”
