Florida – The Tent Maker Blog

Hello Fellow Travelers,

Well, it has been an active two weeks! Last week, I wrote three blog posts, and I deleted each one because it did not speak to what I wanted to say. What do I want to say/know, you ask?

I want to know how you are doing mentally and physically. Rumors of war and rumors of storms, and you find yourself wondering how you can feed and protect your family. I understand, especially when Helene invaded the East Coast and Iran shot missiles at Israel last night. Take a deep breath and realize it is all under God’s control.

We reside in Charlotte, NC, but my husband and I have experienced storms in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas. No matter how much you prepare, there can always be the unexpected. My rule is that if they say evacuate, we leave (I mean animals, kids, and extended family/friends). If not, we hunker down with food, water, and gas in our car. The rest is in God’s hands. Oh yes, and we pray. We have friends who pray, and we pray for them. We pray a lot!

A bible verse I love and wish I had printed on my arm is Matthew 6: 25-27.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature?”

You can’t get taller by worrying, but I am here to tell you that you can get sick and ruin your health. And this is coming from a confessed control freak and fixer. So, if you want to worry, go ahead. God gave us free will to make our own decisions. But what if you live in the mountains of Western NC? Fall is their busy season. Families make yearly trips to ride through the Blue Ridge Parkway. Now, homes and businesses are gone. Even after the cleanup, it will be a challenging year for the mountains. How will they provide food, shelter, and safety to their families? I think our government should give them the debit cards and the extra money they have been freely giving to illegal aliens! Just my opinion.

So, if you are feeling worried or anxious, it can get worse or better. My life is better when I do for others, pass out bracelets, or laugh with family. I am not speaking of those who lost loved ones, for grief is a different subject. My reference is to us who are living and how we make life harder on ourselves with worry and anxiety. I include myself. Remember, you are worthy of a healthy lifestyle, mentally and physically! Grab it with both hands and run!

If you are in the Western Carolina area, God Bless you! You are loved. Help has come and will continue until you and your land are whole.

Please pray for them and all who were affected by Helene.

Heavenly Father,

I come before your throne of mercy and grace. I praise you for the people willing and able to help the ones affected by Hurricane Helene. I praise you for the love, kindness, and compassion that you have placed in their hearts! Please uphold your people with your righteous right hand in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and anywhere else Helene has affected. Give them strength and resilience to come through this praising You! Let them know we love them and care about their circumstances.

In Jesus Holy and Precious Name.

Amen!

God Bless You!

When I first sat down to write about Wednesday’s shooting in Parkland, Florida, my article was passionate with fire and tears. And then I waited. Each morning I have prayed to God and asked, “What do you want me to say?” Finally a peace has entered my heart and I am ready to address this tragedy.

This is not a gun thing, it is a people thing. We are the problem and the reason children are killing children. We have not provided the proper environments for them to grow up. We have made it hard on families to survive and have allowed others to draw the lines of hate and difference down each one of us. American humanity is why school shootings are occurring.

In America, information is instant, violence is revered, and success is measured in millions of dollars and how many shiny things you own. We, humans, possess no real worth, except what the world whispers in our ears. Even in our church pews, we see the disintegration of love, faith, and hope. For when the church doors open and everyone drives away, it is just another event checked off our weekly to do list.

In James 1:23 -24 we are told…

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

Americans and American Christians have forgotten what we look like and have allowed others to wipe away our faces! Therefore, we are to blame for the 17 lives lost on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, in Parkland, Florida!

The reasons are numerous, as to why we have lost our reflection. And change is going to be a huge task with a lot of people coming together. But it can be done!

One of the reasons, I think mental illness is so rampant is because of our healthcare system and the conglomerate of Pharmaceutical companies. We can not afford to take care of ourselves and our children. I know if I were a Physician or an owner of a Pharmaceutical company, I would not be wealthy. Because how much money do you really need to live on. You can’t take it with you, when you die. And you can’t buy more time to live, because God does not take bribes.

So why the enormous amount of wealth accumulation? Power? You are nothing before the omniscient God and look pretty pathetic in mine. And, if you want to be revered for your work, make it available to everyone, not because you own a Ferrari. You are not the things you own, in the end, but what you have contributed to humanity.

Our communities are another problem and how we outcast those who are not what we consider to be normal. For what? Do we see ourselves as a better part of a species, because we don’t have issues? Please, we are stinking, rotten manure when we don’t acknowledge respect and love to all humans! Especially those who are different.

Please, for the sake of the children, open your heart to real change. Take action, don’t talk about it. And if you are a community leader or elected official, you need to forget yourself and your agenda. You need to do what is right for American children! Strip away the labels (Democrat/Republican) and come forward to the altar of God. Repent of your selfishness and vow to do what is right! Listen to what Jesus says to you and then do it!

Today the American mirror shows a face resembling Dorian Gray, but tomorrow it could resemble Jesus Christ, if we try!

May God bless those in Parkland, Florida with His love and comfort!!

Tag: Florida

Helene, Mental & Physical Anguish

HUMANITY IS THE PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS!