October 2024 Conchshell Chronicles

Lamb Bleatings

Hurricane Milton

 

 

We were surprised this past week with Hurricane Milton that passed just north of our home. We had 14 inches of rain in five hours, which filled up our street, and almost flooded the homes of many of our friends.

 

The surprise  for us all was the 126 tornados that spun off the thunderstorms and many touched down in our county and tore through many neighborhoods, damaging many homes and killing at least five. One of those tornadoes ripped within 50 yards of our downtown café, tearing out the railroad crossing signs and destroying the pickleball courts.

 

 

We lost our jacaranda tree but were very fortunate that our homes were spared any other damage.

 

 

Our family crew spent the day before the storm boarding up the café windows along with all the kids and our homes as well as Paul’s mother’s house. We were a very efficient team! Paul and Arielle have windows on the second floor and getting to one window on a sloping roof required some extra effort.

 

 

COMMUNITY EFFORTS go a long way to help . MAHALO NUI LOA (thank you, gracias, temgki pali) to all of you who pray for us, give to us, call us, support us, check on us, visit us and are a part of us, our lives, and many of the lives we Love, Serve and Give to.  The needs continue to abound all around us. We are thankful for the Hope we possess to not only get through but to be victorious and useful in the process.  God is great and greatly to be praised. 

Your many gifts of ALOHA have been arriving at our doorstep and have brought great joy, energy and FUN ds into our Café. We appreciate you sending us your ALOHA WEAR and ACCESSESSORIES to help us raise money.  We exist to Love, serve and give to one another so we can all thrive    together into eternity. 

We are so thankful to have many of you join in to “BECOME A PART OF THE GREATNESS.”

God has been working His power and grace in our lives , in our community and throughout this world.  It is a very exciting time to be alive and we must stand together praying in unity and grace .  God knows how easy it is for us all to be distracted and weighed down by concern, fear and all that goes on between our ears.  It has caused me to go to my quiet places in His presence for safety , focus and the gentle cradle of  His touch working within.  More than ever wanting His wisdom, insight and will for each step made, word spoken and especially unspoken.  I have become  more vigilant to stay in the realm of GRATITUDE  AND THANKSGIVING IN the small and the great. The practice of staying in the moment and finding JOY, PEACE AND LOVE. 

 Michael and I are now alone in our house here in Vero Beach.  The playground of opportunities abound.  These past months has been the Birthday Season with us as Michael’s is on Sept 1, Lukas on Sept 14, Mine on Sept 30 and Moselle’s on Oct 12. It seems the birthdays gifts have been very practical with various tools and home necessities being given– shovels, rakes, hedge clippers, drills– all those things we parents have and now our adult children are realizing the needs for such useful items, as well as the skills to make them productive.

  

 

My favorite subjects have always been GAMES AND SPORTS, MUSIC AND DANCE, ARTS AND CRAFTS , and RECESS AND LUNCH.  I am in the season to enjoy this playground and not fret about yesterday, today or   tomorrow, but find my moments of joy in the never ending presence of the ALPHA AND OMEGA...MY BEGINNING AND END. I focus on my heavenly Father who is the greatest most generous Provider, the SACRIFICIAL SON who gave up His very life with great agony and suffering, and the HOLY SPIRIT who is ever present to guide, teach and give wisdom and insight.  “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Laura

 

 

God's Plan, Our Part

I’ve often heard it said : “God’s got it covered. He’s in charge. I don’t worry about anything.”

Others say “I’m worried about the future. I want to make sure I make the right decisions.”

Which one is correct?  One or the other? Could both be?

For those who don’t believe     in God, and there is no rational reason for life, then our choices are either very important, or they don’t matter at all.

For some who believe in God and His plan for humanity, they trust in His sovereignty and decide they can sit back and watch Him do what He will do.

What is the reality? Is God in charge? Does He have a plan for these next days, months, and years that is unfolding before our eyes?

What is our place in God’s plan? Is there one?

I was shocked today to hear that less than half of our population who call themselves followers of Christ are planning not to vote in this upcoming election. “God has got it. He will do what He will do.” they say.

I think they are not reading the Bible with understanding. Please let me explain. Jesus gives a teaching on prayer recorded in Matthew 6:

Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰ ‘Your kingdom come.  Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

This is our outline for prayer- pray in this way. First acknowledge God as the Boss of the Universe- the Creator, the One with the plan, all power and authority. Then, we are told to ask Him that His will for His Kingdom would be done, in Heaven and on Earth. For some reason, God wants us to tell Him this daily. It’s a mystery, but let’s just be obedient and accept this mandate.

He decides what He will do in Heaven, but when we ask for His will to be done on earth, what are we asking? Think for a moment. What control do we have as to His will on Earth?

As I’ve considered this question, my logical answer is it only my decisions for my life, today. I am in control only of what I decide to do with my time, intellect, and resources, today. Therefore, I am asking to be part of God’s plan for humanity on Earth, today.  This principle is expressed in Ephesians 2:10:

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.      Ephesians 2:10

God has planned specific things for us to do in this life, as part of His plan for humanity and His Kingdom. We are to be active participants with Him. Yes, He has a plan that will prevail. Yes, our decisions matter. It’s perplexing, but Biblically true. I’ll prove it!

In Acts 27, Paul is on a ship in a storm, and it is getting serious. Most think they will die at sea. Paul has a visit from an angel who tells him that even though the ship will be lost, he and all the crew and passengers will survive (verse 23). Therefore its God’s plan and will that all will survive. No worries, right?

After 14 days of the storm some sailors try to leave the ship:

Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”  So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Acts 27:30-32

Wait a minute! I though God said all would survive? But Paul says that if the sailors leave, they will all die. Contradiction?  No, it’s a Biblical     principle: God does His part, and His followers must do their part to see the plan through. Remember God sees above the lineal time line that we flow in. God’s will is stated, but our responsibility to make wise decision is also part of the equation.

For decades, many have been told that ‘We are in the world but not part of the world’, and decide to withdraw to our comfortable enclaves and isolate ourselves from the decadent society around us. “Don’t participate in government! That is of the world!” Don’t contaminate yourself by going into a place that serves alcohol! Don’t make friends with sinners and worldly people!”

Fortunately our hero Jesus did go into the world. He spent quality time with prostitutes, drunks, those sexually confused, and other outcasts, along with well respected families and political leaders. He was the friends of sinners as well as religious leaders. His disciples were from all levels of society. Most importantly He told us to go into the world, not separate ourselves from it.

¹⁵ And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that     everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16

In addition, we are told in the Bible to participate with our governmental system, and by doing that we are serving God!

⁶ Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Romans 13:6-7

Don’t succumb to the lie that we are bystanders to God in his work on Earth. No, we are active, significant participants. So in the next election, vote for the candidates who truly want to serve us and make wise decisions for our benefit as well as those who support our best ally in the Middle East- Israel.   Michael