With living near the coast for almost ten years, I feel like my body should be routinely numb to hurricanes.Yet, as we watch Irma and Jose quickly put everywhere I call home in a state of emergency, it makes me wonder. I have no right to question, but I still begin to cry out to God. Did people not suffer enough through Harvey? I know through every natural disaster His grace shines, but like the bible says in these times people become lovers of themselves for example, how we convince ourselves we can't handle this. Our God is SO MUCH BIGGER than all of this, but in times of disaster we begin to have doubts. The grace of the Lord though, has been evident through the entire generosity of the United States for Houston. We could easily say Lord can't your people just be cut a break, but I believe he probably thinks that everytime we choose worldly things over him. During those wee hours of the morning my mind begins to ponder and dive into scripture obviously there have been times in history where people assumed the end of the World is coming, but the way society keeps getting worse and worse I keep relating back to Luke 21:25.
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:25-28)
I have quickly began to live the lifestyle of living every day like it is your last because you never know.
"There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
I know it's easy to think all the things I would miss out on such as marriage, kids, and growing old, but what was my purpose on this earth? To make disciples of this world not to have those worldly things that have been defined as ultimately what you need to feel like you have lived a full life. I know in God's eyes I have been striving to accomplish what He has called me to do. I may get caught up in my selfish needs some days, but if God were to call me to heaven tomorrow, I know I'm ready. I have gotten to experience so much already, more than some. I have gotten to experience the life milestones like high school graduation, first kiss, prom, drivers license, college, and etc. Most importantly, I have gotten the blessing to love the heck out of so many people on this earth and to show the love of Christ in the only way I knew how through vulnerability. So whether I am called tomorrow or sixty years from now, it is all in God's timing and I am learning to truly surrender it over to him because I can not control the weather. The Lord has equipped my soul to serve him, because that is what He has called me to do. I can't really complain because I have a great group of friends to do life with, a great body of Christ system at my church and the BCM, a sweet family, a crazy stressful college experience, a summer of a lifetime that just passed, and a Heavenly Father who loves me, how could I ask for more? To be honest, some days feels likes a taste of heaven on earth when Christ is shining through. Which is ultimately what God wanted was to bring a heavenly mindset down to earth. So bring it on hurricanes because my GOD is ready to help pick of the pieces to create a beautiful masterpiece through time of healing!
Sheetal Tadiparty
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