Hurricane Harvey Relief

Deserted Hearts

God is… He is everything. He is a light even to those who have nothing. It is not His desire that we suffer, but nonetheless He is always a comforter and a very present help. He loves them and us just the same. No one is esteemed above the other. That’s how he wants us to treat each other, but are we really unbiased on how we treat the poor, the less fortunate? We want to turn our backs on them. It’s not our problem how they live their lives. Just keep on walking by. They’re peasants in our lives.

He found them in a desert, a windy, empty land. He surrounded them and brought them up, guarding them as those he loved very much. Deuteronomy 32:10 NCV

What does it take to live a life to care for the poor? It’s a calling on your life that many do not heed to. It’s a calling that is not for everyone to accept, but if you’re that one! That one person that knows you can take care of only one person that is poor, you will find it in your heart to help where you can help, even if it’s just one dollar. You never know how a little can go a long way in their life.

Give a little of your life to help those in need.

Thank you Father, that you are near to me even when my heart is broken and my strength has failed. Thank you that you find me in my wilderness and you will restore me to joy.

~Found in a Desert

Be Sill and Know Daily Devotional

In the Midst of the Storm

Soon I will be forced to return to my abode in HTX and will have to face all the issues I left behind. I will be searching for that sense of normalcy, but most likely I probably won’t find it knowing I should be somewhere else in this lifetime.

I left Houston, TX because I was under a mandatory evacuation from the devastating effects of Tropical Storm Hurricane Harvey.

Even I kept hesitating on whether or not to leave my home, but when I saw how high the water was rising, I just couldn’t see myself sitting in a house waiting to be rescued. I left! #ByeHouston

I saw my window of opportunity and I got on the road.

A three hour drive to my destination was not a bad idea to escape from the catastrophic events. Flooding, power outages, shortage on bread, meat and gas. Places to eat were closing before dawn. The Mayor would place a curfew on our city for several days. People were trapped in their houses days after the hurricane hit and my friends were out in boats doing citizen rescues.

Arriving here in Austin gave me a sense of “normalcy.” We had shelter, access to food, hospitality and a peace of mind. My family was marked safe.

Austin’s culture was every bit of cordial. The people here will greet you with kindness and go above and beyond to help you with whatever you need. Whenever I mentioned I was from Houston, I felt a little bit embarrassed to admit we were victims of a “natural” disaster and was seeking refuge. I was embarrassed to say, we were displaced from our homes and my children could not go back to school and I was out of work until September 5th. The people here seemed as if they understood and they made us feel welcomed.

As we settled in, we explored the city a little bit. Going to the state Capitol, and Lake Travis. Most of the time, my family and I got a chance to relax and enjoy a sense of normalcy outside of Houston’s catastrophic events.

As we come upon this Labor Day Monday, I will be traveling back to Houston to find that sense of normalcy in a town where I was born and raised. It will be a challenge to rebuild again and to empathize with those who lost their loved ones in the flood.

I am praying for those who were affected by this tropical storm and asking God to show his glory in the midst of recovering from this storm.

Shalom

PUSH THROUGH #HOUSTON

My city has been through catastrophic flooding over the past couple of days. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. Our convention centers have 9,000 people that need pillows, blankets, new packages of underwear because people left their homes with only one bag and have not been able to return to their homes. This is my retention pond near my house.

Schools will be closed until after Labor Day and parents are not able to commute to their jobs because our entire city has been inundated with water.

Rivers are expected to crest by Thursday or Friday and reservoirs and levees are being released slowly into our cities and small surrounding areas. Not only that it continues to rain daily.

Sorry for cutting off the photo credits. These photos are from a CNN article.

News Reporters are asking residents to stay put for the next 24 hours, but to also help in your nearby communities.

My sons and I are safe and will be out volunteering today at my church.

This too shall pass but Harvey will be moving along the coast with heavy rains towards Louisiana. I’m praying for the safety of everyone and please pray that we work together as a community and we can get back to our normal lives.

Trust and Believe that you will have what you need to get through life’s challenges!

President Trump, please do not come to TX empty handed. Most restaurants are still not operable, and grocery store owners are trying to manage the crowd by having people stand in line to get inside to buy food.

Have Mercy! 🙏🏽⚠️🚨🚣☔️