My word for April 25th is REBUILD

My word for April 25^th is REBUILD

A year ago Joplin was hit by a ferocious tornado.  It was devastating.  Those of us who live in Stuttgart know what it means to survive a tornado.  Even though our tornado wasn’t as bad as Joplin, many homes and businesses had to be rebuilt.  At first there is the shock of the devastation, non-belief that this has happened.  Then an inventory is taken of the affected areas to see what damage has been done.  The debris has to be removed and all of the materials needed to rebuild must be gathered.  Next is the rebuilding.  It takes strength, it takes faithfulness, and it takes patience.  The citizens of Joplin have the will to rebuild; they are full of spirit and determination.  They are committed to staying and rebuilding what they love. 

At times our lives are similar to the devastation caused by a tornado.  We experience situations that blow into our lives and destroy.  They take away what we knew, we are left to rebuild and start a new.  It begins with the denial.  The questions of why did this happen?  How did this happen?  What went wrong?  What did I do wrong?    Many questions swirl through the mind.  An inventory of the damage is taken and the question asked, can anything be rebuilt?  The debris has to be removed to move on.  Anyone and anything that has caused the devastation must become dead, they do not exist, they aren’t alive.  Anything that has caused the pain has been blown away with the gust of violent winds from the storm.  What ever it takes to rebuild the relationship must become part of the equation.   This isn’t anything that happens quickly, situations didn’t happen overnight and they will not be restored over night either.  You must be strong, you must be willing to take your time and not rush the situation.  The main focus must be on your faith, faith to continue. 

The citizens of Joplin have been working nonstop to rebuild. The impact of the devastating storm still lingers around them.   Slowly but surely Joplin is being rebuilt, one life at a time.  They have partners in their re-growth.  The number one partner is God.  People are still hurting, but they will never give up.   These people continue to pray and be strong.  God is here through it all.  He enables everyone to be full of the spirit.  The storm is gone it is time to rebuild, forget the past and what goes with it.  God gives us the determination to press on. 

Dear Lord the storm has past now help us to rebuild.  You know how difficult this can be.  Give us the patience to wait on the sunshine everyday we are rebuilding.  Help us to remove things that aren’t positive in our lives, those things that hold us back.  Allow us to press on during this journey of 2012 rebuilding a better life than we had before.  You are our partner, helping us to have strength one step at a time.

Jeremiah 31:25 NIV

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.