I will remember

Last year we went to Galveston for a visit.  I was taking a walk with my son when I saw something that really tugged at my heart.  I saw the most awesome reminder of a storm that almost completely took this city out.  I saw two boats positioned on the sand in Galveston beach put there by Hurricane Ike.  It took me back to a time when fear and apprehension loomed for a bit.  I only stayed there a short while because I quickly remembered what God had done.

I was still working and there was a threat of a hurricane looming in the Gulf.  We would later come to know it as Hurricane Ike.  There was a concern of hurricanes since we had seen the damage and destruction Hurricane Katrina had brought to New Orleans.  We would have two concerns that season with Ike and Rita both approaching Texas. 

I remember being called to full active uniform duty.  I remember working twenty days straight with no time off.  I remember my house being struck by a tree limb and creating a hole in our roof that completely destroyed my son's room and the front foyer and us having no possibility of addressing the issue for days.  I remember having to sleep in a cramped office downtown because we had no electricity at home.  I remember calling friends to ask them what the damage was to our home and yard. 

I also remember that my father-in-law, in his nineties suffered no harm to his home or self.  I remember God sending friends to take care of us and our home when we could not take care of ourselves.  I remember God bringing people to us to clean out my son's room as we were taking care of the city. 

With all that having taken place, I knew I would always remember what God had done in my life through a storm called Hurricane Ike.

A year later I sufferred a much greater storm in my life.  God was just as faithful.  On days I could not even lift my head to face another day, I remembered that he was faithful and would not leave my side. I was right.  Every now and then I have reminders, much like the two boats in the sand, of God's faithfulness and I remember what God has done. 

I walked into church not long after that only to hear our church choir sing a song I was not familiar with.

I will remember, I will remember, I will remember what God has done;
I will stop and give him praise for great is his faithfulness. 

Sometimes we have storms in life that we don't welcome and we certainly don't understand.  I use those storms not to dwell on the damage done but on what God brought us through.  My initial reaction upon seeing those boats was to say "Look at what Hurricane Ike did" It quickly changed to "Look at God's faithfulness in bringing us through this storm."

Are you in a storm?  Remember that God is at work and though you may not see it, you are in the palm of His hands. 

I will remember what God has done!  

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced... He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.  He remembers his covenant forever. 1 Chronicles 16: 11-12; 14-15