Rita

Old Harbor on a nice day
Picture was taken by Doug.

I've been watching Rita brewing up a storm and I am joining many that are praying for all those along the coastline. I pray that the worst of Rita will move back out to the Gulf and then die out. I am not all that familiar with hurricanes but with all that has been going on with them in the last few years I am learning more than I want to know. We used to get wind storms in Old Harbor. The wind was horrible and very scary. Wind forces of 85 to 100 and more which are considered hurricane force winds. I can't imagine 170 mph sustained winds and I don't ever want to experience them!!!! I remember watching the wind blowing Sitkalidak Strait up on to the street in front of our house. One of those times Dad said, "This storm is what's left of a hurricane in Japan." Wow, all that way across the world until it reached us, it was still that powerful. The force that is felt from these hurricanes are frightening. Once it blew in Palmer and Wasilla and the partially finished garage walls my husband built before he left for work were swaying in the wind. That was disturbing enough for me! Imagine a whole roof flying by! Or a whole CASINO being moved along by the forces of a storm! I am happy to see the highways filled with people leaving for a while. I couldn't help but think of the expensive gallons and gallons of gas being burned as these people flee the possibility of Rita while I watched them on t.v. this morning. It's very sobering to think that the hurricane season will continue on and ends November 30th. From today, that looks like a long time yet. Kind of feels good to be in Alaska so far away from the Gulf and hurricanes ... until you think of earthquakes! YIKES! Some people say these storms are judgements on sinning people. I'd rather say they are warnings and encouragement to set our hearts straight and worship God. God desires that all are saved. He deserves our adoration. Some people can't be woke up in any other way but to be shook awake. Judgements will come. His wrath will spill out on the Earth and on those that have rejected Him. Don't wait to change your heart because at the end it won't matter anymore what you decide, God's wrath will come to Earth and on those that stand in His way. So if you haven't already, change! Or, keep doing what your doing, either way, God will prevail. And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:10 - 14 Back to watching the storm...