Storms, and Flooding Last Night

The State of Missouri,  Southwest Missouri for my part was inundated with wind, storms, and lots of rain.  There was flooding in Cassville, and I heard reports of Roaring River State Park evacuating campers,  and rightly so.

Flat Creek which is on the edge of our back yard anyway is up into a part of the yard.  I will share with you a couple of pictures I took a few minutes ago.

Just for your assurances; it is several feet from our residence, so we are not concerned with flooding of our home.

This morning as I considered the night I thought of Nahum the prophet chapter 1 verse 3.  He is in charge.

That is the way it is today on the banks of Flat Creek,

~tim

It is Snowing

We have not had much snow for a few years in Southwest Mo., but we are getting enough today.  So much so, in fact, that the Cassville School District has already canceled classes for January 16, 2018, and I received the call shortly after 11 a.m. on January 15.

The following are some pictures my wife Madge tool just outside our backdoor…

and one more…

I am not a real fan of cold Winter weather, but it goes with having seasons, and I thank the Lord our Creator for them all.  Snow is beautiful because it covers all that is unsightly, ugly, and messed up.

From the banks of Flat Creek

`tim

Flat Creek Has Been Rolling Heavy

We have received 9 – 10 inches of rain from Saturday night through Monday evening.  At last look at my bucket it had about 9 inches in it and we received a bit more after that.

I am including some pictures.  The Creek has gotten as high as I ever remember, and it got higher than any of the past five years we have lived here for sure.

These pictures are in our backyard.

 

The following pictures are down stream at our swimming area, and called the Whirlhole, and the road down to the hole.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1

That is how it is on the banks of Flat Creek.

-tim

Blessed with Rain

As I sit at my computer this morning the lightening is flashing, the thunder is rolling, and rain is falling.  We received the blessing Saturday evening too; and received about one inch of the blessing.  During a rain break, I went and checked my bucket and there was another inch plus a quarter in the bucket.

Saturday July 20 made 5 weeks since we had received any significant rainfall.  Now the drought has been broken.

Now the rain is continuing.  There is only One who is worthy of thanks, and that is our Creator; our Maker; our Savior, and our friend.  Thank YOU Lord.

-tim

Not Just Another Week…Gone

There is no possible way the  past week can be called “Just another week” in my life; or in anyone’s life for that matter.  Events, life changing events have taken place.  For many people around where I live they have been life ending events; at least as far as physical life is concerned.

For many it has meant life will never be the same.  There are  probably many who are angry at God, and are starting a downward running away from Him.  Let me just say, Don’t run.  Stop!  Turn to Him.  Surrender!  He wants your heart, your life, your all.

My have experienced one of the most fierce tornadoes ever experienced in Joplin, MO.  Madge’s and my youngest son and his wife were in their house when it hit, destroying their home, but leaving them and their dogs untouched (physically), but very emotionally and spiritually drained.  Please pray for them and all who are in such chaos of heart.

Since that tornado hit I thing I have a new fascination for tornadoes; and maybe I shouldn’t say “New”, but that I have grown more fascinated with them.  They remind us of the awesome power in God’s created order; but even more; if this creation has such power and force; think of the awesome power of creation’s Creator GOD.

It has not been just another week.  It has been a week for faith and growth.  Growing faith.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Dorothy Doesn’t Live in Kansas Anymore

In the film the Wizard of Oz Dorothy and her puppy are swept away by a tornado in an altogether house, and kept safe as they journey on the “yellow brick road”.

There have been many storms across this country of ours.  Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, with flooding causing devastation in many places; and tornadoes doing even more damage.  That is why the title.

There has not been much safety in the tornadoes of late.  People have died.  People are lost, and are not found, or found dead.  We may not like that word d-e-a-d, but that is an honest to goodness word.  People die in these things.  Maybe someone would like hearing the term “Cessation of life”.  Is that better.  They are still d-e-a-d.

Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore could not be any more true.  There are Dorothy’s, Tom’s, Tim’s, Tammy’s, Jane’s, Joyce’s , Joe’s and James’ who have experienced the damage of Joplin, Missouri last evening.  Our son and his wife were involved in the tornado which practically leveled Joplin.

They heard the sirens, James sent Amber to the bathroom, he went and got their “boys” Skillet, Pillar, and a guest; and by the time they joined Amber debris followed James into the bathroom.  When the tornado was over they came out and found a tree in their living room, windows blown out, roof missing, and devastation all around them.  The joy of it all for all of us was they were not harmed.  No cuts, bruises, or broken bones; and they were alive.  For the work of our Lord Jesus Christ in this we thank Him and give Him praise.

To all those families who lost loved ones I am praying for you.  For all those families who have yet to find your loved ones I pray for you as well.  May God put His Almighty hand on your life and draw you nearer to Him.

As Paul wrote;  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Thank YOU Lord for YOUR grace and mercy.  Thank YOU for saving the lives of all that YOU have.

Have YOUR way in the storms of our lives; and  be forever glorified.

-Tim A. Blankenship

There are Storms A Plenty

It has been amazing the amount of rainfall we have recently received, and more in the weather forecast.  What is even more amazing are the numbers of storms, and especially tornadoes which have struck the Southern States of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and if I missed anyone I apologize.  

At my last reckoning there were 329 deaths associated with these devastating winds and twisters.  To those families my heart goes out to you along with my prayers. 

One of the things which amazes me too is the strength and grit of the human being.  You see it our resiliency to go on despite the storms of life.  Some have that because God gives us zeal for life and living, and we thank Him for it.  Others, wrongly, just give that to the human spirit which is virtually dead to God.  Let me say to all of you; Hang on.  Turn to God now if you haven’t yet.  He loves you.  He gave His Son Jesus to die for your sins, and raise Him again to life.

As the title suggests “There are Storms A Plenty”.  Not all storms are made up of physical clouds, and wind.  Some are going on in the political realm.  Some in the matters of health.  Some are financial.  You get the picture.  With all the hot air that is coming out of Washington D.C. and the truth of God’s Word there are upheavals in our Nation.  With a President who claims to be Christian, but seems tto give more honor to the muslim than to Christ we are in for one doozy of a storm.

I want to give you a link to follow.  It is written by a man by the name of Jack Woodard.  Read it and let’s pray for our President.

-Tim A. Blankenship

What’s Happening???

Here we are in the final week of January 2009, and we are being hit by a Winter storm. Ice is falling from the sky, and making the roads and streets slickery (that is a word coined by my grandson, Josiah), and unfit for traveling, so schools all over Southwest MO. has been cancelled today.

I was scheduled for a medical procedure today at 9:00 a.m., but that was postponed yesterday when the hospital called basically asking if I would do that – they left it up to me – saying that I might not be able to arrive there due to weather and some of the hospital staff may not be able to arrive either, and my prep for the precedure would need to be repeated when it is rescheduled. So, I told them to postpone it. I had requested a couple days off from driving the School bus due to this.

When it was known that the event was called off for today, I called my Supervisor and told him I could drive now. He went ahead and let me off for the evening run, because he already had a sub driver, and told me I could go ahead and plan on driving today, but today “NO School”. That is a good thing considering the road conditions. I am already longing for Spring. I always look forward to Spring.

I am learning more everyday that our God is good. He is full of grace and mercy. What’s Happening??? God is working and moving in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

HAVE A GREAT WINTER!!

-Tim A. Blankenship

Disruptions or Designed for Faith

There has been an abundance of hurricane problems lately, especially for the folks along the coastal areas, and the Gulf. If you live in those areas know that I think and pray for you, and your faith to grow.

Living in Southwest Missouri we have our storms, tornadoes, etc., and we do receive some of the benefits and troubles of the hurricanes, when they come up from the Gulf.

Last evening when my wife and I went to bed for the evening, and rest, there was a calm rain coming down from the residual affects of hurricane Ike. Like I said it was a calm, mild pouring rain; no troubles right?

About 2:30 a.m. I awoke to complete darkness, similar to being in a cave with no lights on. Our house has never been so dark. Our electric power was off, the air was not on, nothing was running, no refridgerator, or freezer, and worst of all no light. I needed to get up for a little while, so I got out of bed found the wall with my hands, and worked my way to where I knew there was a flashlight. I got the flashlight, turned it on. Oh, how good it was to be able to see. Oh, how good it is to know that God has given me that ability to do so. I pray that I never lose the heart of thankfulness for my eyesight, or anything the Lord has given me.

When I got up this morning about 5:15, the power was back on. I am thankful; for I know that there are millions in Houston today who do not have power, and will not have it for a few days, maybe weeks; let us pray for these good people.

The water which crosses our road after we get out of our driveway was up over the road, and deeper. When we needed out to go to worship our Lord, it was down enough to cross it. That is when I saw that it had risen higher than it had been before, to my knowledge since we have lived here. We wouldn’t have been able to get out at the depth it had reached.

We arrived at our church, had no Bible Study class, and we had three people present; including my wife and I. We had a hymn, read the fifteenth chapter of John, had prayer and came home.

I ask was this storm a disruption, or was it a design for faith. I choose to make it a design of faith. God always knows what He is doing. The prophet Nahum has written, “The LORD hath His way in the whirlwind, and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” 1:3 (KJV).

We must learn to trust Him through every storm. The one’s which are made up of wind, lightning, rain, and tornadoes and hurricanes; and the one’s which are made up of our troubles, trials, fears, and sicknesses and diseases. Even these are in His hands, and He brings us through them, prepares us for the glory that is ahead.

-Tim A. Blankenship

A Spring Storm

Here in Southwest Missouri we have seen a good amount of Spring thunderstorms. I get the chance to view the activity of some of them. I love watching the bolts of lightning as they flash across the sky, and light up the darkness. Not too many months ago I had just driven out on a nearby highway headed into Cassville about 5:30 a.m. during a storm, and a bolt of lightning came down pretty close to where I was. You talk about a loud clap of thunder, and I let out a whoop. It startled me at first, but then I thought WOW!!!, that was awesome

This morning as I was driving into Cassville, and it was about fifteen minutes later or about 5:45 a.m. and off near the horizon; that I could see; there was a flash of lightning that lit up the whole western sky within the clouds. That was a beautiful sight to behold. It made me think of Nahum 1:3, “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” (NKJV).

The other night some had heard that a nearby community; the one that I grew up in; was under a tornado warning. Some of our family called to check on us, worried that we might have been near it. I went outside, looked to the south, and southwest, then all around, and there were no low lying clouds, not any that looked threatening at all. A daughter in law called doing the same thing, and her husband, our son, could be heard in the background saying, “Tell Dad to come in from watching that tornado”. My kids know me. I have always enjoyed the storms. I have to admit that should we ever get hit by a tornado I might not be so anxious to see one again, but then I don’t know.

I hurt and weep for those who are touched by the storms; whether it is by flooding, winds, tornadoes, hail, or lightning it would be a horrible thing. In the midst of all this though we must remember “The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” He is sovereign and in control of even the storms that touch our lives. Even the storms that have to do with sickness, finances, and He especially cares for our spiritual need of knowing Him. This wasn’t meant to be a sermon or even a Bible Study, but I hope any who read it may find encouragement in their storm.

There will be many more storms, much more lightning, more tornadoes, more hail, more straight line winds, and there will be more destruction, and more lives touched by the storms. How we handle them declares our faith in God or our lack thereof.

The next time you see that bolt of lightning, or a flash which I saw this morning, remember who is much more powerful than all the lightning ever lightninged [new word!!!], and the winds that have ever blown, all the tornadoes that have ever twisted their way through cities, farms, towns and homes, and more powerful than all the floods that ever flowed. His name is Jesus. To that I say WOW!!!!!

-by Tim A. Blankenship

A Winter Storm

They said it was coming. Who said it was coming? This Winter storm. When I arose from the bed this morning there was not a flake of snow to be seen, and I found out almost two hours later that there did not appear to be a cloud in the sky. Sometimes I am amazed how accurate the weather people can be in their predictions. I guess it is all that stuff they call technology, sattelite, GPS, and all that.

It has not been bitterly cold. I am thankful for that. I don’t do very well in the cold. Especially when the electric bill comes due, and that is what we heat with. That is our choice. I am also thankful that we have not experienced a major power outage like some other places and people I know. We would be in a world of hurtin’.

When I jumped in the car to go to Cassville School Bus Garage to drive the bus, there was a moon shining down from above with a few stars that I could see. I left about 5:15 a.m. and arrived there at 5:45 a.m. There were three buses already headed out for their morning pickup of the kids. Two more headed out shortly after I arrived. One driver radioed in from one of her farthest points, “Snow is falling and covering the roads. What do you want me to do?” The decision was made to call them in, ie., the five that had already departed. School was called off for the day.

After helping shut down the engines on the other buses, I got back in our car and came home. It is good to have a day off, but I would rather get out earlier at the end of the year. I guess I just needed the day. Thank the Lord. He always knows what is best for us.

The snow is still falling, and if it continues we probably will not be in school on Friday. There are some pretty wicked roads here in Southwest MO. with curves, hills, hollers, and many of the roads here have no shoulders; only ditches. It can be fun navigating at times.

A Winter Storm

They said it was coming. Who said it was coming? This Winter storm. When I arose from the bed this morning there was not a flake of snow to be seen, and I found out almost two hours later that there did not appear to be a cloud in the sky. Sometimes I am amazed how accurate the weather people can be in their predictions. I guess it is all that stuff they call technology, sattelite, GPS, and all that.

It has not been bitterly cold. I am thankful for that. I don’t do very well in the cold. Especially when the electric bill comes due, and that is what we heat with. That is our choice. I am also thankful that we have not experienced a major power outage like some other places and people I know. We would be in a world of hurtin’.

When I jumped in the car to go to Cassville School Bus Garage to drive the bus, there was a moon shining down from above with a few stars that I could see. I left about 5:15 a.m. and arrived there at 5:45 a.m. There were three buses already headed out for their morning pickup of the kids. Two more headed out shortly after I arrived. One driver radioed in from one of her farthest points, “Snow is falling and covering the roads. What do you want me to do?” The decision was made to call them in, ie., the five that had already departed. School was called off for the day.

After helping shut down the engines on the other buses, I got back in our car and came home. It is good to have a day off, but I would rather get out earlier at the end of the year. I guess I just needed the day. Thank the Lord. He always knows what is best for us.

The snow is still falling, and if it continues we probably will not be in school on Friday. There are some pretty wicked roads here in Southwest MO. with curves, hills, hollers, and many of the roads here have no shoulders; only ditches. It can be fun navigating at times.

Latest Happenings

Since I last posted Winter has arrived, and in some parts of our Nation, with a vengeance. We have had a bit of cold weather, into the lower teens, but that isn’t too bad. Besides that it didn’t hang on and last forever. The longest spell of below freezing we have had was about three days, and that was just at the beginning of January. I am, however, already looking forward to Spring.

I went to the cardiologist in early December to have him tell me that the EKG showed “no significant sign of a problem”. I do have an appointment to return on the twenty third of January for and ECG.

The family and I had a wonderful Christmas. The wife and I’s kids went together got us a Crossley entertainment cabinet. It is an old style look radio, with CD player, audio cassette player, and turntable for 33, 45’s and 78 records. That was a really pleasant surprise and gift for us. We have been enjoying it.

Back before Christmas the Eastern part of Southern Missouri was hit pretty hard with an icestorm, which left a lot of people in the Joplin area without power, no lights, no heat, no television (Oh no!). Our son James and his wife Amber were in the thick of that, and were without power for about 9 days. They did get to come for Christmas. Their power was on shortly before that.

On Tuesday a friend and I went to Branson to see a mutual friend in the Skaggs Hospital there. As we were about to get off the elevator on the floor he was on, my cell phone rang, and it was my sister Judy. “Guess what Dad just did”, she said. I said, “I wouldn’t have a clue”. She said, “He rolled his truck”. My answer to that was, “WHAT?!”, and I know I placed a question mark and an exclamation mark after that, because I am not sure which it was. Yes, he had rolled his old blue Ford pickup truck. He wasn’t injured any, except maybe his pride. Evidently he has experienced no pain from bruising or anything either. He has been trying to get used to a prosthesis on his right leg. That may have played some part in the incident. It also was on the farm away from any major roads.

At the beginning of this week, Tuesday evening and into the early hours of Wednesday morning there was a consistent storm of tornadic activity hitting in the Northwestern part of Barry County. We live in middle Eastern part of the said County. That storm is very hard to describe. It took a path in a straight line. One tornado warning would come to a town, and then after it passed another one on the same path would be right behind it. Homes, businesses, and some lives were taken in areas further from us.

Near 3 a.m. my wife and I were awakened by a strong straight wind. It was near time for me to get up for the day, so I just got up, and Madge went back to bed. The wind died down and everything proceeded as normal the rest of the day, at least for us. May the Lord help those who were touched and harmed by this storm, and especially those who lost loved ones.

There is no one who is not touched by some sort of storm in their lives. If they are not presently they shortly will be.

“If I never had a problem, how could I know that God could solve them.” Isn’t that in a good old song or something.