|
Katrina Victims - Learn How To Build A New Life
Copyright 2005 Kathryn Williamson
The initial disaster is over. But chaos remains. Many lives were
lost. Perhaps you lost loved ones or still don't know whether
they are still alive.
Everything was destroyed--your housing, clothes, all your valued
possessions, automobiles, jobs, your friends are scattered, and
most importantly your dreams were shattered.
Emotions are running wild inside you and everyone around you.
Questions go unanswered. Not only about what happened, but where
do you go from here?
Can you rebuild your old life? Unfortunately, no. Can you build
a new life? Yes! Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Yes!
Be StillPsalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the ..... Where do you find the strength to move forward? God will give
you strength in your time of need. You have a lot of major
decisions to sort through in the next few months and God will
give you discernment on what to do.
When you feel like everyone has failed you, you can always turn
to God for help.
"I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He's all I've
got left. GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately
waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to
quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD." Lamentations
3:24-26 (The Message)
During this time of unrest you may find yourself putting your
hope into various things--the government, people who have
reached out to help you or your own abilities. But the solid,
unchangeable hope of God is what will sustain you in the long
haul.
The mind-set of instant change and instant gratification that is
so prominent in Americans must be discarded to avoid needless
stress and anxiety in the months ahead. Change will come, but
probably not at the fast pace you desire.
So how do you remain patient during this time? By realizing that
just as it took you so many years to get to where you were
before the disaster hit, it will take time to build your new
life. A better life.
Knowing a couple of things ahead of time will help you through
this process of building your life. First, there is grief to
deal with. Grief over the loss of loved ones, over the loss of
your possessions, your job, your status in life, over the
Europe's Bitter RootsAs prophesied, there were four Gentile superpowers: Babylon, the Medes and Persians, Greco-Macedonian, and Rome ..... separation from friends and familiar surroundings, and even your
place of worship.
However, grief does not have to consume you. Yes, it will take
time to go through the grieving process, but it does not have to
ruin your life to the point that you cannot function at a normal
level.
Second, reaching out and loving others will help you build your
life quicker. It will help you be able to handle everything you
are dealing with. Love never fails to provide an answer to what
you are going through (1 Corinthians 13:8). When you find
yourself arguing with someone over some stupid little thing,
decide to stop the argument and begin showing love to that
person or family. God always gives you His peace when you do
this.
Third, your attitudes will carry you a long way. They will set
you up for success or failure. This is discussed in more detail
later in this book. But for right now, know that with God all
things are possible! Nothing is too hard for Him.
Fourth, maintaining peace in your heart keeps problems from
developing or getting worse. God's peace is available to us:
"Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give {and}
bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not
let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop
allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not
permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and
unsettled.]" John 14:27 (Amplified)
The Bible tells us that when the Holy Spirit (Who lives inside
Christians) controls our mind, there is life and peace. And that
Order And LawWhen disorder comes into our lives, we obviously aren't paying any attention to God's laws for us. You ..... life is given to us by the Word of God (the Bible). So if you
find yourself seeking peace, begin reading the Bible. If you
don't have one, ask for one or borrow one. You might begin with
the Book of Psalms as it describes people in trials and their
heartfelt cries to God and God's faithful response to them. God
is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The comfort and
guidance He provided His people throughout history He will also
provide for you.
The outcome of the new life you build depends upon the choices
you make right now. You can either become bitter or better.
God's ways are always to forgive, restore relation-ships, and
move on with your life. If you are surrounded by people who only
see the negative and continue to stir up strife, it is best to
withdraw from their company.
Many will question whether this catastrophe was brought on by
God. In this Age God acts out of love, not judgment. I can tell
you with complete confidence that God loves you. He knows the
hurt and heartache you are going through. He wants to comfort
you, to guide you, to help you build a better life.
God created you for a specific purpose. You have a mission in
life. God wants to reveal His vision for your life and help you
accomplish it. This is discussed later on in this book. Right
now He wants to give you hope for a better life. A life filled
with His love, peace, and purpose. Remember, nothing is
impossible for God.
(This article was taken from chapter 1 of the booklet "How To
Build A New Life" by Kathryn Williamson, written for victims of
Katrina. See the website listed below for further details.)
Has Political Correctness Gone Mad?Political Correctness or PC to give it its' shortened and more popular title is now entering the realms of silliness. Mind you it has always been ..... About the author:
Kathy Williamson teaches biblical principles to help people
overcome their problems and discover God's will for their lives.
Her books, teachings and ezine can be found on her website at
http://www.wisdomforliving.org
|
