We lost power during an icy storm that overtook much of Northeast Ohio. Now losing power in and of itself is horrible, however do it with 2 small kids and it takes on a whole new dimension. We went to 3 different houses the first day it hit and spent the night at a friend’s house. We were formulating our plan to leave town the next afternoon when the electricity turned on. Hallelujah! I always thank God every night in our prayers with the kids for our warm beds, house and food, but I REALLY meant it that night!

Of course, this left me with some thoughts. (Some you have probably already made on your own)

Old habits die hard. I can’t tell you how many times I turned on a light switch while walking into a room, then turned it off when I walked out. It became humorous because it was so silly. It’s possible that if we went 5 days or more without power, I would have stopped doing that (then again, I probably wouldn’t be at a powerless house) but you just never know!

√ Do you have any old habits that need evaluated? Do you sit down at 8pm with a bowl of ice cream every night? Complain to your husband about your day when he walks in the door? Gossip to friends about your problems with others instead of going to the Lord with it? The old habits may be hard to break, but I guarantee you with an action plan, determination and God’s help, they will die.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.”              (Ephesians 4: 22-23)

Power lines cut off and removed from the power source are lifeless. When I was driving around town, I almost threw my kids off their seats when I braked hard coming up on a power line on the ground. As I peeked outside the window, I realized that the line wasn’t attached to anything on either side. It was in the middle of a relatively busy street so others had been running over it as well. I breathed a sigh of relief because I thought for sure I was gonna zap us! (The picture below is a cleaned up version of a down power line from Wednesday)

√ Are you living life apart from the true power source? Are you a lifeless vessel laying in the middle of the road cut off from where you should be? We were created to be powered by the ultimate Power Source! Don’t try to live life on your own energy. You want to live fully charged so that you can connect the source of life to others!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

In our moment of crisis, we needed our friends. Thank goodness for wonderful friends and family who offered their houses to us when we couldn’t stay in ours. We always love and appreciate our friends, but it’s heightened when you are in dire straits.

√ Do you have solid friends who will take you in? Do your friends take you in with all your BAGGAGE, dirt and roller coaster of emotions? Do your friends encourage healthy habits in your life or do they try and pull you down to behaviors that aren’t healthy and whole? Are you that type of friend to others?

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

Life continues even after a moment of crisis. Here I am now 2 days later and I’m in my cozy, warm house with my working television (and computer!) and a refrigerator that’s keeping our food preserved. Ask me 24 hrs prior and one would have thought I was in the middle of a 40 day drought, but we are back in the saddle in such a short period of time.

√ Are you in a season of life where things are tough? Maybe you feel you are at a dead end at work, home or with your health. It may be days, months or years, but life continues even after moments of crisis. Do what you need to do to get through your obstacle and then get right back on track! You aren’t ever alone in your crisis even though you feel you are. Cling to others and to the Lord!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”              (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Walking around in a dark house is futile and dangerous! I had to return to our house the evening our lights went out to pack some clothes. I had my 20 month old daughter in a pitch black house that was 55 degrees. I had one flashlight and was fumbling around closets and laundry baskets to get basics for the night. While my daughter was having a blast running back in forth in the dimly lit rooms, I considered it near torture. My poor fingers were frigid after 10 minutes of that and I stubbed my toe too many times to count! Thank goodness for that flashlight!

√ How many times do we fumble through life in the dark? Sure, the real lights are on but we wonder why we keep stubbing our toe on everything in sight. Have we grabbed the Light we need to guide us and to penetrate the darkness?

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,  a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” (1 John 4:5-6)

I pray that the lessons I learned just recently will be a great reminder for your life. And one last thing—don’t take your electricity for granted!! 🙂