It is a strange, vacant feeling that has come over me tonight. It is almost a duplicate of the day we were going to have to evacuate our home, because the dam was being opened and the floodwaters would come. Too much water, in too many dams, and incompetence were causing us to have to leave, not knowing if there would even be a house left when we returned.
That day, there were so many things I needed to do. Things I needed to grab so they wouldn’t be destroyed when the waters came. Papers that needed to be taken with. The car titles, the title policy and abstract for the house, loan papers, checkbooks, insurance policies. Then there were the other things. Pictures….family keepsakes, family history, help with loading out what could be loaded. Piling “stuff” on top of other stuff.
So many things to do…but I was absent, vacant….missing in action. Where was I? I was there in body…but still totally gone. Here it is…once again I am absent, vacant, missing in action, in shock. The only real difference is I have no idea what is coming… All I really know is that trigger that would mark the beginning has just occurred.
On the wall hung a white board…on it was written a message to the water that my daughter had written, refusing it permission to come up…..it was prophetic in a way…the water only was going to encompass the lower part of the house. It stopped an inch or two below the sign.
I had prayed for the land. I had taken the kids and marched the entire perimeter of our property, claiming it in the name of Jesus. Praying for it, Pleading the blood of Christ over it, Praying for us, praying for the animals….actually I am not really sure what all I prayed for…but I prayed. The flood would not touch my house. Despite the dream, I was certain the water would not get into my house.
Five years earlier I had received a call from my friend Susan. She woke having had a dream that she was standing in my house and looking out….all she could see was water. It wasn’t moving, the water just sitting there glinting in the sun like a mirror, picking up the colors of the sky and trees. Hmmmm
The warning had come…I knew I was supposed to move away. God had another plan…I wasn’t sure what it was, but I was not supposed to remain in this house. The house should have been sold. As strange as it sounds, God did not want me here for this flood that was to sweep through here.
I tried repeatedly to make people in my family understand that we were supposed to move. No one would listen. This was our home. I tried again and again…but nothing. I should have been more forceful, more determined, more demanding….shoulda coulda woulda…too late. I missed the blessing.
The evac sirens would be going off anytime now. When the siren sounds you must leave immediately, your life will depend on it. Make sure you have what you need, but when the siren sounds you must get in your vehicle and leave your property. We were all concerned. We would have to cross the river to get out. Our safe place was south of the city…. There was only one road still open, and they were fighting to hold it. Miles of traffic was backed up, all waiting to cross the bridge. Some would go south, others would go north. Two way traffic. The Bulldozers and heavy equipment were moving huge boulders into the river by the bridge to try to hold it in place. Those huge boulders were being moved by the water, and were not going where they were needed. My Grandson was standing just off the side of the bridge…his company needed him. He would not be able to leave now. He would be required to stay until it was shored up or it was gone. Danger hung in the air. The smell of fear was real. It emanated from most of the people. High levels of adrenaline was causing unending stress, strength and courage. Amazement! Sorrow! Fear!
The evacuation happened on the 22nd of June 2011….This time four years ago, we were safe, living in a camper at the lake….watching every minute as the tv showed the water that was taking over our homes and our community. The sun set and the water came…by morning…well by morning everything in our lives had changed for the worse. Perhaps changed so much that we may never go home again.
BUT….I did come home. A month later, when the water had gone down, I came home. It was a strange world. I had to wear boots to reach the house, because it was still surrounded by water. It was a land of make-believe. The sun glinted off the water, the reflections of the trees and the clouds and the bright blue sky made it beautiful to behold…the damage, however was done.
Months later I sat in a chair on the driveway, praying. Oh God, what am I to do?
I heard his voice very clearly that day. “You are encamped here, until I move you!” just like the Israelites were encamped under the cloud…I too was encamped. So I stayed where I was. God arranged for the house to be rebuilt, and whenever the money ran out, he would send a little more.
The main floor got finished so we could live here again, but the basement didn’t…in fact there are still boards over the basement window openings…funny…
The feeling of that pre-evacuation time is here tonight. Something else is happening. The message was given about 5 years ago….just as the dream foretold the future, this message came clearly today.
Yes….this time I know I will NOT be leaving my house. I am encamped.
Tonight the siren came again…Oh not the siren we all heard when it was time to leave our homes. It was the warning…it is time…..Clearly the warning signal occurred. The trigger had been shown and the sign had been revealed on world news.
What is the future? How long? How soon? All I really know is that Jesus will never leave me…leave us or forsake us. And I….WE…YES…..WE can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. My task….KEEP the faith, Trust Jesus… be strong and courageous.
The trigger that marks the beginning, has been given.
I stay where I am.
Make sure there is oil for my lamp.
I pray.
Jesus takes care of me….you and so many others. Praise God!
OH, and most important….Jesus is coming again!
Keep the Faith…
Prayyior
Prayyior's God Talk 