Julie Lavender

GUEST BLOGGER

Please join me in welcoming my guest blogger today, Debbie Wilson. I met Debbie online first, because we had mutual writing friends, but then figured out we both graduated from the same college, Georgia Southern University! I enjoy her writing, and I know that you will also. I'd planned to share this post on my site at some point, and, with Hurricane Dorian on the prowl, this weekend seemed like the appropriate time! Delight in and be challenged by her writing, then check out more of her words on her own blog, Refreshing Faith.

How a Storm’s Anger Revealed God’s Angels

On a Wednesday evening my daughter Ginny opened a letter saying her insurance agency had suspended her comprehensive and collateral car coverage. Her records showed continued withdrawal payments to her insurance agency. She figured the notice was a mistake.

Thursday, she called and learned they had indeed canceled her insurance. They said they’d sent two emails (that must have gone to spam) asking for a signature our state required. We worked together to email the signature that afternoon. They received it but said it could take seven business days to reinstate her coverage.

Rain poured all afternoon. In the early evening the wind suddenly gained force. Crepe myrtle branches swirled outside my kitchen window as if agitated in a giant washing machine.

I sprinted to the front porch to check on the larger trees near our house and the circle drive where our kids park their cars. We’d moved their cars to protect them from Hurricane Florence flying debris. But Hurricane Michael was supposed to bring water, not wind.

My stomach flipped when I spied a giant gumball tree leaning towards my daughter’s “uninsured” car. “Ginny,” I yelled to my daughter. “Move your car!”

Ginny joined me on the porch just in time to hear a loud crack and, in what seemed like slow-motion, to helplessly watch the tree fall. “My car!” Ginny screamed.

How could this happen just hours after learning her car was no longer covered by insurance?

After the tree settled, I shouted over Ginny’s wails, “The trunk missed! Those are small branches you see. The trunk missed your car!”

It took a few moments to process the miracle. I regretted not noticing the wind a few minutes sooner until I realized that too was God’s protection. Ginny would have tried to exit the driveway and moved straight into the path of the falling tree. Instead of a near miss, Ginny and her car would have taken a direct hit.

Not only did the trunk miss her car by inches, the largest branch headed in the opposite direction from it. The impact broke the pavement.

Ginny and I feel we witnessed a miracle. How many times a day does God protect us and we do not recognize it?

Many Kinds of Storms, One Refuge

Our experience reminded me we never know when a storm will assault our health, finances, or relationships. There may be many kinds of storms, but only one refuge.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him” 

(Ps.91: 1-2 NLT).

BIO:
Drawing from her walk with Christ, and years as a Christian counselor, coach, and Bible teacher, Debbie W. Wilson helps people give themselves a break and live in God’s grace so they can enjoy fruitful and satisfying lives. She is the author of Little Women, Big God and Give Yourself a Break. Her latest book, Little Faith, Big God, is to be released February 2020. She and her husband Larry founded and run Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible study ministry. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources at debbieWwilson.com.