(picture from CNN.com)

Over at Rise and Shine Women’s Retreat Facebook page they asked this question this morning:

Are you praying for the people of Japan? If you could speak to them what would you say?

I answered:

Look Up, Look UP, our help comes from the Lord God Almighty…Jesus is our HOPE. Have Faith in the One who is able to save for He is faithful.

When I looked back at the words I wrote I thought some may think …..is this just token Christian speak???

No! It is not…

If you have ever been through a disaster ( and I have – The flood of 2008 ) you know that the first thing that happens in you is you become completely overwhelmed by Fear, Uncertainty, Shock, and Hopeless/Helplessness.

But in the end what mattered to me and what held my shaken soul and aching heart together was KNOWING from where my help comes from. Looking up is the only option we have..the only option I had…God, OUR GOD is the ONE who is able to save.

Ps 33: 20 We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield.

We are told in the bible that in this life you shall have trouble….any trouble is enough to cause grief. But if we can call upon the strength of the one who lives within us and call out  CRY OUT to God for He is able to help in times of trouble.

Ps 72: 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.

I encourage you LOOK UP LOOK UP !!

Our help comes from the Lord God Almighty.

Jesus is our HOPE.

Have Faith in the One who is able to save for He is faithful.

Please pray for the Japanese people they (I am sure) covet our prayers and are in for a long haul to rebuild their country. All the while many are grieving the loss of loved ones, in search of shelter and food and water. Please keep them at the top of your list and pray that through it all GOD is GLORIFIED in the outpouring of LOVE and COMPASSION.

for….. LOVE AND COMPASSION GROW OUT OF HARDSHIP!!! (how else could we understand if we had not been touched by a bit of hardship ourselves)

Thanks for listening on this sad day with anticipation of Hope,

Starla