Last year I wrote a blog called ONE YEAR AGO
TODAY...well, TODAY is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina..It's been TWO years
now.
I wan't to start off praising God in this storm.
Katrina may be gone but the storms following have not stopped coming. Thank You
Lord for the great plans you have for us!
TWO years ago..We evacuated the day before just like ALL
the evacuations we've done. We packed a few days of clothes, fed the pets, and
left. I even made the beds before I left because I KNEW I'd be home in a few
days...A few days turned into almost 2 months..The beds were still made but
between the flood water and mold it was not the way I had planned to see it
again. The city looked like a war zone when I returned. Sadly enough, it still
does in many many many areas of New
Orleans today.
TWO years ago...Many lives were lost by death.
Over 1600 died and still 100 remains have not been identified. We not only mourn
those that have died but we mourn those we lost due to moves or due to the
destruction...We've lost friends, family, coworkers, stores, homes, routines,
schools and churches. Although everyone here in New Orleans has a different story to
tell...There is one that we all share, it is the loss of our everyday normalcy.
Our lives have never been and never will be the same since August 29,
2005.
TWO years ago..Our conversations have
changed....Everything is either BEFORE Katrina or AFTER Katrina..crime rate is
up, murder rate is up, and suicide rate is up. Our city is hurting.
TWO years ago..The Lord gave me the strength to
change my life and my childrens. I have never worked so hard in my life to get
to this point. The Lord gets all the glory! My faith has grown tremendously and
He has used me in mighty ways! Praise God!
In 2005, I lost part of me due to Katrina and my
heart still hurts but I also died that year. I died to my old self and became a
new. I was a Christian before Katrina but Christ was living in me after Katrina.
I'm born again and I love the child of God that I am. I have a huge family that
I've met and love, I have a peace within me that is unexplainable. Walking with
the Lord is the absolute best thing that has happened to me. THANK YOU Lord for
the things you give and take away! Unfortunately it is those of us that are
truly on fire for the Lord that are attacked by others the most.
I ask today that you pray for our city of New
Orleans and all affected by Katrina. I pray that people come to Christ
and that lives are saved because the end is near.
Today is not just a memory to us....It's still
our reality!
In Him,
Shawna
