Luke 6:46-49 (AMP) “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock. But the one who has [merely] heard and has not practiced [what I say], is like a [foolish] man who built a house on the ground without any foundation, and the torrent burst against it; and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

September is in the middle of hurricane season for our area. This year we have had two form in a small body known as the Gulf Coast. We are in storm alert here in the southeast (I live in central Alabama). So what are we seeing, questions about storm shelters. Many homes in the mid west have them built on their properties because they live in what is known as “tornado alley.” A few years ago we had a tornado go through one of our rural towns, Beauregard, and cause significant damage with casualties. The President of our United States even flew down to survey the damage. Storm shelters have become a big question, especially for those from that area (which is just 15 minutes from my own home).

Storms are going to come. How do I prepare? Last night I had my boys take down everything from the pool area, so that we would not get furniture blown in and cause damage. This summer I had a company come in and cut large limbs away from hanging over my house. My home is on a sure foundation of prayer and faith. My youngest and I get up and start the morning with prayer and devotion before he goes off to school. My husband prays as he drives on the road at four in the morning, on his way to work. Fear is not a part of the preparation plan.

Hebrews 12:26-29 (AMP) His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the [starry] heaven.” Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.

I was given this visual in prayer yesterday about preparing for the storm. Limbs bend when they produce an abundance of fruit. Can they withstand it? Preparation comes in the storm. If the branches cannot hold up to a storm, then how are they going to hold up to the fruit producing on them? Which one weighs more? We cannot fear the storm, but we can prepare for it. How?

John 15: 4-8 (AMP)  Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. 

John 14:27 (AMP) Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

I was looking up the strongest trees in the world and it said that the olive tree is the most resilient. There are some in existence from thousands of years. Their root system holds up. What are you rooted in? I am rooted and grounded in the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19). His roots run deep and they are secure. When we are abiding in Him and rooted in Him we have built that house on the rock and cannot be shaken, because the storms will come. Have great courage and prepare for the storm. Do not let fear be a part of your preparation plan.

Here is Psalms 91. Make it personal as I have: The Brogdon family (put your own family name in) dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. They will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom we trust [with great confidence, and on whom we rely]!” For He will save the Brogdon’s from the trap of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover us and completely protect us with His pinions, and under His wings we will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall. The Brogdon’s will not be afraid of the terror of night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, but danger will not come near us. We will only [be a spectator as we] look on with our eyes and witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as we watch safely from the shelter of the Most High]. Because the Brogdon’s have made the Lord, [who is] our refuge, even the Most High, our dwelling place, no evil will befall us, nor will any plague come near our home. For He will command His angels in regard to us, to protect and defend and guard us in all our ways [of obedience and service]. They will lift us up in their hands, so that we do not [even] strike our feet against a stone. The Brogdon’s will tread upon the lion and cobra; the young lion and the serpent we will trample underfoot. “Because they set their love on Me, therefore I will save them;
I will set them [securely] on high, because they know My name [they confidently trust and rely on Me, knowing I will never abandon them, no, never]. “They will call upon Me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them. “With a long life I will satisfy them and I will let them see My salvation.”