Poison Ivy and a Hurricane

Just a little humor regarding Ike. I was rounding up the last of the wind chimes, potted plants, and bird feeders in the backyard, I noticed poison ivy growing through the fence near a sidewalk which runs between the fence and our garage. I gingerly passed the poison ivy as I headed to the garage with my arms full and made it past the offensive weed. I thought, I must take care of you when it dries out and the heat returns. I made 2 more trips past it and then it happened, a gust of wind blew and the poison ivy smacked me in the face - right across my eye, cheek, and lips. I grabbed it (I was wearing gloves) and it smacked my right arm. I thought this cannot be good. Do we have any Burts Bees poison ivy soap, do I have any Benedryl? No we did not have any poison ivy soap, no we did not have any Benedryl. I ran inside and washed my face and arm with Joy dish washing liquid, after all it cuts grease and I determined it would take care of the oil from the ivy. Can you imagine a rash across your face and eye? I began to laugh as I thought about it, who has a poison ivy story in the midst of a hurricane making landfall in your area? I suppose that would be me.

I then began to pray earnestly that I would not break out in a rash. I changed clothes immediately and went back out to finish the yard. A couple more times that afternoon I prayed over the poison ivy. Monday a little red circle the size of a dime appeared on my arm, I thought what is this, is this ringworm, what is ringworm??? My neighbor said you have poison ivy. 1 little spot. I think had I prayed about it when I felt impressed to do so Friday night, that spot would not have appeared, but at that point I thought it was dumb to pray over poison ivy when a tree on the side of my house was creaking loudly and about to fall on the air conditioner and my neighbor's father's truck.

Another life lesson about listening to the Holy Spirit. I want to live by the Spirit and be led by the Spirit...so I should listen when He speaks to me and pray how He leads me...let the words from Phillipians speak to you today:

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.