
Every spring my wife and I prepare ourselves: we clean out our storm shelter, prepare an emergency bag, and pay close attention to the weather. Here in the south-central United States, also called Tornado Alley, it’s important to have a severe weather plan.

In case of emergency (ICE), it’s even a contact option on cell phones these days. I’m my wife’s ICE, and vice-versa.
Question: do you have a spiritual emergency plan? Sooner or later, we’re all going to die, and afterwards comes God’s judgment (Hebrews 9:28).
In Christ alone (ICA), this is our only hope.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
I realize this is not new information for many of you. Yet I’m reminded of the following line from the classic hymn I Love to Tell the Story:
🎶I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.🎶
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Comments
35 responses to “In Case of Emergency”
I’m glad you’re feeling better, my friend. Blessings!
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God has manifested his great love, healing and kindness again and again despite of my shortcomings. Today is my 4th day of COVID and my feeling best so far. All the resources from medicine to People who are there when we’re sick, God provides. Inspiring post my Friend. Thank you for being a beckon of God’s light and Hope, “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”
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Thank you for your insights, Chris. I imagine David kept closer watch on his relationship with God for the rest of his life—after his fall.
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I didn’t see this until now. God had us writing in the same vane.
Spiritual reflection is a good discipline to have. David often asked God to test him and see if there was any wicked way in him as part of his ICE strategy. That’s a good one for all of us to employ.
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Thank you, Andy B! God Bless.
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Really good point!!
Andy B
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You’re most welcome! (Tee Hee)
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My Granny and Gramps had one just like that in Del City. Good you have all plans in place! 🙏🏻
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Thank you, brother Allen. God’s richest blessings upon you and your family as well.
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A good reminder, that in all circumstances (IAC) we need to depend on Christ our Saviour, (ICA!). God bless you and your family brother David.
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This is the type of occurrence I had in mind while writing this post. We simply don’t know how long our time on earth will be. My condolences in the loss of your friend from church, Kathlyn. God’s best to you.
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A timely reminder to “number our days”; a church friend who was undergoing surgery fell into a coma and passed away after a week. She was in her 50s, fit enough to volunteer for mission trips and crisis relief abroad. We were all shocked.
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Blessings to you and your wife!
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My wife, Nancy, actually gave me the idea. Thank you for stopping by, Peggy! God Bless.
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I love the comparison of ICE and ICA. And I do love to hear the story again and again. Thanks!
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Thank you for sharing, Linda! I appreciate reading about your encounters with both tornadoes and record drought. A colleague of mine just lost her home in New Mexico to a wildfire. Thankfully, it was a vacation cabin. Yet there were many in the area who lost their only home.
I will pray with you that the doctors will learn how to help with your heart condition. However, I much appreciate your views about knowing where you are going when the time comes. God‘s best to you!
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I grew up in a town in Missouri that was often the target of tornadoes. When I moved to New Mexico in 2003, I thought I was getting away from all that. Nope! I’ve had 3 close encounters with tornadoes right here. Did you know that if you are walking directly below a funnel cloud, it feels like you are walking on the moon in zero gravity? I found that out the hard way! Luckily, only our roof was damaged. During another New Mexico tornado, I managed to get some awesome pictures. I emailed my photos to a weatherman in Albuquerque. My pictures were on the news the next day.
Now we are living through a record drought and the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history. My phone has had eleven fire evacuation emergency alerts within the past month. One was this morning. So far, none of the fires have been close enough that we needed to evacuate. The closest was about 20 miles away, another fire was 40 miles. Most have been 100-200 miles from our home. But even so, the air is so full of smoke. One day, I walked outside and everything was tinted a bright orange-red. It was like standing in the middle of a brilliant sunset, only it was early in the afternoon. It was beautiful and terrifying.
Heat waves, droughts, wild fires, tornadoes, and just the ‘normal’ aches and pains of getting older — not to mention the pandemic! — it’s been one challenge after another in our lives lately. Which means we are normal, I guess.
I thank God that He is with us always, even through the valley of the shadow of death. On my recent 69th birthday, I went to see my doctor, because I have been having some noticeable heart arrhythmias and dizzy spells. She ordered a 48-hour portable heart monitor. I’m still waiting for the results. Still dizzy at times, and still having moments of feeling like a fish is jumping around in my chest. It’s a little unnerving! But I know that when my time comes to leave this wonderful, terrible, awesome, crazy life behind, I am going to meet my Savior and my Lord, Jesus the Messiah. Praise His Holy Name!!!
I keep trying to write a blog post about all these things. I think I wrote it here, lol.
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🎶Jesus is the rock in a weary land.🎶 Amen, Pastor Pete!
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Yes! I almost included another verse from Hebrews: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.” I am grateful for your thoughts, Bridget. You are one of the most consistent commenters on my blog. God Bless!
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Yes, indeed. God’s eternal App Store comes preinstalled in every human. We got part of your Colorado cold front. Thank you!
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I kept looking for the ICA app on my phone and then realized that He is living inside of me! Way better! We are getting snowed on here in Colorado today.
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Yup we have an emergency plan here in Florida too and hat is to evacuate. No basements to hide in here and hurricane season is just around the corner. Nice connection to a far more powerful storm coming but Jesus is a storm shelter where we will be safe if we hide ourselves in him.
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A great reminder that we can live life soundly and take precautions, but ultimately God is our hope and anchor. Thank you for this encouraging post.
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Thank you, Manette Kay. God Bless!
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You’re welcome, Rainer. Thank you for stopping by today!
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The classic hymn “I Love to Tell the Story” is my childhood favorite and still ranks up in the top five. My order changes with life events and seasons of life. A great post, David.
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My dad was like that: “I’ll take shelter when I hear it coming.” 🤠
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We do not have a hidey-hole. When the tornado sirens go off around here, we stand in the driveway watching the storm roll in. Yes, we are weird!
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I’ve also encountered the James Dean rebel without a cause attitude. Sadly, too many young folks these days see little hope for the future. The good news is Jesus likes to spend time with those who need his help the most. Thanks, Gary. I hope you are on the mend and feeling better.
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Yes, we have gotten into our storm shelter several times since we put it in. Thankfully, it’s usually for a short time. It’s really not that bad—once you clean the bugs out of it. 😊
Thank you for your encouraging words, Betty. You and Dan seem like genuine people. What you see is what you get. Thanks for stopping by!
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Terri first introduced me to the concept of “ICE.” Great post, David. Thank you for the encouraging reminder that we all need Jesus.
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Sorry, David, but that “hidey hole” looks a little creepy to me. Have you ever had to use it? Around here, we just go to our basements. I appreciate your post, David. I always enjoy reading your uplifting Saturday morning posts which always leave me feeling “centered” and focused on what is really important. To me, not having faith would be like going down into that “hidey hole” at your place. No thanks!
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Ironically, We all know death will happen. It is a good thing to remind people of God’s plan and ask if they have a place prepared. I asked a very young car thief what his life expectancy was one time. His reply in front of his friends was “I hope to make it to 21” my reply; “So, what are you going to say to God when he askes you why he should let you into His heaven?” His friends all chimed in “Ya, chad what are you going to say?” We talked very pointedly. I think his friends were more receptive. Only God knows.
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We’ve had some near misses around here but no direct hits by a tornado. But they are so unpredictable, which is a lot like life. As you said, spiritually it is no different.
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My city has never had a tornado but around there have been some bad ones. Consequently people in my city do not worry when the tornado sirens go off. May more people heed the eternal warning and receive Christ as their Savior.
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