The National Weather Service reported well in advance the appearance of a major weather disturbance that could impact Houston, the south/southeastern portion of Texas, and nearby cities near the Gulf of Mexico.

As the time drew near, the tropical storm and its intensity grew and became classified as Hurricane Harvey. The categories that define the intensity of hurricanes increased. These categories describe the intensity of the wind and the amount of rain predicted to fall. It was so alarming. I could only compare the number of inches to the height of a child as I explained to my children the height, depth, and impact of this storm.

Residents were requested not to evacuate. Why? Why would the Mayor of Houston suggest residents to not evacuate, given all the information the NWS (National Weather Service) had provided? Apparently, when a previous hurricane named Rita hit the area a few years ago, more people died as a result of the evacuation and the storm was not as bad as predicted. However, Hurricane Harvey was not the same.

Harvey was the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years when it made landfall, dumping over 50 inches of water.

Economic status no longer mattered; ethnicity no longer mattered. Where you lived, what you drove, or how much money you had in any account or investment did not matter.

Every life mattered.

People were helping people survive! Organizers from near and far were (and still are) pouring out support in any way possible, to let the residents of Texas and Louisiana know that everyone cares. News reporters were and are sharing videos and stories of people risking their lives to save others from cars that appeared as if the driver intentionally drove into a raging river.

What about your life? How many more warnings will the Lord have to send to you to show you that “doing you” and giving in to your fleshly desires will produce an uncontrollable storm in your life that will you leave you devastated, lost, hurt and abandoned?

“When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the place vacant, cleaned up, and decorated. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning. This is the way it will be also for this evil generation.” Matthew‬ ‭12:43-45‬ ‭CEB‬‬

It may begin with a lie. The lie brings on anger and malice. Those then turn into drinking, slandering, pornography- just a downward spiral. People want to be separated from the consequences of sin, but not the pleasures of it. Truth be told, they cannot be separated. 

Take heed to the warnings of sin. Social media paints an image of fun and life with no limits, but there are consequences that stem from your actions. Sin leads to an eternal death; but you have the opportunity to choose life.

Please! Take heed to the warnings. No matter how you view it, we belong to someone. Your life does not belong to you. If you fulfill the lust of your flesh, you are of your Father the devil (St. John 8:44). Commit your ways to the Lord, and you are a child of the Most High.

The enemy desires to destroy you.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Today it’s Houston; tomorrow, it might be you- engulfed by the hurricane of sin.

“No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone. Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.” ‭James‬ ‭1:13-15‬ ‭CEB‬‬