This past week our state has experienced the historical Bomb Cyclone storm that was so named because meteorologists had no idea what to classify this rare storm that spread out to be like a hurricane over the main land of the United States. Starting in Colorado with a severe Blizzard and white out conditions this storm spread across the Nebraksa Pandhandle with 90 mph winds, blinding whiteout conditions and dropping several feet of snow. This caused ranchers to lose unknown total head count of livestock as the best they could do was to dig out the animals they could find following the massive storm. However it didn't stop there. With several inches of rain pouring onto the Central and Eastern part of the Nebraska over the excessive amount of snow cover that remained from several storms earlier in past month this storm proceeded spread severe flooding across the North Central and Eastern part of Nebraska. This storm also had damaging impacts in North and South Dakota as well as Iowa as the Missouri River began to climb to record levels and flood these states. For the state of Nebraska and those to the east of us the biggest problem came when dam at Spencer Nebraska on the Niobrara Power Plant broke sending wide spread flooding and ice jams across North Central Nebraska toward the heavily populated section of our state to the East.
(Not my personal photo...A shell of the Spencer dam is left on the Niobrara River)
Once released water has to run somewhere and in our state that is a west to east path. . At the time of my blog we are under a severe national disaster but some how most of the country seems unaware that this has happened to us.This phenomenal storm along with 80 plus mile an hour winds has been devastating to livestock and people across the state.
(photo is the rights of Alex Stephaka's post on facebook)
We will need extreme infrastructure repairs over the next few months to years. Our economy will take a major hit as agriculture is our primary income in this state.
(Photo is the rights of Alex Stepanak's Facebook)
All this considered this storm hit our State after a particularly hard winter and the devastation from the storm will take months to years to overcome. At the time of my blog we don't even begin to know how bad it really is but we are learning daily. God laid it on my heart yesterday that we are beyond time for the Women of this nation to become the Proverbs 31 woman. We are at a point in our lives where it is common place for the church and bible to be discarded from the main stream liberal agenda that is being pushed off on our country. And I believe that we are given free choice in this world to allow us as humans to walk away from God and the belief system we once had. Salvation is the only thing that can not be taken from you but it can be freely given up. I find it almost ironic that in the times we are living in that a blow this hard has been handed to a group of Midwestern States. Our States under crisis are going to need Proverbs 31 as a guide to come out of this crisis:
(photo taken at our farm just south of our home about 30 ft. This is normally a dry creek bed and though I have seen it fuller it is about out of hits banks here)
(this is a photo of my Nubian's does after the storm huddled in the only dry space I had in their pen)
(blow photo is credit to Devyn Isabel of the blizzard outside Hemingford Ne)
Midwest women for the most part have the deep roots of Farmers and Ranchers in their blood and soul even if they are no longer on the farm or ranch. And because of these roots we are like the woman described in Proverbs 31. We toil from before the sun until after it using our God given talents to work for our families and community. When times get hard we grow stronger. To be this woman is a life long journey. We uphold our part in society. Love our husbands and trust their guidance; But we also take to our blessed strengths given by God. We care for our family, community, land and livestock. Our gifts are used to bring greatness to those around us remembering the poor and supplying them with abundance. During the next few months we will be giving to our neighbors and helping repair our great state without limelight. We take strength with dignity and speak with wisdom because we know who guides us. Striking Satan from our lives we must not allow him to control our thoughts and actions. Being women our children are proud to be blessed with as mothers and allow our husbands to have praise when they speak of us. For we are worth far more than rubies when we fear our Lord. ( The above were my notes in my bible from studying this passage)
Proverbs 31:10-31 New International Version (NIV)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Thank you for joining me today
Sincerely yours
Andrea Sayer
