Home but not Alone

(this has got to be one of the mighty hymns for me, least we never forget those who’ve gone before, whether family, friends, giants in the faith or indeed those who were martyred for their faith).

I post to-day with the hope that you will take the time to read Pastor Alan Dunn’s reflections on the deaths of Arif and Kathy Khan in Pakistan, one year ago.  Truly a sobering but Christ honouring post.

……who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

I hope this is not a bad omen because of the picture I used in my last post, I mean JP did mention that we needed a new bookcase but I’ve just found this in ‘myebay’.

So the only damage we were left with was a wet garage floor.  For that we are truly thankful.  A few days and it will be dried out.  Thankfully we had enough time to lift things off the floor that held any value.

Others in the area weren’t so fortunate, those who had damage in their garages included people whose heating boilers, freezers and washing machines were in their garages, it makes for an expensive nights rain.

Some folks closer to dad had to be evacuated from their homes where the downstairs saw too much water.

If you check out the photos at this link the 3rd  is taken in the housing estate dad lives in.

This Youtube video  shows you our village, I’m not sure what stage this was taken at, I just thought some might be interested to see it!  Looking at this it is unbelievable that the next morning there was no water!  BTW this isn’t my video.

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Here, the humming bird as she has been called is counting the hours until she returns to the states.  We’ve had a great time with her, if the weather dries up we may head to  Omagh tomorrow.

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I’ll be sorting out the Reading Roundabout books over the next few days and will post the final list here asap.

all for now….

Folks the rain has ceased and it really is an answer to prayer.  I was not only praying that the rain would stop but that I had remembered to pay the house insurance, (yes it really was that bad).

Many of our neighbours had baracades and sand bags etc which unfortunately was diverting more of the water in our direction – we’re at the end – as it continued to flow through to the back garden it was fine as it disappeared into the housing estate behind us.  

When the rain stopped the waters dried up fairly well and right now we can see the stones outside the back of the house again.  Two hours ago I didn’t think I would see them again

We had a power cut there which only lasted for about an hour.

I had a chance to walk down to dads, things are worse at his house the water is definitely in below the floor but didn’t get in the doors, just the vents.  The river between his house and ours (he is lower than us) is overflowing and the worst of it is coming in dads back garden and out the front.  

I have never saw a sight like this in my life before.

I may be able to post some pics. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Elaine

Folks some of us over here need some prayer that the rain would cease.

the bottom of the pic is our front door step – since taking this we can barely see the grass now.

this pic is taken from the back door.  JP has tried to stop the water from getting to the back door, the door you see is the garage door and the water is already in the garage via the main door at the front.  

The pictures aren’t good you can’t tell that the water is actually flowing.

I’m sure there are loads of people a lot worse off than us.

Romans 8:28.

Elaine