September – The Month of Clear-Thinking and Morning Glory

W aah, we are already in the outstanding month of September, the 9^th month in the modern day Gregorian calendar used by most countries of the world. September was the seventh month of the original Roman calendar. “Septem” means seven in Latin from where it derived its name. It has 30 days and the 1^st month of the autumn or fall season; the beginning “Ember months” of celebration. The birthstone for September is the Sapphire meaning clear thinking; Zodiac signs are Virgo and Libra and birth flowers are the forget-me-not, Morning glory and Aster. Many students return and freshman begins the school year after summer holidays. Also American colleges and professional football starts this month.

HOLIDAYS FOR THE MONTH: Labor Day, Grandparents Day, Patriot Day, Constitution Day and week, Rosh Hashanah, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Potato Month, National Chicken Month, National Piano Month and National Biscuit Month.

Hurricane Season: Folks beware! We are still in hurricane season., Harvey devastated aswath of Texas stretching from the Houston area into Louisiana, with rainfall topping 50 inches in some areas. Harvey was a catastrophic flood disaster in southeast Texas. Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane with winds of 130 mph near Rockport, Texas. Harvey meandered around southern Texas for days as a weakening hurricane and tropical storm. Another Hurricane Irma ripped through the Caribbean and the Bahamas last week, it caused immense damage and destruction to homes, businesses and infrastructure on the islands. It also sucked away ocean water from the shoreline at some beaches in the Bahamas. Hurricane Jose has weakened to a Category 1 storm and is expected to become a tropical storm as early as Friday. JOSE IS THE FOURTH THREATHENING HURRICANE TO FORM OVER THE Atlantic.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) informs that Hurricanes are large rotating storm systems characterized by high winds and low atmospheric pressure. The peak months for hurricanes and tropical storms in Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific form between August and October. Hurricanes form over large bodies of warm water, requiring temperatures of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit to sustain development. Hurricanes are capable of producing strong wind, heavy rains, storm surges and tornadoes. The Atlantic Basin hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. The hurricane season of the Pacific Basin officially runs from May 15 to November 30. While it is possible for tropical storms to form outside of these dates, such activity is exceedingly rare.

Tropical depressions vs. tropical storms vs. hurricanes: Hurricanes develop after going through the following stages: *Tropical wave – the most common tropical disturbance characterized by wind speeds of less than 30 miles per hour and winds in every direction. *Tropical depression – an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with definite counterclockwise motion and maximum sustained winds of 38 miles per hour or less. *Tropical storm – another organized system of strong thunderstorms and definite counterclockwise motion, but maximum sustained wind of 39-73 miles per hour. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when sustained winds reach 74 miles per hour or higher. Visit Red Cross for Hurricane Check List for your preparation

Discipleship Digest reflects on the topic: Unexplainable Experiences: The untold event of catastrophic hurricane Harvey and the associated flood has left people and places with “Unexplainable experiences.” The hurricane Harvey landed on Corpus Christi, Texas and its raging flood engulfed Houston and her surrounding areas. Many cities were submerged under the flood water, People lost their houses, vehicles and personal effects and some lives threatened and others lost.  The rich and poor alike have had their homes and lives upended. Report reveals about 39 people died, including a Houston police officer, a family trapped in a van beneath surging floodwater and a mother whose shivering 3 year old was found clinging to her unresponsive body. Rivers and Bayous overflew their bounds and turned roads and highways into rivers such that boats and trailers became the only safe means of transportation and rescues. The images of inundated streets and victims on rooftops evoke Hugh volunteer efforts that operated with little official guidance. At least the experiences were devastating and unexplainable; funny enough, those who never believed in God were forced to call on God Almighty for intervention and help.

In the midst of Harvey hurricane wahala, many have good reason to complain – they were in shelters, lost their homes and valuables, rescued from the flood, and some lost family members. But complain like worry solves no problem. “The circumstances you complain about become chains that imprison you.” Mark recommends, “And worship becomes the way out; it reframes our problems and refocuses our lives. He adds, “It helps us get through the bad days by reminding us how good God is.” No doubt everyone expects everyday to be good. But that may not be a realistic expectation because if every day is good, there wouldn’t be a bad day. Batterson said, “It is the bad days that help us appreciate the good days, the same as sick days help us to appreciate healthy days. Also failure helps us appreciate success as debt helps us appreciate wealth. And the tough times help us appreciate the good times.”  This is the reality of life. Don’t let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life. ~Author Unknown. It’s just a bad day and shall soon pass; move on!

In a period of adversity, you reframe your problems which mean shifting your focus. “You stop focusing on what’s wrong with your circumstances and start focusing on what’s right with God.” Do not let what is wrong with you or situation stops you from worshiping what’s right with God. “Worship is forgetting about what’s wrong with you and remembering what’s right with God.” It’s like hitting the refresh bottom on your computer. It restores the joy of your salvation and recalibrates your spirit. It renews your mind. And it enables you to find something good to praise God about even when everything seems to be going wrong.”…….Nothing is more difficult than praising God when nothing seems to be going right.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were put into prison for proclaiming Jesus Christ. They were missionaries, preaching the word of God passionately; healed the sick and cast out demons yet they were beaten and thrown into jail. Yet God seems to have looked the other way! They had every good reason to complain about their circumstances but they chose to worship God in spite of their adversity – Their hands and feet were chained but no one could chain their human spirit. They praised God at the top of their voices and that caused chained bound hands and feet to be broken. They sang with conviction and that caused fellow prisoners to listen, catch fire in their spirit such that the jailer who was about to kill himself put his faith in Christ and his entire family baptized in the middle of the night. That’s what worship does in the midst of adversity.

Kindly peruse and forward to at least 10 loved ones. Remember you are too blessed to be stressed. Please show your love and care to the victim of hurricane by donating selflessly through recognized Charity/Helpful organizations such as Red Cross, Houston Food bank, Church organizations., etc.