Crossover Christian Fellowship
1234 Press Street
New Orleans, LA 70117
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Finding Him: Crossing Over Into the Promises of God
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An excerpt from Jeannot's new book that paints a picture of what it was like for our family 3 years ago:
Katrina
It has been over a year since Hurricane Katrina brought devastation to our hometown of New Orleans. My husband, my son, and myself left the city that balmy August afternoon in 2005 heeding the advice of local meteorologists who encouraged citizens to evacuate. We packed lightly expecting to return home within a few days. Our family considered this evacuation to be like the countless other times that we fled the city in order to escape a predicted storm. We viewed the break from school and work as a mini vacation, and decided to use the time to visit relatives in Texas. None of us had any idea of the life altering events that would occur over the course of the next few days.
Katrina hit New Orleans causing the levees that protected the city to fail. As a result of our city lying below sea level, severe flooding occurred. Our neighborhoods and businesses were absolutely devastated. Many areas were totally annihilated by the flood waters, leaving nothing but traces of what once was. Our family sat together speechless and horrified by what we saw being broadcast on the news. It was being reported that ninety percent of the city was underwater. My husband and I cuddled each other and prayed as we wondered what the days ahead held for us. It became more evident than ever that we had nothing to hold on to but our faith in God.
After several weeks certain cities on the outskirts of our town were beginning to open. We were eager to get as close to home as possible so we came to Louisiana and stayed with my sister in a neighboring town. Soon parts of our city were opened allowing residents of designated areas the opportunity to return. What we came back to was unbelievable. Words cannot tell of the destruction that welcomed us. Even though the city lay in ruins and seemed to exhale the very stench of death, my husband and I both felt in our spirits that God called us back here. Due to circumstances that stemmed from the storm we soon found ourselves like so many others, homeless and uncertain of what the future held. “…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5: 3-4
All of the hotels throughout the city and neighboring towns were full. We found ourselves with nowhere to go. As we sat in our car praying through our tears, we found the Lord as He placed strangers in our path. They offered us a spare room in the house they were renting. Our life seemed to become much more unpredictable then it ever had been. Never before had we found ourselves walking such a faith walk. It was an adventure unlike any we had ever experienced. We gladly took the room and praised the Lord for His provision. The room we rented had no heat, no furniture and no shower. It was about three weeks before Christmas and I was seven months pregnant. My husband was self employed and was in the middle of a slow season of work. I was thankful for a place to stay but knew it was only temporary. As time passed I found myself struggling to stay out of the depression that tried so hard to smother me. With Christmas less than one week away my emotions began to overtake my faith.
My mind often wandered to the natural concerns that faced us. With rent prices doubled and even tripled due to the hurricane how would we ever be able to afford a place to live? Would my husbands work load increase soon? How long could we live on the money that we had saved? Would this time of transition cause our twelve year old son to fall into a depression? Would we find a place to call home before our baby was due to be born? I began to get overwhelmed by the circumstances that surrounded me. It seemed to me that I had nothing to hold on to except Jesus so I searched for Him until I found Him through worship.
I cried out to the Lord to bring a change to our situation. Within a few days the strangers who rented us the room informed us that they were planning to move soon. This was definitely not the change I had hoped for. It seemed as though in a short time we would again find ourselves without shelter. Still we prayed, went to church and worshiped God, knowing that even though things seemed hopeless Jesus was our friend and was still on our side. I was broken in spirit and could do nothing more then pray. If I knew nothing else I knew that God was faithful. Soon the Lord met us and opened a door for us once again. With empty hands and grateful hearts we moved into a trailer on our church property.
During that time we were tremendously blessed. Our children grew spiritually as they watched God work miracles in our family, parting red seas and taking us through seemingly hopeless situations. They learned lessons that we could have never taught them had they been spared the hardships they endured throughout the previous few months. Our oldest daughter stood amazed at the way the Lord supernaturally provided for her college tuition as we remained unable to help her financially. She came face to face with Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider. Our son experienced the beautiful Holy Spirit, our great Comforter when he found himself afraid and lonely as the repercussions of Katrina turned his world absolutely upside down. We have grown incredibly close as a family and learned once again the power of prayer and the value of life.
My husband and I received a fresh fire to share the gospel more now than ever before. We recognize that we have been stretched, strengthened and matured through the whirlwind of change that God brought with that storm. The Lord took that time of distress and turned it into a time of supernatural growth and fellowship. He took a situation that could have destroyed our family and used it to reveal Himself to us in ways that we have never known. He has changed us in many ways and deposited just a little more of His character within us. Truly His ways are higher than ours! He has increased my faith and opened my eyes once again to His miracle working power. He has taught me that my strength truly comes from communion with Him. His power was truly magnified through our weakness within that time period. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all He does is motivated by His love for us. I realize that our lives are in His hands and that as we trust Him He will make the crooked places straight. He will never leave us nor forsake us. It is certain that we are still in the center of the winds of change but the blessings that we have received from the Father, in the midst of that time of tribulation, are endless.
Today we are facing the challenge of rebuilding the “ Katrina” home that was gifted to us soon after the hurricane. By faith we see the home rebuilt filled with love, life, and ministry. I know that the coming days will be quite challenging but I also know that God's grace is sufficient for me.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion” says my soul
“therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24
Crossover Christian Fellowship
P.O. Box 820347 - New Orleans, LA 70182
1234 Press Street
New Orleans, LA 70117
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