I figured this was probably point where I needed to start listening for Lord...

He went on to say that his neighbor had put her first-born baby in her car trying to escape rapidly rising waters, and found automobile and her baby underwater after running back into house to grab a few items to save.

"She's still a wreck emotionally," Jose said. "I don't think she'll ever get over it. And, my wife and kids just finished putting our place back together, finally."

I looked down at my replaceable wet carpet and realized, like usual, God had shown up to teach me a valuable lesson.

Folks, our God is good all time. We are abundantly blessed and have so much to be thankful for in every situation. He is just as worthy of our praise when a situation seems to turn sour as he is when everything is rosy.

I asked Jose what part of town he lived in, and he indicated it was in a neighborhood very close to my church.

"I spent night in your church sanctuary, you all gave us food, a place to stay, shots for kids," he said. "You all were wonderful."

I actually hadn't even joined my church when Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston in June, 2001. Twenty-one people lost their lives, and scores of Houstonians lost their homes and all their possessions.

I would spend remainder of that Saturday vacuuming wet carpet, thanking Jesus that I was not one of them.

Being blessed is a matter of perspective, isn't it? Think about places in world where residents would see any one of us as living like a king.

Sometimes, we just need a little reminder of how good we have it.

Did you get out of bed this morning? Do you have eyes that allow you to read this page? Do you have a place to sleep tonight, and food to eat before you go to bed? Do you have family and friends that love you?

Is your name written in Lamb's Book of Life?

If you can answer "yes" to any of above questions, it sounds like someone is abundantly blessed by God!

Let's all remember to maintain that attitude of praise and gratitude. I don't know your situation or challenges you face today, but I bet you could find something to thank him for right now.

David wrote: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress..." (Psalm 4:1).

God used those difficult times to enlarge David's faith, build his character, and force him to rely in a greater way on his God. Let's face it, if we only found ourselves in situations we could handle or explain, we'd never have to trust him. Our faith would never develop.

I'm sure when these great men of God were in their personal pit, suffering and desperately calling out to God for help, they wondered what was happening to them. We have benefit of knowing end of each of these stories.

While God didn't cause negative situations in their lives, he used those circumstances to carefully construct powerful men of faith Lord needed for their divine destinies to come to pass.

No matter what challenge you face today, God has already written final page of your story. Your story doesn't end with dark pit your may find yourself in now. Your story ends in victory, with God doing exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask or imagine in your life (Eph. 3:20).

Your God only raises up winners, and you are one of his kids. His favor surrounds you like a shield (Psalm 5:12), and he rewards those who diligently seek after him (Heb. 11:6).

Rejoice, no matter where you find yourself today. Your victory was purchased 2000 years ago on a hill called Calvary. Praise him in advance for victory he has already promised you in his word.

Today, he is calling you to run to only safe place that truly exists...right into arms of your Heavenly Daddy. Remember, name of Lord is a strong tower; righteous run to it and are safe (Prov. 18:10).

Being safe in his arms, use this period to feed on his word, build up your prayer life and trust him even when you feel your life is in disarray.

He is bringing you out with a greater love, a greater confidence, and a greater resolve to see his destiny fulfilled in you than ever before.

Maintain your praise. Thank him continually for his goodness in your life. Don't focus on battle and its challenges, focus of your loving God and his supernatural ability.

He will do what he must to get you where he needs you. But once you are there, look out! His goodness is right around corner and his blessings are chasing you down.