How do you want to be remembered?

Today there are people dealing with a storm that is no doubt having an effect on life. Today, August 30, 2012, Hurricane Isaac is moving across the Gulf States. Seven years ago, on August 29, 2005, the most devastating and costly hurricane, Katrina, hit the same area. 20 years ago, on August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Florida. Katrina and Andrew are on record as being the first and third costliest storms in terms of dollars, and many of us vividly remember the effects both of those storms had on their communities and even our nation.

Hurricanes are storms that pack a punch and can have lasting effects. Let me give you an example.

There was a story published in the August 21st edition of USA Todayabout a 17-foot Burmese python that was caught in Everglades National Park in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, tens of thousands of these snakes are believed to be in the Everglades. Experts believe that the cause of this uncontrollable outbreak is that 20 years ago during Hurricane Andrew, these pythons escaped from pet stores and have been reproducing in the area ever since. The story goes on to say that local authorities have taken repeated steps to reduce the issues, but since the pythons have established themselves in the Everglades, they will be virtually impossible to eradicate.

I’m not a snake fan at all, but the story really captured my attention. A storm happened 20 years ago, and today experts are still dealing with the effects of that storm.

I hope that what I am doing with my life now will cause positive effects that people will still be dealing with 20 years from now. That is my prayer, not only in my own life, but for my family and for you. I pray that what you are doing to impact people will have a lasting effect.

James 4.2b… You do not have, because you do not ask.

So today, will you join me in asking God to use our lives to have a lasting effect? Just like the Burmese python that now experts can’t get rid of, I pray that later in life, “experts” will look back and say, “I don’t know what you did, but we can’t get rid of it!”

It simply requires you and me to ask God. Will you say this prayer with me? “God, I’m asking that you would use my life in such a way that it will have a lasting effect 20 years down the road. Amen.”

Go ahead ask God, and while you’re at it, ask big.