Flood Waters

“A full dam provides poor flood control," Kenneth O. Kahrs.

Grandpa stated this numerous times during conversations in the 1980s and 1990s. Grandpa was in the Republican River valley in 1935, seeing the eight foot wall of water roar towards him as he assisted a neighbor and their team of horses up the hill to safety. No upstream dams existed in 1935.

Through the decades, after many dams were built in the 1950s, Grandpa saw the benefits of dams to control flood waters. These dams were initially built for two primary purposes: flood control and irrigation. Recreation and other uses were considered ‘gravy,’ or extra benefits resulting from the flood control and irrigation.

Lake levels are listed as conservation pool, and flood pool. The lake’s reservoir is considered full when water level, elevation, equals the conservation pool elevation. All water above this elevation is flood water.

For example, Harlan County Dam in Nebraska’s Conversation Pool is currently 1945.7 feet, and the Flood Pool at 1973.5. The reservoir’s current elevation reads 1947.4; the Flood Pool is filled 4.4%.

The Flood Pool’s purpose follows its name; contain flood water with a controlled downstream release. This practice reduces the vastness of a flood. The Bible says the wisdom of the wise is to give thought to their ways. Consequently, wise and prudent lake managers lower water levels much below the Conservation Pool, before flood stage is reached, if they anticipate excess upstream runoff or upstream dams are full, providing little holding capacity.

Releasing water downstream before the lake is full allows flood waters to be received without damage, while blessing those downstream. When water is contained in the Flood Pool, and flooding occur; the excess is water is a curse. Massive releases, double and tripling normal high releases, hurt people and property permanently.

One only has to view pictures of the Missouri River flooding to see the enormous damages.

The Bible teaches us to give generously and cheerfully. The top 10% of our income is considered flood stage money; we are to release it to Christ. We are encouraged to release income in addition to the 10%. This giving enables spreading Christ’s Word, worshipping Christ, while caring and providing for others around us. By hanging on to our money, failing to release the flood money, we are preparing for disaster. Excess money released apart from Christ, spent out of control, harm and permanently damages people.

Releasing the top 10% allows a flood of income to be received with gratitude, the more we release the more flooding we are able to enjoy as a blessing instead of a curse. While reservoirs capacity remains fixed; God often increases our Conversation Pool and Flood Pool. Consequently, releasing income downstream to Christ’s people increases our financial holding capacity.

The same principles hold true for Love and Forgiveness. Let the Love and Forgiveness you receive from the Lord to flow through you to those you encounter. Your capacities will increase.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/