Storm Warning

7/11/08

The weather is beautiful here today, warm and bright. Funny how things look differently to me after a storm. Sometimes I get up and look out at the blazing sun and say, "whew another scorcher", but after a storm I look out and say, "Praise the Lord, the storm has past, thank you for the sun. "

Have you ever noticed how scary a storm can look off in the distance? As my mom and I were traveling to town yesterday we could see a huge cloud in front of us. It swirled and hung down in the middle in several jagged tails as though about to give birth to a tornado. It's core was dark black and thundered forth it's inner turmoil with bright flashes of lightening, its curled edges were fringed in brown and glowed an eerie green. The wind whipped the trees about as if they were feathers and we could see a wall of rain headed our way. As we watched this storm advance upon us our hearts pounded with fear. We have seen tornado's before and know how dangerous they can be. I began to pray and look around for cover but found none. I braced my self for the fury that I knew was about to hit but it never really did. Yes the rain was loud and hard but the wind wasn't so bad and the cloud above didn't look near as scary now that it was upon us.

I'm reminded of many times when I've looked to the future and trembled and worried over expected calamity. When I saw one of life's storms

on the horizon I was sure I'd never survive it. Funny though, most of the time, once I got to the trial that I thought would be devastating, it turned out my worry had caused me more pain than the anticipated storm. Not to say that some storms aren't very difficult and painful but worry surely has never helped. This must be why Jesus told us not to worry. He said to look at how God cares for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air and asked, " are you not much more valuable than they?" If God cares so much for them surely He will meet our needs for He knows what we have need of and counsels us to, " Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto us. Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the thing's of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:25-34

Sometimes our storms may be strong and terrible but we have a shelter in the storm and a strong arm to deliver us. We need not be afraid.

( Isa. 41:10, Ps. 61:3, Ps 136:12, Ps. 37:40)

May you rest in God's care today.

your friend always.