Monday, September 15, 2008

He Who Commands the Winds Touches Me


The last few days has seen Hurricane Ike, a swirling massive wind storm the size of Texas, first fill the Gulf of Mexico, then make landfall on the Texas and Louisiana coastline, drive inward to Houston, then northward through Arkansas and Missouri, joining other wind patterns to drop rain farther north and east. Just the outer band touched our area of western Kentucky, with winds of up to 50 miles an hour, downing trees, damaging roofs, and cutting the power to thousands of homes, ours included, with a potential of 2-3 days before their restoration. Thank the Lord that unlike the ice storm last year, the temperature has enabled us to stay at home without dependence on A/C.

And we praise the Lord for what appears to be a very few deaths initially discovered after the storm's passing. The systems that have been developed to plot the storm's path and intinsity are an amazing gift to bring the necessary warnings that this might be the case.

Such forces of nature and their destruction cause many to question the power and will of God as sovereign and in control. But He is in control, make no mistake. We may not understand the purposes for which such is allowed, but our Heavenly Father gives provision in the midst of every storm. As I weigh my God's control in this and other times of weather's severity, I am reminded of the passage in Mark 4:39-41, "And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

As I began a prayer of praise to God, I realize that though we think we understand the science of the environment, and how to prepare, only One knows the digest of what, when, where and why of the forces "of nature" and controls them by His purposeful will. Spiritually applied, it is also His Breath of the Spirit that impacts my life for the good of His righteousness, the refreshment of the daily bread of His Word, the freedom found in sin's debt forgiven, new insights for living, a family of faith's support, and the promise of eternity. Truly I cry with the Psalmist in 146:5-6,
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth forever."

Here is a few lines I have written to be an encouragement to you today:

Like clouds, Your breath blows where it may

To bring Your influence on my day.

One day You cause the snow to fall,

Like holy whiteness, my life's call.

Again, when needed, Your sleet of will,

The finished shine, my soul to fill,

And when my soul is parched and worn,

You rain Your living water's form.

You are our truest aid and hope,

Nothing from man can help us cope.

For oppressed You're justice; for the hungry You're bread,

For the prisoner You're freedom from bondage's dread.

You're sight for the blind, the stranger's rely,

For widows and orphans, You are their supply.

Those bowed You exalt, the righteous You love,

With promised forever in Your kingdom above.


Praise God and be encouraged!

1 comment:

Mich said...

Being someone who worries over storms, that story in Mark has always been a favorite! I always experience a peace when I think of Jesus telling the storm to be still. Thanks for reminding me of that dad! Love ya!