Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at
any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares
of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
We are four full months into the New Year and already we
have mounted up disaster after disaster. Just this week a swath of storms and
tornadoes crawled across the US leaving death and destruction in its path.
The stretch of storms rolled over Nebraska making its way
east touching down and crippling cities and states catching many unaware as
warning sirens were knocked out by high winds allowing the storm quiet entry
and in the terror of its wake, many dead.
The weather is downright strange! We have been under high wind
warnings for weeks, possibly months now since the evidence still sits in my
front yard of a tree toppled by high winds.
The 20th of April we had high winds and blizzard
like conditions leaving us under a blanket of snow as my springtime perennials
were making their show. We warmed up nicely and Saturday the 26th we
hit daytime high of 80 degrees although the winds were still gusty as we made a
trip to Lincoln.
Yesterday the 29th, I rose to the heater coming
on as temps with windchills were dipping well below 30 degrees. As I sat
writing it was 39 degrees and the windchill of 25 mph sustained winds made it
feel like 24 degrees! And this is Spring? Winter just won’t let go!
The weekend storms are still rolling across the country
threatening the east coast with flooding and torrential rains. They battered many
states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee and
were now threatening Georgia and the Carolina’s. So far the death total from
these storms is at 30 with many still missing.
So where is God in all this death and destruction? I know
He’s out there so where is He? Many people struggle with that question in an
aftermath of such devastating brutality to their communities. They’re
surrounded with why me questions and sometimes they find comfort in
understanding God’s purpose but others just don’t get it. They are in shock and
have every right.
Trevor Freeze wrote: “In response to an outbreak of
tornadoes over the past few days, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is
deploying to some of the hardest hit areas, with teams responding in Arkansas,
Mississippi and Kansas.”
Aha! That’s where God is. He’s in the hearts and souls of
men and women responding to these disasters. Neighbor’s who never spoke to each
other before are now aiding in the search and rescue. Teams of Christian’s are
banning together to aid the down trodden. Churches across the country are
sending help (and you wonder where your tithes go each week you give?)
Without your tithing the church would never be able to send
assistance so really, if you attend church regularly, tithe each week, you in
essence are a part of the assistance sent to help if you can’t go yourself.
Yes, churches across the country send around tithing baskets
asking you to contribute. This isn’t money to build bigger and better churches
or to build statues this money is SUPPOSED to be used for the people.
Lev. 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the
flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto
the LORD.
Yes, it is our DUTY to give to the Lord so that the Lord in
turn uses the money to aid and assist in times of disaster. In times of
distress, the Lord is seeing to it that you are comforted, you are aided and in
turn YOU are doing the Lord’s service.
Where is God in these times? He’s right there among you. Do
you see Atheist groups sending help? Do you witness hate groups backing
communities up? In reality, not even our government is the first responders,
church organizations are! The government goes through red-tape before assisting
to send money. Churches send actual human beings to be there when a mother
cries, a father dies, or a child is missing.
The Church – all of God’s people, react with ACTION, not
words. If your church is not one that acts in a disaster, then maybe seeking
out a new church is in store because we the people of the church KNOW there is
money to give out to the people in need and the Churches across the nation are there.
People of the Church respond!
So when you hear that a mother finds her lifeless child
among the rubble of a tornado stricken home, know that there is someone of
God’s right behind her doling out comfort. We see it, but many won’t
acknowledge it as the hand of God. Usually it’s the ones that don’t believe in
God or His Almighty strength and power!
God IS alive!
2 Sam. 22:7 In my distress I called upon the
LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my
cry did enter into his ears.
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