This past weekend, Aug 26-28, 2011, Hurricane wrecked havoc on the eastern seaboard from North Carolina to New England. Packing winds of 100 MPH, she slammed into North Carolina and Virginia. As she weakens on her journey north, she made landfall once again in Brooklyn and travelled up the Hudson River into Vermont and eventually lost all her energy in NE Canada. As of today, 38 deaths are attributed to her. Property damage may well reach over $12B.
Many areas were badly affected including my hometown on Long Island. Thankfully, God spared us and our property. We lost no siding or roofing and amazingly, never lost power. We cleaned up the tree debris on Monday and by the afternoon, it looked like just another beautiful summer day on LI.
On the Friday night before the storm hit us and throughout the storm, We prayed constantly these bible passages asking God for His protection in the storm:
- Ps 107:29-31
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters[a] were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
- Ps 121:7-8
7The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
-
Ps 34:8
8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
There were others and we continued trusting in Him.
In the aftermath of the storm, I’m thankful that he spared us any damage and took us through the storm.
Other areas were not so blessed. The floods in New York and Vermont have been devastating. Does that mean that there were no Christians in those areas praying for protection. No, it doesn’t. I can’t explain it and I don’t want to try. It just happens. The best and only blessing each Christian can rely on and put all their faith in is their salvation. Regardless of what happens to us, we are always blessed. You might not think so if your basement is flooded or your house is damaged, but, you are blessed. God sent His only Son to take the punishment meant for us and reconcile us to Himself so that we can have eternal life. There is no greater blessing than that.
One more thing about the sovereignty of God: He is in total control.
Job 37:11-13 says
He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen.
He turns the clouds around and around (like a hurricane) and it accomplishes what He commands. God may use it for correction or one translation says judgment. Everyone concentrated on the wind and rain from the Hurricane, yet, New Jersey, New York and Vermont unexpectedly, are dealing with massive flooding. Two of those states, New York and Vermont, have passed same-sex marriage laws allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry therefore making a mockery of God’s Word. Never underestimate the sovereignty of God. He will not be mocked.
