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He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. ~Psalm 107:29
This past Thursday, a significant weather event tears through the southeast, particularly in Alabama and Georgia. Of course, my weather bug husband, Danny, keeps a laser focus on the approaching storms, concerned about the possibility of a tornado developing too close to us for comfort. I mean, how can you NOT be a bit on edge when images like these appear on the television screen?
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Such horrific images, aren't they? When I look at these, I wonder how anyone inside the structures could survive. Tragically, nine lives are lost to these storms.
At this point, I must confess. I've had an obsessive fear of tornadoes since I was a child. Just knowing that we are under a tornado watch starts my stomach churning and my palms sweating. I cannot begin to tell you how many nightmares I had where the star was a fierce and vengeful tornado. My mother blamed this phobia on her letting me watch "The Wizard of Oz" when I was only three. Think that might have something to do with it? Yep, so do I!
But these days, as soon as I encounter those irrational emotions of fear and trepidation, I stop, drop and pray. Not just for me and our family's safety, but for the protection of all persons in the path of the unforgiving storm. It isn't long before my feelings of angst are replaced with a calm and peace that only comes from trusting in God. Looking back, I've realized that from the time I asked Jesus into my life as a young adult, my tornado nightmares disappeared from my dream cycle. Does that mean I'm not at all concerned? No, but it's so much easier to face the unknown knowing I don't face it all alone.
Happily, though we experience some thunder and lightning, we are spared the wrath of tornadoes and high winds. With our new deck recently finished, that's such a relief to escape serious damage to either it or our roof.
I can't, and won't, stop praying for the families who lost loved ones. And I can't stop praising and thanking God for His great mercies.
Because in this life, we will experience many storms. But let us always remember that our Lord can calm them all.
Amen!
Good post here. It all comes down to trusting Him, doesn't it, no matter what the threat or fear. I'm thankful you have been spared during this most recent stormy time.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very thankful, too, Barbara. And you're so right - it all comes down to trusting in God.
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings!
I am happy to hear that you were safe. Those pictures are so hard to look at. Very, very sad. I pray for the families who lost loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI know, Debby, they are so difficult to comprehend when it comes to sheer physical damage that represents so many families' losses. Let us keep praying!
DeleteLove and blessings!
I can't believe I never made the connection between The Wizard of Oz and tornados! The news coverage is so difficult to watch; the one where 7 people perished is but 7 miles away. You know, I always said I could never live in Alabama because of my phobia about storms. A little faith goes a long way, doesn't it?!
ReplyDeleteA little faith does go a long way, Myra; we can both attest to that! I can't believe how close those storms were to Tom and you, but I'm glad and relieved that you are both safe.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Glad you safe! We kept an eye out via my brother, who lives in north Georgia.
ReplyDeleteWhereabouts in north Georgia does your brother live, Glynn? We may have visited there on one occasion or another. So glad your brother and his family are safe, too. Most of the worst storms went to the south of us this time around. Whew!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
ReplyDeleteYes, we too had those tornado watch sirens go off and message on the iPhones... It is scary but when everything is being fastened and we know that Pieter designed the house to be sturdy by adding more red cedar beams—closer together that is instead of wide apart and therefore more flimsy when storms rage.
Sure we can pray—that's what my Mom always had us do, she got us all up from bed for a severe storm or thunderstorm and we prayed.
It helps and does calm us down; knowing that God is in charge!
But we have our own responsibility as well.
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes, we have our own responsibilities, Mariette, and we should be vigilant and prepared for every circumstance. We know that God is in charge, but He didn't give us common sense for nothing. Let's keep praying for all the storm victims.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Wise calming words thank you
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Christine.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh Martha, these pictures are so scary and sad. I'm glad you didn't have any damage where you live. Thanks for sharing your expereinces and how you've oversome the severity of your fear. And this is powerful, "but it's so much easier to face the unknown knowing I don't face it all alone." Hallelujah! God bless!
ReplyDeleteHallelujah, indeed, Karen! I'm so glad this particular sentence spoke to your heart today. I can't begin to express how much comfort I feel in knowing that God is always with me.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Very scary. We survived the EF 5 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, Al on April 27, 2011 which prompted the move north. Now look, tragic/the sudden passing of our son once again bought us back home to Florida-back to hurricanes...ANYWAYS...My bil lives in LaGrange, GA and they had a tree come down close to the house. I am glad you are safe...unfort. I can tell you; fear is a part of life/living...not meaning to sound offish/offensive etc... But you know what, with God we can triumph. You are so right, trusting God is the way. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteHaving God in our lives, Linda, is the only and truest way to defeat fear. I've seen more than enough proof over my life that He always works miracles.
DeleteI don't remember Alabama being such a tornado alley except for the last 20 years or so. I'm so glad you came through that and are now back to Florida when the only bane of existence, and it's enough, are hurricanes. At least you have an incredible governor and no state taxes. That's the good news!
Love and blessings!
Tornadoes are so scary and so devastating. Here in Florida we have hurricanes (as you know) but we know they are coming days ahead. Tornadoes just pop up and most times there is little or no warning. I am glad you were safe from the latest round. Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Terri, for your well wishes here. Yes, the worst thing about tornadoes is that we never know exactly how they will attack. With hurricanes, at least we can take precautions to protect our property and lives.
DeleteLove and blessings!
So glad to know you and your family are alright. Was praying.
ReplyDeletePrayers much appreciated, J. D.!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha: We have tornadoes here in Indiana. I understand the fear that people experience. I went to Indy for a church meeting a day after we had one go through our region. Diagonally across the intersection from the church was a three-story building with the top story and the roof gone. The only damage to the church property was a few trees that had to be attended to. My husband seems to be very uneasy when we have those warnings up here. I didn't realize you lived in Georgia. Had I known, I would have prayed for you and your family when the alerts went out. Peace and blessings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it odd how tornadoes can strike on one side of a road and leave the other practically unscathed, Cecelia? I can't blame your husband for feeling uneasy, either. Even though I am well aware that God is with me, I, too, get anxious when a storm is in the offing. It wouldn't be common sense if we didn't experience a healthy fear and take the necessary precautions.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Praying for all affected by the storms. Take care Martha. I am praying for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteGod bless and protect.
Thanks so much for your prayers, Victor! We are still giving thanks to God for our good fortune.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Nature has so many faces. North eastern Japan suffered severe damages from the tsunami in 2011.
ReplyDeleteI hope people in your area walk forward together step by step. Your bloggers are always with you.
I do recall that awful event, my friend. No matter where we live, we are never immune from the power of Mother Nature, are we? We can be thankful that God comes alongside us and sees us through the storms.
DeleteLove and blessings!
We have been fortunate in that we have not ever experienced a tornado. There was one here before we moved and I have been through several places where the remnants of one has been (trees looking like corkscrews...if they are still standing, etc) but thankfully never in one. The devastation is immense. I believe you have found the secret Martha: stop, drop and pray. Thanks for the encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteWith y'all living in Indiana, Bill, I'm surprised that you haven't been through one; that's a blessing, indeed! I'll certainly continue to pray that that is an event you'll never have to endure.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Bom dia, Martha
ReplyDeleteVamos orar pelas famílias que foram afetadas pelos tornados, graças a Deus pelos livramentos na tua casa. Sobre o comentário no meu blog que você fez da música de Petula Clark eu não conhecia, mas escutei e gostei muito, um forte abraço.
I'm so glad you enjoyed that song, Lucinalva. The tune and the words always moved me. And yes, let's continue to pray for the thousands of people affected by the recent storms.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Oh, Martha! I am so thankful the Lord had mercy on you all and kept you safe through those awful storms. I remember when the horrific tornado hit Xenia, OH, when I was growing up, and oh, the devastation that was left in the aftermath! It was so awful. God is so good and faithful to answer our prayers, isn't He? May He bless and keep you always, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteI can't give God enough thanks, praise and glory in preserving us from this horrific line of storms, Cheryl. When one experiences a tragedy when young, like you did, it is not easily forgotten, but with time and faith in the Lord, we can move forward with hope and positivity. Let us pray that the beautiful people who were the target of these storms can pick up the pieces and recover with God's help.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, when I was a kid, my family moved from California (earthquake land) to Oklahoma (Tornado Alley), Texas, Alabama, and then back to Oklahoma. I'd never known how frightening a tornado warning is until I lived through one that hit our street! Our house was spared, but the neighbor's was leveled. So scary!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of "stop, drop, and pray."
Oh, Beckie, I can't even begin to imagine such a scare! I have a blogging friend and family who live in Alabama, and when those warnings are first issued, you better believe I'm doing the stop, drop, pray routine. I'm so grateful that all my loved ones were spared. My nephew and his wife, used to live in Tuscaloosa, AL, and we so worried about them when storms were on the horizon those years ago. Glad they finally moved to PA where those chances of a tornado are minimal.
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Oh, my dear Martha. I am so thankful that you and yours were safe in the storms. I am also thankful that we were not traveling through GA on the day of the storms. God brought us back home safely to FL. a couple of days before the bad weather hit. So very thankful, but still praying for those who were in harms' way and did not come through it all safely. May God comfort and care for them and their loved ones. I also do not like to watch The Wizard of Oz. I was a little older than you, but it always scared me as a child and to this day I cannot sit through the whole movie without feeling a lot of anxiety. Those early impressions can do a lot of harm to us. But yes, we know that God is with us and we can rely on Him to carry us through life's storms and trials, no matter what. We all have to walk through difficult times in this life in one way or another, but we never walk it alone when we know Jesus and put our trust in God. (((hugs))) dear friend. I thought of you as we passed through the Kennesaw area last week. I wish I could have called you, but it just wasn't possible. But you were definitely on my mind as I saw the exit signs.
ReplyDeleteYou were on my mind all of last week, Pamela, and I'm so glad your family trip was a safe and rewarding one. There will come a time that we will be able to meet in person; Danny's son, Giovanni, is in the process of transferring to an Air Force base in Florida, Hurlburt to be exact, so we will have multiple excuses to pay visits to Florida. I'm sure that one of those opportunities will culminate in us getting together. I'd love it if Terri and Barbara could join us, too. We can talk more as that opportunity comes closer.
DeleteThanks for being such a dear friend. I do so appreciate your understanding of my childhood fears, and that you share the same.
Love and blessings!
So glad to hear you were safe.
ReplyDeleteThose images are so sad to look at.
Praying for all affected by the storms.
Hugs and blessings, Martha.
Thank you so much, Veronica. We are feeling extremely grateful at this time.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Stop, drop, and pray--such wise advice and so easy to remember with just three words in this familiar format! Thank you, Martha! P.S. Praising God with you that you were spared. Praying God's peace, comfort, and provision for those who weren't!
ReplyDeleteI am most certainly praying the same, Nancy. It seems that whenever catastrophe strikes, people pull together, forgetting their differences, and embracing serving the needs of others. God is still working among us!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Hi Martha, when we lived in Australia we experienced tornadoes, and while in Kambalda a dust storm that was so strong that the whole area was coloured brown from the ground to a great hight. I only felt safe inside our house because of my trust in the Lord. God bless you always with the peace we have in Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about tornadoes in Australia, Brenda, although it makes perfect sense, all things considered. And our true feelings of safety and security most certainly come from our trust in the Lord, that's for sure.
DeleteLove and blessings!
I was surprised at the first Atlanta tornado. I think of tornadoes as being in the plains. We pray for them as well as the east coast rains and flooding. Keep safe, well.
ReplyDeleteThese storms passed through Alabama, too, but thankfully not where we live. My husband is working in Selma this weekend with our disaster relief group to clean up damage down there. He spoke with a gentleman there today whose house was almost totally destroyed but who was in the house when the tornado came through last week! I don't like tornadoes either, Martha.
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