Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Safe Storms?


Floyd over at:  http://theregoi.com wrote a post on storms and in the middle of my reply I thought why not just post part of my comment. 

I love storms.  In Papua New Guinea we lived on the ocean and could see the storms build and actually watch the wind first bend the coconut tress almost completely over. Next would come sheets of rain across the ocean turning it darker. Then it would finally hit our tin roof, louder then a room full of people.  Loved being safe on our porch as we watched  lightening light the sky, palm leaves blowing past us. 

A storm is really not safe...have seen many of roofs ruined, trees blown down, people heads cracked open from a falling coconut.  A person would be a fool to try and outrun a storm or go play in the rain puddles as the lightening strikes all around them.  But we felt safe as long as we stayed under our tin roof far enough back on the porch and just waited till it passed.  The day after would be clean up ...sometimes it would take several day.  Sometimes those days would be filled with sadness over a life lost during the storm. 

None of us are safe from the storms of life. Matthew 5:45 says it rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. Sometimes you can see one coming and try to prepare for it but nothing stops it.  And at times it comes so quick there is no time to prepare, like a dreaded phone call, a health issue and losses that leave us filled with grief.  Either kind we must find a place to  be safe if we are to weather the storm.


God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity still in the cloud, the oil still in the earth. How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to Him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven.
 George MacDonald quotes

 Floyd's post made me think of Job 26: 5-14,  Behold, these, (storms) these are the fringes of His ways.

God wants to give us wisdom in the storm.   Job 28:23-28 God understands its way. And He knows it's place. For He looks to the ends of the earth. And He see everything under heaven. When He imparted weight to the wind. And meted out the waters by measure. When He set limits for the rain and a course for the thunderbolt.  Then He saw it and declared it.  He established it and also stretched it.  And to man, He said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.  And to depart from evil is understanding. 

I think that is why I like storms, it shout of God power and His wisdom that He wants to give us as we stand in awe of Him.  Who can start or stop a storm?  Can you, Can I?   And  only God can bring a rainbow out of a storm.

                                                How are you doing in your storm? 






23 comments:

  1. You and Floyd must have been reading each others' mail. :) I love to watch storms although I prefer not to get struck by lightning. LOL The clouds intrigue me in a fast moving storm.

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  2. Bill, you read the unfinished post...sorry...it is finished now. Yes it was Floyd post that stirred the words to flow. Grateful for all you blogger who stir me on to writing. Stop by and read the finished post if you have time. Heading over to yours.

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  3. Hi Betty, I'm not a storm lover at all. I grew up in Florida with horrible storms and my mother passed her fear of them on to me. I don't necessarily love God's storms either, but I know they are sent to do me well, not harm, and He will walk through each one with me. You and Floyd have made an awesome team in blogland today! Be Blessed!

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  4. This is absolutely stunning, Betty... The questions from God resembling the ones He asked Job hit like one of His storms. "Can you make it storm or stop one?" Fear and reverence is the beginning of wisdom. How I cherish you sharing your Wise Heart. It is so inspiring and uplifting. God made this one, sister. I pray this one leaves a permanent imprint on my heart and mind like a lightening bolt that is gone, yet we still can see the Light. Bless you, Betty.

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  5. Betty Jo...I grew up in Illinois and of course we had our share of tornado warning and watches. I don't fear so much the storm but I am a cautious person, always want to be safe while I watch them. Actually the earthquakes were more frightening then the storms in Papua New Guinea. Where we were located was right on two faults...too many times we were driven out of our house by them. The heat at times made it hard to sleep at night so I would stay up and read. About twice a week my chair would shake rattle and roll because our house was on 8 ft poles. No matter where you go there is always something to be afraid of. Thanks for visiting.

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  6. Well Floyd you started this thoughts. It's me who should thank you for continuing to pour out encouraging thoughts. Betty Jo said we made an awesome blog team today...what a compliment.

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  7. Hi Betty,
    What a picture you paint of storms..last summer, we experienced our first bad thunder and lightning storm as we drove along the East coast on vacation...a good reminder about how God can use storms in our lives to draw us closer to Him. Blessings :)

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  8. Hi Betty! Nice to meet you today!

    God imparts wisdom in the storm...so true. It makes the storm bearable! Right now I have some storms in my life, but I'm trying to lay low and trust.

    With his grace, I know I'll make it!
    Ceil

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  9. I'm doing a lot better in my storm after reading your wise post!

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  10. While I wrote my comment at Floyds post, I thought the same thing that you did. Why not write up a report on our fire, so I did.

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  11. Great and full description here. It's dense and heavy in the right way as I feel His presence... Thanks Betty.

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  12. Dolly, thanks for visiting my site. We don't see many storm in southern California. Always a lesson in nature...

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  13. Ceil, I am in small physical one right now. Trying to lay low, not real good at it though. Will pray for you as you go through the storm. Thanks for coming over for a visit.

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  14. Mary, you are so sweet to visit my site. I think you are a wise hearted woman. Glad we connected through our blogs and fb. Blessings my sister.

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  15. Hazel, seen the news on those fires. So glad you and hubby are safe. They say a fire storm is the worst kind. Thanks for coming by.

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  16. Jason, thanks for the encouraging remarks. Dense and heavy...huh...I think that describes me...

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  17. I may be switching to WordPress soon for they have a lot more options on their site. Like especially the reply app on the comments. Actually tried a little copy of this post on there, it's a start. I will let everyone know when I do a final switch. Unless someone can tell me how to get the reply on bloggspot.

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  18. I think Floyds post has sparked a few people to write!

    Love these lines, "I think that is why I like storms, it shout of God power and His wisdom that He wants to give us as we stand in awe of Him. Who can start or stop a storm?"

    What a beautiful way to look at storms! Thank you. God really is amazing!

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  19. As always TC you encourage my heart with your comment. I have often wondered if the angels see the storm from their side, wonder how the lightening looks...

    I think a few of us were on the same page in our hearts, shows in our post. Blessings.

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  20. I like them too. I think because I notice how safe I feel in the midst of them. They absolutely demonstrate His power. Glad you reminded me as I'm sure another storm is on its way.

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  21. Thanks Melanie for stopping by my site.

    I like the big storms that really clean the air, get it over and go on. It's those little daily storms, kind of quiet but unsettling. We have been in that storm since we came home from over sea to do a stateside ministry. It's a transition storm brought on by change. Sometimes I will try to get the storm to blow bigger so it will blow out...but it stays so guess I have not learned all God wants to teach me.

    Thanks for the great post you share, always learn a lot from them.

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  22. I can only imagine how storms in the islands would feel. When I was in Hawaii years ago on my honeymoon, Hurricane Iniki swept in on the island of Kauai where we were. It was a strange feeling knowing there was really nowhere to run to, no real "inland" area that would be safe from it.

    But even with that, we didn't really experience a storm like you're talking about (we were all huddled together in the hotel ballroom). I'm thankful we have a Savior who rides out the storms with us, or stops them altogether when he so chooses!

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  23. Blessings to you Betty. I appreciate the visit. Have a wonderful Labor Day.

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