God's Protection

Last Wednesday, we had severe weather in our area that produced tornadoes. We were getting ready for church and if it were not for my Mom, we wouldn't have known about the tornado warning. I am extremely scared of thunderstorms (when I was about 5 years old, lightning struck our house and I guess, I have never gotten over that) so the news struck that cord of fear in me. I said, "don't let Kea know,(he is so afraid of storms and just the word tornado, hurricane, etc strikes a fear in him that I have never seen in a child.) B turned on the tv and it was most definitely headed in our direction. The warning was until 6:15 and it was 5:50pm. Kea walked in and heard "tornado" immediately, he freaked. We began praying, reading scripture, singing "when I am afraid I will trust in you, I will trust in you" . Nothing worked, he was soooo scared. B rushed us out the door just as the storm began.His parents had already left and we didn't know if they knew. We are less than 5 minutes from the church and I just wanted to get to the basement. In the meantime, they extended the warning to 6:45.

NO we didn't tell Kea. He was so shaken I could barely keep him in my lap. Continuing to pray, I just held him and tried to comfort him. When he saw the time was 6:16, the fear was gone..... just like a light switch. Whew, at least while the storm was raging outside he was playing and running around. By 6:30, I was getting texts and B was getting phone calls, checking on us. B checked on Am, M and Baby C and they were in the bathtub. She had actually seen it. It did a lot of damage less than .2 of a mile from their house. It went right by our friends home. S.C.A.R.Y.

When church was over we found out that a family in our church had lost their home.Praise the Lord, they were not there at the time. God had them away from home due to a job interview. Within 30 minutes, we heard churches in the area were setting up shelters. I was so numb over the whole ordeal, all I could do was thank HIM for protecting us, our family and our home. When we got home, I expected things to be blown all around in our yard. NOTHING was out of place.

As the pictures of the damage and destruction shown on tv &  facebook the following morning and throughout the day, it became so real to me and I could not stop thinking about  God's hand of protection. Many lost their homes. And everything they owned.  It was as if he just covered our area with his ALMIGHTY HAND. Once we saw the path it took, we praised Him some more. On Saturday, we drove to one area and it was unreal the devastation that came from that storm. God taught us all a lesson that night and even since then. He will take care of us, no matter what. He will keep us in the palm of His hand. There has been story after story of God's protection during the storm. I am sure there will be even more. May God get the Glory through what many have said, "its like a bad dream, except I am not waking up. But, God is good and He is faithful."

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

Please pray for those that have been affected by the destruction.

Thank you Father, for your hand of protection, for those that you kept out of harms way, for the rescue personnel, for those that have volunteered, gave money, took time to reach out to others, thank you Father for every thing!