Psalm 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it and moves out across the skies as radiant as a bridegroom going to his wedding, or as joyous as an athlete looking forward to a race! The sun crosses the heavens from end to end, and nothing can hide from its heat.
God’s laws are perfect. They protect us, make us wise, and give us joy and light. God’s laws are pure, eternal, just. They are more desirable than gold. They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. For they warn us away from harm and give success to those who obey them.
But how can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. And keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.
May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“We’re alive! “Thank God, we are alive!” – Joy King, Barnsdall, Oklahoma – May 7th, 2024
Around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6th, a devastating tornado (thought to be at least an EF3 or stronger) roared through Barnsdall, Oklahoma, a community of 1000 residents just southwest of Bartlesville (which also took a direct hit). I was watching on television as forecasters showed the undeniable “hook echo” of a tornado they projected to be as much as 1.5 miles wide bearing down on these northeast Oklahoma communities. Photos and videos today show neighborhoods that look like they were put into a blender and strewn over the countryside. I’ve seen lots of photos of tornado damage, but the miniscule size of much of this unrecognizable debris is astounding. At least one person is dead, and the search continues for those who are still missing.
Because of current technology, we can get an even closer view of tornadoes. Drones allow us to get “up close and personal” with the aftermath. I watched a video interview this morning with Barnsdall resident, Joy King, who rode out this storm in her cellar, which was located feet away from her house. She said that she waited about thirty minutes and decided to come out of the cellar, but her husband phoned from work, where he and others had just been warned to take cover. So, King stayed in the cellar – and the deadly tornado destroyed her home. She connected a chain on the cellar door to a bolt in the floor…and the wind ripped the chain loose and opened the door. King huddled with her dog in a corner of the cellar as debris swirled in and around. She thanked God that both she, her husband, and her dog are alive – but today, her cats are missing.
I have to admit that I have been frightened of tornadoes since I was a child – due largely to a childhood experience of my Grandmother Ramsey, who watched her aunt and uncle provide livery service to transport bodies of the dead and injured down her street after a horrific tornado on Thanksgiving Day 1926. Nineteen people died, and my grandmother’s aunt later recalled her clothing was covered in mud and blood when she returned home. Another tornado in March 1938 would claim at least three of my grandmother’s family members who lived on the outskirts of our community. As a child, I heard my grandmother and great-aunt recall the story of how one relative was impaled with a fence post. As I read the first lines of this Psalm, I thought about the “heavens” and the glory of God. And I wondered just how and where tornadoes fit into this declaration!
As an adult, I have a different perspective on these storms. Yes, they are often deadly and frequently destructive…and in the blink of an eye, they have changed countless lives forever. But often, after the storm passes, the skies are quite majestic as the sun returns and clouds linger to float by lazily. And for the record, I do not think for one minute that deadly storms are God’s wrath on “sinners.” I honestly do not understand why He allows such destruction. But I have noticed that more times than I can count, the comments afterward are like those of Joy King… “Thank God, we’re alive!”
I trust God completely. So far, there is nothing I have faced that He has not carried me through with undeniable presence and power. I have a healthy “respect” for tornadoes…but an even more serious reverence and awe for God’s commands and His power to both cover us in protection and care – and to wield justice when necessary. And I believe that there are times when God is sorely disappointed in my words and actions – especially as I claim to be His faithful, obedient servant.
Recently, someone made me aware of an ugly meme on Facebook that was clearly AI generated and made false statements and assumptions about two well-known people. Immediately, the comments flew as several looked straight past the note of many that this was AI generated – and took this for gospel and vehemently expressed outrage and disgust. I “unfriended” more than one of these people. There is no reason for me to associate with such evil – even in the context of “friends” on social media. To me, this sort of dishonesty and vile hatred grieves God to His very core…and you and I would do well to run away from it as fast as possible.
More storms are forecast for us in the coming hours. Quite frankly, more “storms” are on the horizon for us in every aspect of life. But as I look to the skies and watch the clouds float past – and at times “boil” and churn with darkness – I am reminded Who is in charge…and Who I am to always serve. Pick and choose your friends and associates well. Watch your words and actions. And trust God in everything. “We’re alive! Thank God, we are alive!” May we live every minute of the day in a way that brings Him honor and glory. Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
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