God is Great; God Is Good!

After the tornadoes that hit Alabama on April 27, life is finally back to somewhat normal where I live. Many people lost homes and properties. Even worse, some lost their lives. But God is faithful. Storms are a part of life; they occur naturally. But supernaturally, God protects those who call on Him.

For the last few days, I've had the privilege of helping people affected by the storms. I've seen the destroyed homes, but I've also seen the work of God's hand of protection. In the midst of broken tree limbs, downed power lines, and overturned trailer homes, I saw a mobile home with two tall trees standing beside and a yard that didn't even seem to have a fallen leaf in it. I was told that in that house lives an elderly couple. The husband is bedridden so they could not go to storm shelter built for their mobile home community. The couple prayed and asked God to protect them. He did! Wow! How great is our God?!

Across the four-lane highway was a community of fairly new brick homes. In one of the houses a woman and two teens huddled in the utility room and cried out to God. That room was the only thing left of the house. Some might call it coincidence. Maybe it is a coincidence that when godly people call on The Good Shepherd, He protects them. But I call it answered prayer.

I don't understand it all, but I understand that the scripture says:

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
      For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 NKJV

Not only is He good, He is great beyond measure.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
   his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3 NIV

 I pray that through all of our storms, we endure and say like the psalmist:

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 NKJV