Guests, Storms, Creation

Our nieces came home with us after the family gathering on Saturday. They went home last night. We had a lot of fun, shared a lot of laughs, and hopefully made a lot of memories. We didn't do much outside since it hit 106 on Sunday, and 103 yesterday, but we did go shopping, bowling, and out for dinner. The bowling was on the little kid lane, where you use the tiny ball and tiny pins that are connected to a string. It was funny to see their 6'3" uncle bowling this way. Personally, I did better than I do with normal bowling!!

The girls left last night right before the storm rolled into the area. First, the winds started and with it, came extremely heavy smoke and dust from the area fires. The smoke was so thick, we had to shut all the windows in the house. Next, came wind so hard I thought all the siding was going to rip off our house. It was literally shaking our entire home, and our little pine tree out front was bent in half. We lost electricity for a bit, which we have only had happen once since living here and that was when lightning struck the transformer. We have underground lines, fortunately, so we are generally with power when everyone else is without. The rains followed next, but the lightning went to the west of us, so we only got on the edge of that part of the storm. This morning, things are considerably cooler, but quiet, with a heavy gray blanketing the area. As I look out the window at my tomatoes, they look like they are beat up, but that, at least for the most part, they survived. As I was reading the weather watch for two inch hail, I kept praying for God to protect my tomatoes! It looks like He did, to which I am grateful!!

One thing is for certain and that is that God definitely shows Himself to us all the time, but do you see Him? Who else could cause the wind to have such force, the lightning to put on such a display, and then cause it to be calm within a couple minutes? Much like my friend over at Aspire to Lead, I don't get how people can look at all the power and majesty of creation, and say there isn't a God who created all this, that it was a cosmic accident, or it 'just happened.' All creation points to God. He makes mighty storms, majestic waterfalls, tiny ladybugs, delicate flowers. He's in it all because He made it all. Look for him today as you look around you.



God's power is unlimited. He needs no teachers to guide or correct him. Others have praised God for what he has done, so join with them. From down here on earth, everyone has looked up and seen how great God is--God is more than we imagine; no one can count the years he has lived. God gathers moisture into the clouds and supplies us with rain. Who can understand how God scatters the clouds and speaks from his home in the thunderstorm? And when God sends lightning, it can be seen at the bottom of the sea. By producing such rainstorms, God rules the world and provides us with food. Each flash of lightning is one of his arrows striking its target, and the thunder tells of his anger against sin. I am frightened and tremble all over, when I hear the roaring voice of God in the thunder, and when I see his lightning flash across the sky. God's majestic voice
thunders his commands, creating miracles too marvelous for us to understand.
Job 36:22-37:5