I had the last two days off from work. My friend that I live with wanted to go to the beach, but Hurricane Matthew had been coming this way. So going to the beach was no longer an option. I didn't know much about the storm. I mean I live in Dallas, Georgia. I wasn't expecting to be affected, but then again someone, somewhere will be affected a lot by the storm.
The winds will build up, trees will be knocked over and streets will be flooded. Homes will be destroyed and there may be lives lost. And there are lives that have already been taken by this vicious storm.
Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm, has made its way through the Caribbean, up over the coast of Florida and now is making its way up the coast of Georgia and South Carolina.
Haiti lost 842 people with ten of thousands lost their homes. This is only part of the destruction that Hurricane Matthew left in its wake. As the storm moves, more damage is done. And I almost forgot to mention how there is a second hurricane behind Matthew, her name is Nicole. We haven't seen what she plans to do quite yet.
The people who aren't going to be affected by this storm is watching the news, watching as trees fall into or onto people's homes and cars. We are those people with great relief that we are not evacuating our home and expecting to be homeless after we return. We are blessed those who don't have to do this. But there is someone who is doing it right now. They could be your friend, your family, or you probably know someone who knows someone that is running from the storm.
So I ask you, bow your head and pray. Pray like you never did before. Pray with me. Because God knows we need it.
Dear Lord,
I humbly come before you. I can't ask you to protect us, the damage that's going to happen or that has already come and gone, I believe everything happens for a reason. We may not understand it now. I trust that you will show us the way.
Give us strength. Strength to gather our families and be able to leave our homes. Strength to leave what we have too behind. Strength to go back after it is all said and done to move on.
Give us the ability to rebuild. Let us clear away the rubble and start anew. There are people, Lord, that will go back to no home, or rather no family. Loved ones that already lost, or going to be. We need you to surround these people in your love.
In this day and time, we are needing you the most. And I am not just talking about in this storm, we need you now in our lives. I pray that when the storms are done, that people find their way to you.
I give you thanks for being there when we have no one, I give you thanks for being the one to show us love.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.
