A town named Moore, Oklahoma, is hurting today. We all hurt--but especially the kids! We've sung "Jesus loves the little children" all our lives, and now WE see what HE sees--His hurting children of ALL ages--eyes filled with sadness, anxiety--hunger, pain, panic--and fear! We weep for them and with them....but what can we do to HELP them in this unspeakable tragedy?
Many teachers, parents and "just plain people" like us - all over the USA and the world - will help with fervent prayer and financial aid--and we will watch hurting people rise from the rubble with inner determination, courage and strength.
Human kindness and love will rise too in practical ways to meet the need. Counselors will pour into schools and churches to listen to the Father's kids, to love them, to pray with them, to provide some comfort and assurance to them--to help in whatever way they can. Why? Because we're all family--we all hurt, we all share the hurt--but we can all help, in some way, to reach out and heal.
When tragedy comes to any one of us, we are grateful for human help--whether it's a parent, a pastor, a counselor, a spouse or a charity organization--we join hands and pull together to lift up one another, to support, to console, to encourage, and yes, even to cry with someone, when words aren't enough. But--we're human...we need help from outside outselves--it's all too much to bear....is there ANYONE bigger than any of us to fill that role?
Yes! There's a Heavenly Father looking down on a suffering town today--with grief, sorrow, sadness, compassion and love. He looks down on YOUR "town" too--He reaches out to say, "I love you. I care. I will be with you."
Just like an earthly parent who cares for his kids, so our Lord watches over HIS kids. He knows what's going on--inside us, around us, above us, below us--He is everywhere--the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God who says, "Fear not, My child--I love you; I will never leave you nor forsake you--I am with you alway even unto the end of the world."
So what to do? Run to Father today - let Him hold you and your family in His everlasting arms--arms of a REAL Dad--warm, consoling, comfortable, secure, loving and strong--HE cares for His family, HE loves His kids--believe it and place your total trust in Him this day--and please remember to pray for the people of Moore, Oklahoma!
...and that's just a faith-filled thought or two from my heart to yours!
Scripture:
"As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him (Psalm 103:13)."
Prayer: "Lord, we are living in "perilous" times--Christians and non-Christians feel frightened, afraid, and unsafe! Let us look to You, the Heavenly Father, knowing that in YOU we will find the peace and faith we need. YOU will never tire, falter or fail, and as we put our trust in You, neither will we, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Moore Prayers - White Horse Inn blog
Oklahoma May 20, 2013, Tornadoes/NewsOK
Photo features:
"Tornadoes wreak havoc in US - The Big Pictutre - Boston.com"
"Before and after: Tornado cuts devastating path through Oklahoma - PhotoBlog"
--Copyright 2013 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved.
--Find more devotionals by Peggie at The Devotional Buffet.
--Peggie's Place! - home base for this blog!
A mini-portal with a mega-collection of Christian resources for all ages--humor, holidays, inspiration, education, missions, music, ministries and more!
Additional resources
Feature devo by Peggie: "Tragedy, Faith and Unanswerable Questions"
The Emergency Room at Peggie's Place - help for life crisis
"God, Where ARE You?!? - A 9/11 devo by Peggie
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Songs: "Be Strong and Take Courage" - Don Moen - YouTube
"Mahalia Jackson: The Lord's Prayer - YouTube"
Featured link: "The Lord's Prayer Words - traditional
"Prayer Alert! The Breath of Hope in Oklahoma" - by Billie Cash
"Miracles in the Rubble: Oklahoma Tornado Victims Astounded at How They Survived" (Charisma News)
"Do All Children Go to Heaven?" - by Jim Denison (ChristianityToday.com)
"Sam Storms: Ok. City, OK--Tornadoes, Tsunamis and the Mystery of Suffering and Sovereignty"
"The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil" by Albert Mohler
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A heart-warming moment in the middle of the mess!
"Video: Elderly lady reunited with her dog after Oklahoma tornado"
News links:
"Stunning picture of tornado right before it struck Moore Oklahoma" - NEXTGEN FM
"The Most Incredible Oklahoma Tornado Videos" - News Watch (National Geographic)
"Oklahoma Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail of Destruction in Moore" (Photos/live updates) - Huffington Post
"'With God's Grace, We'll Recover," Says Oklahoma Undersheriff After Tornado"
More Charisma News (includes tornado-related news)
"Photo Slideshow: Tornado Devastation and Inspiration in Moore, Okla. - Fox News Insider"
"Hopes for trapped survivors mixed as crews pick through debris
left by deadly Oklahoma City tornado" (Fox News)
"7 Things You Should Know About the Oklahoma Tornado" - ABC News
Help links:
Convoy of Hope - (Assemblies of God)
"How to help Oklahoma tornado victims" (U.S. News)
"How to help tornado victims - News OK
Christian help organizations:
Samaritan's Purse international relief
"BGEA: Chaplains Responding to Oklahoma Tragedy" . . . "BGEA: Rapid Response Team - Sharing Hope in Crisis"
Other Spiritual Resources
"Oklahoma Tornado Death Toll Still Unknown;
Oklahomans Pull Together Amidst Tragedy, Loss of Life" (Christian Post)
TroubledWith.com--"Solutions for Life's Problems" . . . The Life - Disaster, Fear and Crisis
"Where Is God in the Chaos?" (CT Weblog)
"Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?" by Luis Palau
"Can I Really Expect God to Protect Me?"
"Accidents and Disasters: Does God Care?"--by Dr. Lambert Dolphin
"Acts of God...Tears of God"
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Music Credit - "Call Upon Me" by Gilberto Barreto, Songs of Praise,
following the USA tragedy on September 11, 2001.
