The weather is getting rough in the Southeast United States tonight. CNN reported 23 deaths in the Tennessee and Arkansas area. The Nashville/Murfreesboro area is under a tornado watch. It started about an hour ago and so far so good (five more to go). Earlier today Memphis and Jackson got hit pretty hard. Classes at Jackson’s Union University have been canceled for two weeks due to all of the damage done. CNN said that the university was the hardest hit of all the areas the storm touched down.
So I am sitting in my living room in Murfreesboro watching TV and writing some music. My roommate is asleep so I am having to be kind of quiet. It is 1:51 a.m. I have to be at the church tomorrow at 9ish. I should be asleep. I am enthralled by this storm though and I am working towards putting the theme of storms and weather into a song that I am currently working on. Weather is a powerful thing that I do not pay attention to enough. It can determine your mood and your activities. The damage at Union University is an example of this. Hurricane Katrina is an example of this. I am sure that there are plenty of other examples of severe weather throughout history that changed people plans. I bet the people that died today did not plan on being victim to a tornado. I am sure the 9 students trapped in Union University did not plan on being stuck at school all day.
The Bible talks about a pretty large storm in the book of Genesis chapter 7:
“11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were spread. 12 And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.”
Rain. Everywhere.
“19 Now the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward and the mountains were covered.”
1 cubit is equal to about 18 inches. So the water at this point was standing about 22.5 feet about the surface of the earth.
“21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.”
That is a pretty tough storm. It makes the one that is happening outside my window right now seem pretty weak. I bet those people back then weren’t expecting to die by the “hand” of a flash flood. Weather has a way of changing us. I felt like the weather tonight was orchestrated by God to get my attention. To be thankful for life when life was being taken close by. To know that He is God and He is all powerful and He orchestrates all things. I believe storms are like the earth and its elements crying out to God. As if the storm was a worship leader. The lighting and thunder cracking and booming and shouting out praise. The rain symbolic of washing away sin or God showering His presence, His glory, and His mercy and grace on us. The wind blowing God’s spirit and refreshing everything it touches a fresh touch from Him.
These are just things i think about during storms. They help me gain perspective into how BIG God is.
Look at the earth as a worship leader. Look at the proof that God exists. Be encouraged and know that God is in control of everything, including You!
I will end with this:
“When the storm is raging all around me,
You are the peace that calms me troubled sea.
When the cares of this world darken my day,
You are the light that shines and shows me the way.
O the beauty of Your Majesty,
On the cross You showed Your love for me.
Beautiful Lord, awesome and mighty,
I’m captured by this love I see.
Beautiful Lord, tender and holy,
Your mercy brings me to my knees.
It’s Your mercy that has made me free, Beautiful Lord.”
-Leeland “Beautiful Lord”