Living in the Tornadic South

    Since Wednesday night, my heart has been heavy thinking about all of the victims of the vicious, unrelentless tornadoes.  Since I was a little girl, I have always been one of the weird ones who actually gets excited about thunderstorms and bad weather.  I guess it's because I have always been amazed at the way all the conditions have to be perfect for a storm to begin rotating.  I LOVE watching storm chasers.  It's also because I feel safe and cozy inside my house while all the scary sounds are outside and I don't feel like I can be hurt by them.  After Wednesday, I realize that I have always been very wrong about being safe.  I knew watching Thursday morning that I was witnessing something historic even before the death toll began rising. It's amazing to me that everyone celebrated a beautiful, warm, flowery Easter with family and friends.  We celebrated the resurrection of our savior and the love he has for us.  Then, four days later, people are hunkering down, hanging on for dear life, literally.  Those people had no idea when they woke up on the morning of April 27 that when night time fell, they would no longer have any of their belongings and some would no longer have their loved ones.  It makes me realize how precious life is and how unimportant material belongings are.  The number of people who have died related to these storms has now reached 318, making this the deadliest day for tornadoes since the Great Depression!  Mississippi has lost 34 people with 163 injured.  14 of those deaths happened in Smithville, MS; population ~900.  1822 homes were damaged in MS alone!  Alabama has lost 228 people, 30 in Tuscaloosa alone (2 of those were students).

Here is a link to some amazing stories of people who survived:
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/28/survival-stories-emerge-from-souths-tornado-tragedy/

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
 -Matthew 6:19-21


The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
The Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strenght to his people;
The Lord blesses his people with peace
-Psalm 29:10-11

In this world you will have troubles.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world,
 -John 16:33


"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

These two videos gave me chills






Historical tornadoes from the Associated Press:
In march 1932, tornadoes killed 332 people, all in the state of Alabama
In April 1974, a series of twisters killed 315 people in 11 states
And the largest death toll: March 1925 when 747 people were killed by tornadoes that raged through 3 states; in that outbreak, a single 219 mile long tornado killed 695 people


...What a mighty God we serve