And The Rains Fell

It rained last night. I don't think you understand. It rained five and half inches in a two hour span in the Runaway and Paradise areas. Flash flooding covered country roads as well as major highways in low lying areas.

We went to eat dinner with some friends from Seminole who were in the area. It rained when we left but nothing to be concerned about. We listened to worship cds on the way unaware of what developing weather surrounded us. Suddenly the rain intensified, the winds picked up blowing our vehicle  causing me to grip the wheel with both hands. We turned on the radio just in time to learn we had driven through the exact area where a tornado touched down. While we did not actually drive through a tornado we definitely drove through the outskirts of one. We were unaware and therefore unconcerned.

We had a delightful dinner  with great friends, much laughter and delicious Mexican food. After a couple of hours we broke up the party to head home. At times the rain fell hard and then it would stop. Out of nowhere a torrential downpour developed right on top of us causing me to lose sight of the road momentarily. We all exclaimed, "Where did that come from?" I drove slowly but at one point not nearly slow enough as we hit a patch of water covering the highway causing us to hydroplane. The food waters splashed over the windshield making it impossible to see for a few seconds.

Again both hands gripped the wheel as repeatedly we came across water covering the road. Many times we could not see it until the last minute even though I slowed our speed dramatically. When we turned just minutes from our home the cars in front of us stopped. The line was so long I could not see in front, so I estimated after a few minutes, the water across the highway seemed impassable. I turned around to go another way back home.

Again we came across several places where water covered the road. Ditches overflowed. Creeks flooded their banks. With less than three minutes to go before we made it home we saw pylons on the highway indicating another high water place. I pulled over to the shoulder at a loss for what to do. There were no other routes to our house. It seemed we were cut off from getting home. Two other cars passed me and attempted to drive through the water. When I saw they made it successfully I followed. The water was shallow and we made it across easily.

When we turned into our neighborhood we could see the water had risen dramatically around the lake and down the streets. We all thanked God as we neared home. The boys were exhausted from two late nights in a row. Brenda and I were tense, her from watching the roads for high water and me from gripping the wheel like a vice grip.

tThe news told the full story of the evening events. We embarked on our dinner journey unaware of the severity of the weather that evening. We joked with our friends that we must have truly loved them to drive through tornado activity to see them.

Even as I write this about 4:15 a.m. the radar shows major storms headed our way from west Texas. They are supposed to arrive about the time the boys are supposed to leave for school and Brenda leaves for work.

All of this reminds me of some scripture. Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB) 
²⁴  "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
²⁵  "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
²⁶  "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
²⁷  "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall."

The rains came. The winds blew. The waters rose. I praise the Lord our foundation is God. Several times we prayed last night out loud. We were protected. Others were not so fortunate. What is worse, we are predicted to get three more days of heavy rain before all is said and done. No matter what comes God is still our foundation. He is our help. 

Psalm 46:1-11 (NASB) 

¹

 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
²  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
³  Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
⁴  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
⁵  God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶  The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
⁷  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
⁸  Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
⁹  He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰  "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
¹¹  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

He is our refuge. Our help no matter what comes our way. I recall vividly last Spring about ten months ago when a tornado went through our backyard toppling trees. Our house did not get damaged. Our vehicles were protected. God was our refuge as we huddled in the master bedroom closet. 

God again protected Turner and I when our jeep engine blew while driving down the highway and we rolled it completely over before landing on the driver's side in the shoulder. 

Come what may God is always there. I realize again how fragile life is. We could have seriously crashed when we drove through a couple of those high water places totally unaware. I did not even have time to hit my brakes. God kept us under control and got us home safely. 

More severe weather is coming our way. It is only a couple of hours away. I realize that for some things will turn out as favorably as it did for us last night. There will most assuredly be high water rescues later today. I am certain some cars will crash and people might get injured. Tornadoes could touch down destroying what people have worked years to attain. Even in those situations God is the only sure foundation. 

I sit and wait. My family sets our feet on the sure foundation of Sovereign Jehovah trusting Him for help no matter what happens later. I hope you will do the same.