Take Cover - A Storm is Coming!

As Hurricane season for 2010 comes to an end, Hurricane Earl has surfaced and is making his way toward the Eastern coast of the United States. The meteorologists are frantically trying to determine where and if he  will make landfall. It is a category 4 right now with winds at 135 mph. Forecasters are saying that he may not hit the coast but take precautions just in case he turns. Take cover! 
A hurricane is one of natures most destructive forces. It causes flooding, rip currents, choppy waves. Add in high winds, lightning and sometimes hail and you have a soup of distaster.  As destructive as it's outer bands are, it's eye is calm. The eye ( the center) of the storm is quiet and  no wind is blowing at all. It would lead you to believe that all is well, then the other side of the storm comes in full force. 

Isn't that life? The winds are blowing hard, hitting us from every direction and we take cover. We cover ourselves in the word. We hunker down and focus on protecting ourselves until the storm is over. Then comes the calm. The quiet! We let our defenses down and start picking up the pieces.  We put down our covering for we think we are safe. Safe for now it seems. Then it hits. We are blindsided by the rest of the storm. The wind hits us square in the face and we fall back to our knees seeking refuge once more.

Some of us try and stay ready at all times. We stay prayed up and read up. We praise, we worship and still we find ourselves in the storm. Don't feel like it's something you did or didn't do!! Just as Hurricane Earl is no respecter of person, neither is God. Acts 10:34 (The Message) - Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites!"  HE is sovereign and gives to whom He chooses.When He provides the sunlight, HE doesn't say to the sinner, "This sunlight isn't for you!" So, as the storms rage, He doesn't say, "Saved man, you will bear no storms!" What HE does say, is that HE will have mercy & protect us.  Seek Him and He will cover you even in the storm. Romans 9:15 (New American Standard Bible) says "For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."  That is God's gift to us.  1 Peter 1:5 (New Living Translation)  says, "And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see."

Even in the midst of a raging storm, when all seems dark and lost our MOST MERCIFUL GOD is protecting us and covering us. All WE have to do is have FAITH! Easier said than done? Which would you rather have, God's mercy, love and protection or .......I think you already know!

Have a safe weekend!