As everyone knows, horrible storms affected the southeast U.S. last Wednesday, April 27. Tuscaloosa was hit especially hard along with many other rural (and not so rural) areas of our state and the surrounding states. All three of us were home when the big tornado came to Tuscaloosa and although we weren't in the path of the storm, we were in our safe place and watching as the devastation came into our city. At that point, all we could do was pray for the people that were in harm's way. It was a helpless feeling!
I have been AMAZED at all the efforts this past week... so many people are helping all over the place and in so many ways. There is still a long way to go but it is so encouraging to hear and see everything that is happening around us.
I have had a heavy heart for the children that were casualties of the tornado (and their families that may have survived them). Last night, I read something in
Radical by David Platt that God used to speak to me and I thought I would share in case it might help someone else. In the chapter, Platt was teaching that "Life is Radical when Death is Reward" and the point was that risking much and living radically become common sense once we consider the reward promised in Christ. He told the story of a twenty-something who traveled to other parts of the world spreading the gospel instead of embracing the "American dream" to stay here and get a job and get married. The girl in the story died in a bus accident and as Platt points out, many people (including me) would look at this as a tragedy... but he says that Christ's perspective is much different because when she breathed her last breath, this young woman was "ushered into the presence of Christ. There she glimpsed his glory in an amazing beauty that you and I cannot even begin to fathom." When I read that, I thought of those babies and young children that were taken from this earth and just had a rejoicing in my heart that although people here are sad that they are no longer with us, they are with Jesus in heaven! I realize that the book was trying to convey a different message but I think God reminded me that I was being so focused on the world and needed to concentrate on heaven instead. Deep thoughts tonight!
Here are a few pictures of the relief efforts that have been going on at our church. Please continue to pray for all those affected by the storms.
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| This was the view of the gym at Five Points on Tuesday afternoon |
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| Lots of paper towels and toilet paper... but they were hot items! |
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| Toiletries station... making up bags of toiletry items to pass out to individuals... I was amazed at the amount of toothpaste and bar soap that had been donated! |
