healing the heartbreak

If you click on this link, you can see satellite photos taken by GeoEye the day before and the day after the storm that brought with it the massive tornado that left an almost 10-mile path of destruction through the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

I live a few hours from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, another city hit by this storm.  The small town of Eclectic, Alabama, which is only about 10 miles away, was also fatally affected by a tornado in this storm.  Even more deaths came from the storm as it continued to travel through Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.

All this devastation in one day.  The lives of thousands of families changed forever.  In times like these, there is nothing that mere humans can do to change this destructive storm.  There are many ways that we are told to prepare: hiding under porches, covering yourself with cushions in a bathtub, hunker down in an inside closet, etc.  But, the only real way to prepare is to prepare your soul.  I pray now for the families of those who perished in this storm.  I pray that their heartbreak is healed through the peace that can only come from the Prince of Peace.  I pray for those who are now homeless, for those who are separated from loved ones to find on another, and for the rescue workers who are working hard to help.  But, most of all, I pray that many lost souls are able to find a personal relationship with the Lord through this horrific event.

If you are able, you may help by donating to UMCOR.  UMCOR is the United Methodist Committee on Relief and 100% of your donation will go toward this effort since all administrative costs are underwritten by the United Methodist Church.

“Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.” 

Romans 8:38b