I had another devotional prepared for today, but after witnessing the events of the last couple of days, I just felt that something else would be more appropriate. My thoughts are a little jumbled, but here goes:

1. I am so thankful that, at least as far as I know, no one in our Mission family was injured, and no one has been displaced from their home (if I am wrong about this, please let me know).
2. I am so thankful that both campuses were spared damage.
3. I didn’t realize that it could be so dark in the Women’s Campus hallways and interior rooms and kitchen without artificial light.
4. I am so thankful to those who answered the call and provided flashlights, lanterns, headlamps, etc. It’s amazing how even a small source of light can make a huge difference in a dark space.
5. I am so thankful to those staff at the Women’s Campus who were on duty during the night the tornado came through and kept the women safely in the stairwells and other designated places, keeping them calm and safe, dispelling the fears of their charges in spite of their own fears.
6. I am so thankful for the donations that came through to ensure that our women had hot food for supper Tuesday evening, even when we didn’t have the resources to prepare it ourselves.
7. I never fail to be impressed by the ability of our staff to come together in the face of adversity and ensure safety, order, and provision in especially challenging circumstances, taking on needed roles, working extra shifts. I mean it. You all are ROCK STARS!!!!

When God responded to Job, he chose a storm as his platform in order to demonstrate his sovereignty:

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

² “Who is this that obscures my plans
    with words without knowledge?
³ Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.
⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line across it?
⁶ On what were its footings set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—
⁷ while the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels shouted for joy?

⁸ “Who shut up the sea behind doors
    when it burst forth from the womb,
⁹ when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,
¹⁰ when I fixed limits for it
    and set its doors and bars in place,
¹¹ when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
    here is where your proud waves halt’?

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Job 38:1-11

It’s hard to know how anyone could weather the storms of life without the knowledge that our God is sovereign, and God is good. We understand that we do what we can and trust Him for the rest. We recognize that He always comes through in ways that may surprise us and that will ultimately delight and sustain us, if we can receive His ways with gratefulness.  We find comfort in His presence; we give Him all the praise and glory.

I am so thankful to serve alongside each of you. I am so encouraged by your faithfulness and servant hearts. I am confident that God will richly bless each and every one of you.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

In Christ,

Judy