My favorite (only) grandson went with his class to the International Student Convention, in Missouri to compete with Christian schools from around world. This was his first year to compete at this level, so my daughter and her family went to cheer him on. My daughter and son-in-law were participants decades ago when they attended Agape Academy.
Yes it is a long drive from South Texas, but that wasn’t what concerned me. That area is known as “tornado alley” and there has been an outbreak of tornados, damaging winds and widespread flooding. In fact, a tornado hit the Missouri State capital days before. A picture was posted of students and staff taking shelter from the passing storms. A phone call by our Principle confirmed the event site had been spared. My daughter and her family left a day later and spent the night in Joplin, Missouri, that was devastated by tornadoes in 2011 and was just hit again.
After their safe arrival at the convention site, numerous tornado strikes occurred in Oklahoma, the state between us and them. We prayed GOD’s protection around both them and our family. That is why we can have peace in the storm. We watched as deadly storms went to the north and south of them, but they were protected by the hand of GOD. We shouldn’t fear death, hell and the grave and can ask for GOD’s help in time of need. The Student Convention was a success, everyone was safe, one of our students was awarded a 1st Place medal for memorizing the book of Proverbs, and my grandson picked up a 2nd Place medal in Archery.
With all that power, why does anything bad happen? Because “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 KJV) and people choose the thief instead of JESUS. That doesn’t make sense! Why would anyone choose a thief, when they know he wants to “steal, kill and destroy” their life?
Satan is very good at deceiving and he gets a lot of help from those he deceives. Most of the world follow him and JESUS said “Ye are of your father the devil…He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him…for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44 KJV). Most of religion is “blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Mat 15:14 KJV).
So who should we follow with so much deceit in the world? Follow JESUS! He said “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39 KJV). JESUS and His Word are one “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 KJV). The HOLY SPIRIT will be there to help you understand and “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 KJV).
The truth is “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17 KJV). Believe and be saved and you too can have “peace in the storm.”
Wayne Lance (2019)