When the storms are raging, where are you?

If you are a local, you know that we had several rounds of thunderstorms and tornadoes affect Arkansas last night. At one time I had TVs on 2 channels and 4 different websites up watching radar, I watched the vibrant colors move all around and miss our church plant but practically take out the North Little Rock airport a stone's throw away, I watched as the storm came up tornado alley (Hwy 67/167) but avoided Jacksonville (the town in which I live), as a matter of fact I watched at least 2 storms come this way and pass over.

Our oldest daughter is in college in Conway so I was monitoring and checking in to inform and comfort her, I even had mobile reporters out in the storm checking in with me (Great job Roslyn!). At a couple of points in the evening I put my wife and youngest daughter in the closet for their safety, but as all men know, my place during a storm was standing out on the front porch!

I pray that you all made it through the storms without personal injury to yourself or the ones you love. I also pray any property damage you may have suffered was minor.

You know, storms in Arkansas are a fact of life. As a matter of fact, storms in life are a fact of life!

How many songs can you think of that deal with this subject?

My father-in-law introduced me to "When the storms of life are raging, stand by me".
"Keep me safe, 'til the storm passes by", "It is well with my soul", "The Anchor holds", just to name a few.

Storms are scary and do tremendous damage to person and property, storms of both weather and life. But the Christian is never alone.

It's so good to know that when the storms of life rage, Jesus is standing next to me. What do we need more than even protection sometimes? Companionship. I tease those who tell me, "I'm right behind you", or "I've got your back". I usually say something smart like "No, stand here beside me so I can keep an eye on you." But we all need friends who will stand beside us, through the good and bad.

Thank you Jesus for being a friend that sticks closer than a brother, You never leave me or forsake me. "What a friend we have in Jesus!"