That's what most people do.....journey THROUGH Joplin! Don't stop - it's just a small city in southwest Missouri...keep traveling to the next big city, where the action is - UNTIL Sunday, May 22, 2011, when a terrifying tornado decided to touch down, blow through the town, twist it around, tear it down, and travel on!

Devastation and death, tragedy and tears, broken pieces and lives - it's all there in Joplin, Missouri, but the wind did not win! For in the midst of tragedy, trust in God remains, along with a remarkable remnant of a broken-down church--a Cross towering over its wreckage and ruin. Yes, the Cross still stands, along with the Joplin community, now in recovery stage, and a world standing behind them in generosity and compassion. Pray for the people of Joplin as they courageously journey on--past the twister and tragedy--with faith in God and help from us all, to recover and restore their broken world.

So how does this stunning tragedy relate to your life? Perhaps as the drama unfolded in Joplin, you were inside, safe, and dry! Like Peter, James and John, in Bible's history, would have preferred to be one day--out in the lake in the middle of a storm, and scared to death! There was no "scenic moment," and no cell phone to call shore for help--but ALL there was--was enough! For you know the story! Jesus, asleep in the boat, was awakened to the cries of the frightened fishermen, calmly arose, and--how did HE handle the storm?

No problem! He stood up, commanded the winds and the waves to be still--and they obeyed. Then with a mild but loving rebuke, He says, "O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?" Now, of course, great people of faith and power that we are, we would have been strong, brave, ready to take on any storm in the Name of the Lord...right? WRONG! We're just as human as those disciples--and THAT'S why this story is included in God's Word. He knew that somewhere down our path in the sea - or through the wind, we'd need to also know His peace, His power, His purpose...so listen up!

Stormy weather around you today? Stormy weather of the SOUL, that is--well, this is for you! The same peace He called to the waves, He calls to YOUR heart. The same power that calmed the sea will calm YOUR soul--and the same purpose He had in mind for the fishermen, He has in mind for YOU...that you might learn to trust Him in the storms of life and know His peace.

Sure, a tornado may be blowing in your life, about to flatten you in devastating fury. Work, home, church problems--hot heads and hot air everywhere! Well, you have a choice. You can be caught up in the high cost of the wind--or you can ride on the wind of God's grace, lifting, encouraging, drawing you to the ONE who IS all power and to the Word, which is all life. For that's the work of the Holy Spirit--to draw men to God. Let Him draw you to trust Him this week--trust in a Holy God who is greater than any fury blowing in your life.

Believe it--appropriate it--and the Creator, Sustainer and Subsider of the winds and the waves will be with you THIS day, whatever the storm. He's still God in Joplin, Missouri, and wherever on Planet Earth you live - He's our God forevermore!

Scripture: "Be still, and know that I am God... (Psalm 46:10)."

Featured devotionals: "Tragedy, Faith and Unanswerable Questions" - many tragedy-related links

"Still There After the Storm" - by Ron Hutchcraft

Featured news: "Joplin Pastors at Memorial Service: Let God Love You Amid Pain" - ChristianPost.com

Joplin Newswire - Topix
Joplin, MO tornado photos (GOOGLE) . . . . . . Coverage of Joplin tornado - Springfield News-Leader

Disaster giving: Charity Navigator - Joplin tornado

Prayer: "Lord, the winds are howling, the waves are crashing against my little boat in the middle of the sea. Come to my rescue, but even more than that, speak peace to my soul, calm to my spirit, rest to my mind--I need Your grace this day, In Jesus' Name, Amen."

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