My absolute favorite season is here; Fall. I love all things
Fall…the changing of leaves, pumpkin spiced lattes, the cool, crisp air and the
excuse to wear boots and scarves.
Along with this year’s fall came our first fairly
substantial rain for the season. Although rain is not my favorite (yes, I know
how desperately we need it here in CA) I do, however, love thunderstorms.
As I drove our son to school this morning, a thunderstorm
was almost on top of us. The flashes of lightning were brilliant, but it is the
thunder that I most enjoy. Maybe I enjoy the thunder more than the lightning
because I know the thunder won’t hurt me. The thunder rolls loud and booms with
power, but it causes no harm. The lightning’s power is different. It cracks and
flashes through the sky in mere moments and can cause harm to anything it
touches.
Thunder and lightning are powerful, but the One who created
the thunder and lightning is All-Powerful. He alone holds the universe in His
hands. How often do we stop and take a moment from our frazzled lives to think
about the wonder of God? Are we so constantly wrapped up in ourselves and in
our needs, wants, and expectations that we forget the hands that made us?
The Bible tells us in the first chapter and verse of the
gospel of John that Jesus is the Word and that the Word is God.
In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Bible goes on to say in Hebrews 4:12-13: “For the word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all
things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
That’s power.
Like lightning’s power to slice through the air and reach
its target, God’s power can slice through our very soul and spirit, exposing
the true intents of our heart. Something to think about. I’ll leave you with
the words found in Joel:
So rend your heart and not your garments; return to the Lord your God,
for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He
relents from doing harm. Joel 2:13
Dina Pugh
