Pray for Arkansas

Well, I intended to post something last night but it was just wild here....and I got up this morning, and Kelly had posted this.

We had severe thunderstorm warnings and a tornado hit two places VERY CLOSE to where we live. One in Mayflower, Arkansas and one in Vilonia, Arkansas.

The town of Vilonia was hit hard by a tornado just 3 years ago. Late this afternoon, we raced through that exact area...trying to beat the storms and get to our home.

Jim, Joshua and I had gotten up early, and we headed up to where Logan, goes to college. It was Senior recognition day at his church, and we wanted to be there for that. And then they were having a wedding shower for Logan and Morgan after lunch. I ended up not staying for the entire shower because of the incoming weather, and so thankful that we did.

On our way back home...as we passed through Vilonia. We talked about the tornado that hit there 3 years ago, and how you can still see the damage to this day. There's just a certain way trees look after a tornado..if they survive...and there is a large section where it's just obvious.

And then...just two hours later...right where we had driven...a tornado hit. Again.

Jim works for the utility company, so as soon as we got our all-clear here, he headed into his office. And he was in Mayflower, Arkansas minutes after the tornado hit.

He said that pictures and video in no way capture the physical devastation...or the faces of the people. He said people were walking around in shock...dazed.

There was loss of homes, cars, businesses, churches...all can be replaced or rebuilt. Not making light of the enormity of that AT ALL.

But the greatest loss was the loss of lives.

Years ago, I did a Kay Arthur Bible study on the names of God. While He is all those things, this morning I am thankful He is El Roi...the "God who sees."

He sees...He knows...He cares.

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34: 18