Hurricane Irma, with its 185 mile per hour winds, made landfall on the Caribbean islands of Barbuda and Antigua early this morning.

You know by now that Irma is the most fierce storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean (storms even more fierce have been in the warmer waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico). As the government of these islands advised their people about Irma’s “onslaught,” the statement closed with “May God protect us all.”

Since Hurricane Katrina hit our area twelve years ago, I have prayed for God’s mercy. I noticed the well-written request for prayer last Sunday by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He said it is “right and fitting” to pray and ask for God’s protection and help. He called on people to pray for those who are suffering from Harvey’s aftermath. He asked us to pray for God’s wisdom and His “merciful intervention” and “healing.”

We need to pray for God’s merciful intervention, and we need to intervene as well.

I watched in awe yesterday as  people worked through the day in our church parking lot filling a large moving van with goods for Texas. There was a constant stream of people giving. Often, people had to wait in line to give.

We have seen large monetary gifts given to help people in need. People from our church and all across America are now working in Texas seeking to relieve the needs of so many hurting people. Many more will travel to Texas to work as well.

God must be “smiling” as His people care about others. As has often been said, “We are most like God when we give.” You could say that in other ways as well. While God is the ultimate giver (“every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights”, James 1:17), He also loves and cares. When we love, care, give, and cry out for the needs of others, we are like Him as well.

Please pray for God’s merciful intervention. Pray for protection from this storm and from all the storms without wind and rain which we constantly face.

“May God protect us all.”

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