DEVOTION
God’s Arms Outstretched
By Cathy Irvin
Staff Writer
CBN.com
- On a daily basis I respond to e-mails, and many of them
have come in from people wanting to help those affected by Hurricane
Katrina. Folks in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Baton Rouge are
offering to give hurricane refugees a place to stay in their homes
if those storm victims wish to relocate.
Here is what one person e-mailed recently:
“I cannot afford to give any money. I hardly make it
from one day to the next myself. However, I do own some property
here in East Tennessee and would be willing to let a family
put a mobile home or camper. I have a site ready with a septic
system, electric, and water there. Your show today has given
me hope that there is someone out there who cares. Thank you
for the hope. I wish I could do more.”
Fresh hope! That’s a word they need to hear.
He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out
lives with fresh hope, restoring dignity and respect to their
lives -- a place in the sun! For the very structures of earth
are God’s; he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation
(1 Samuel 2:8, The Message).
Concerned people want to help rebuild the city of New Orleans,
give money, or send supplies. They contact Operation Blessing
to volunteer in some way. I can only say God bless them.
When a whole city lies beneath the water, it will be more than
a few weeks or months before these people can return. They must
rebuild their lives, and they have only the clothes on their backs.
Those who suffer have no water, no food, no cars, and no homes.
And these are our neighbors in our own back yard.
I have a friend who has a lot of family in those areas that were
hit by Katrina. She has heard from some of them who have lost
everything, but one cousin is still missing. I can’t imagine.
Let us pray!
I pray they can be relocated, and I know God will make a way.
Perhaps they will return to their cities of residence one day,
but in the meantime there are helping hands across America. It
thrills me to hear this good news. I thank God for Operation Blessing
and The Salvation Army and other organizations that are going
in to help with the relief effort. Several foreign countries,
such as Sri Lanka, have come alongside to help as well. We are
also grateful for them.
When I heard Houston's mayor on TV say that he wanted to give
these people some quality of life so he had to limit the Astrodome
to 25,000 people, I was so proud of him. They already had been
putting people up in various places all around the city. What
a friendly environment! Of course, God in His sovereignty knew
the Astrodome would be used for such a time as this.
We see in this tragic situation that God is moving on the hearts
of people when the trials of life come this furiously. People
are coming out of their comfort zones, either going there or asking
hurricane victims to come into their humble abodes to share their
lives with them. This is God at work. He makes a way where there
seems to be no way.
If you don’t see God, look again into the faces of those
with outstretched arms!
Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect GOD to get here
soon (Psalm 31:24, The Message).
For the oppressed will not always be forgotten; the hope
of the afflicted will not perish forever (Psalm 9:18, The Message).
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