*GOD* IS PRESENT IN THE WINDS, THE RAINS, THE HAIL, THE SNOW, THE EARTHQUAKES, & ALL HE HAS CREATED, FOR OUR SAKE...

Don't doubt that *GOD* uses natural disasters, and other means to make us take notice, to reconsider our ways, and to cause us to repent, and accept CHRIST JESUS as our SAVIOUR---

THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY CREATED ALL, and EVERYTHING, thus all, and everything ARE subject TO HIM! The elements HE uses, and IS one with; for our benefit, and for us to stop taking everything for granted; HE HAS told us of HIS GOOD, and HIS WRATH; therefore NOTHING is left to chance! Besides the fallen angels, the evil enemy of this realm, AND humanity, EVERYTHING else in CREATION IS OBEDIENT TO HIS EVERY COMMAND, and since we are defiant, and self-inclined, IN HIS LOVE, HE AIMS to humble whomever will be! HE COULD just end this all, RIGHT NOW, but IN HIS LOVING COMPASSION, HE does NOT want us all to perish eternal, so THROUGH HARDSHIPS, including disease, plagues, illnesses, natural disasters, and more, HE TEACHES us as we err, of our vulnerability, and TO seek HIM; we LEARN from such because we DON'T know what we've got until it's gone; in other words, we take too much for granted, and waste much on self-inclination...

Let's take a look at some of the SCRIPTURE involved:
PSALM 148: 8...
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy winds, yet they fulfill it. View the surface of the earth, mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise.

JOB 37: 1-13...
1+++“At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2+++“Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3+++“Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4+++“After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.
5+++“God thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.
6+++“For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7+++“He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.
8+++“Then the beast goes into its lair
And remains in its den.
9+++“Out of the south comes the storm,
And out of the north the cold.
10+++“From the breath of God ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11+++“Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud;
He disperses the cloud of His lightning.
12+++“It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it
On the face of the inhabited earth.
13+++“Whether for correction, or for His world,
Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

The changes of the weather are the subject of a great deal of our thoughts and common talk; but how seldom do we think and speak of these things, as Elihu, with a regard to God, the director of them! We must notice the glory of God, not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common and less awful changes of the weather; as the snow and rain. Nature directs all creatures to shelter themselves from a storm; and shall man only be unprovided with a refuge? Oh that men would listen to the voice of God, who in many ways warns them to flee from the wrath to come; and invites them to accept his salvation, and to be happy. The ill opinion which men entertain of the Divine direction, peculiarly appears in their murmurs about the weather, though the whole result of the year proves the folly of their complaints. Believers should avoid this; no days are bad as God makes them, though we make many bad by our sins.

PSALM 18: 7-15...
7+++The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8+++Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9+++He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10+++He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11+++He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12+++Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13+++The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14+++He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15+++The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

God's manifestation of his presence is very fully described. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances.

PSALM 104: 4...
He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.

Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by the things which he hath made.

PSALM 107: 23-43...
23+++Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24+++They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25+++For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26+++They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27+++They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28+++Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29+++He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the seab were hushed.
30+++They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31+++Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32+++Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
33+++He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34+++and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35+++He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36+++there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
37+++They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38+++he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
39+++Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40+++he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41+++But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42+++The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
43+++Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

This may remind us of the terrors and distress of conscience many experience, and of those deep scenes of trouble which many pass through, in their Christian course. Yet, in answer to their cries, the Lord turns their storm into a calm, and causes their trials to end in gladness. What surprising changes are often made in the affairs of men! Let the present desolate state of Judea, and of other countries, explain this. If we look abroad in the world, we see many greatly increase, whose beginning was small. We see many who have thus suddenly risen, as suddenly brought to nothing. Worldly wealth is uncertain; often those who are filled with it, ere they are aware, lose it again. God has many ways of making men poor. The righteous shall rejoice. It shall fully convince all those who deny the Divine Providence. When sinners see how justly God takes away the gifts they have abused, they will not have a word to say. It is of great use to us to be fully assured of God's goodness, and duly affected with it. It is our wisdom to mind our duty, and to refer our comfort to him. A truly wise person will treasure in his heart this delightful psalm. From it, he will fully understand the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving-kindness of God, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake.

PSALM 135: 7...
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses. 

PSALM 147: 15-18...
15+++He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16+++He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
17+++He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18+++He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and these are represented by his favours in the course of nature. The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to the wind, Joh 3:8. Converting grace softens the heart that was hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.

JEREMIAH 10: 12-13...
12+++But God made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
13+++When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

AMOS 4: 13...
He who forms the mountains,
who creates the wind,
and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the Lord God Almighty is his name.

See the folly of carnal hearts; they wander from one creature to another, seeking for something to satisfy, and labour for that which satisfies not; yet, after all, they will not incline their ear to Him in whom they might find all they can want. Preaching the gospel is as rain, and every thing withers where this rain is wanting. It were well if people were as wise for their souls as they are for their bodies; and, when they have not this rain near, would go and seek it where it is to be had. As the Israelites persisted in rebellion and idolatry, the Lord was coming against them as an adversary. Ere long, we must meet our God in judgment; but we shall not be able to stand before him, if he tries us according to our doings. If we would prepare to meet our God with comfort, at the awful period of his coming, we must now meet him in Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, who came to save lost sinners. We must seek him while he is to be found.

Of course, there are more references than this, but these should suffice! *GOD* IS SOVEREIGN LORD, RULER, KING, and CREATOR OVER ALL, and EVERYTHING; regardless of those in denial, who mock, and ignore HIM; their day IS coming, and they SHALL BOW BEFORE HIM in ALL HIS GLORY...

NEVER forget, EVERYTHING works for the good of those who LOVE HIM, and FAITH IS the WILL to endure, persevere, and overcome! PRAISE THE LORD ALWAYS, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, BE THANKFUL, REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE of us, HONOUR HIM in all your ways, all your days, LOVE AS HE LOVES, and PRAY for ALL, and EVERYTHING! Let GRACE abound within, that it is evident without, and SHINE OF HIM, especially in the storms!!!

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS