Friday, April 29, 2011

Love Thy Neighbor: Storms in Life

As many of you know, my home state of Alabama was ravaged by tornados Wednesday. It is devastating to hear the news reports and view the aftermath of an act of nature. Most of the following photos are of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of our University of Alabama and Crimson Tide. Roll Tide Roll! Auburn University has your back…War Eagle! There were also lots of other areas that were affected throughout the northern portion of the state. The death toll has reached over 200 at this point.  We were only affected by some heavy thunderstorms in my southern portion of the state. My heart goes out to these people as they attempt to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together again. Please help me pray for them….power in numbers is even greater.


I DO NOT take credit for any of these incredible photos. They are borrowed from Jason Clark and Michael E. Palmer.

I will let them speak for themselves.  The devastation is unbelievable.











 




...And the mighty cross still stands above all...

As you scroll through these heart wrenching photos, I know your heart is touched as was mine. They speak volumes of feelings and the reality of it all. The pain is real, the tears are real, and the devastation is real.  But we will prevail, as a community, as a city, as a state and as a great country helping one another out of heartfelt love and compassion. God has commanded us to love thy neighbor...  God is already at work…in our hearts, in our souls and in our world.

"Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Joshua 1:9

Love is raining down on the world tonight

Loving and praying for my neighbors everywhere,
Cora

Side notes from last post: I did not get picked for jury duty and my MIL is home and feeling much better. Thanks for your continued prayers my friends.

18 comments:

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

It amazes me how quickly this happens. I've been praying for all the families since I first heard about it.
I have a friend who lives in Cullman Alabama. I really need to see if I can get a hold of him.
Sending hugs.
Kim

Cindy said...

Cora as I write this all my girlfriends had checked in except one..Sherry.I have found out that Sherry and her 13 children and her husband...were found beneath their collasped home.Tom her husband was found on top of two of the little ones...he died.
I don't understand this loss..I just know that God is in control...and He has them in His arms!!I will post on it tomorrow.
Please lift Sherry up in your prayers.

Hugs and Lovin..Cindy

christina said...

my prayers to all.

and thank you my friend. thank you. ; )
xo

Hopes Handcrafts said...

oh my...so heart-wrenching...I'm sure I was holding my breath looking at those photos....

Praying for all those affected by the tornado..who have lost loved ones, their homes..

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

My heart has been so heavy and I am staying in a heart of prayers for everyone.
I am seeing the ministries here are heading that way if not there and donations are being collected.

I just keep thinking we are to share in the joy of others and also in their suffering...this is the time to share in the suffering.

Blessings and prayers as God extends His hands over all the devastation.

Mandy said...

We have been praying for all those affected and will continue to do so.

We had some destruction in Tennessee as well. With all the rain we had here in Nashville, our thoughts went back to last May's flood.

May God hold each family in his loving arms.

Simple Home said...

Heart wrenching photos. Praying.
Blessings,
Marcia

Becca said...

So glad you are OK. Keeping that part of the country in my prayers...

Maaike said...

Oh what a terrible story these pictures are telling... Wishing you and your loved ones all the best,
love Maaike

Christine said...

I can only weep with you and pray for you.

Char said...

heartbreaking. prayers and help to be sent. thank you for sharing these with the world so they know too.

Kathleen Grace said...

I have been folowing the coverage of the tornados devastation and the growing death toll. Unbelieveable and so heartwrenching! I pray for everyone affected.

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

And I know from experience that seeing the destruction in real life is even worse than a picture can capture. Glad to know that you are safe.

Holly said...

My heart goes out to all who are hurting! Brings tears to my eyes!

Cindy said...

Cora, it is so sad, these pictures are very powerful. I will continue praying that lives will get back to some sort of normalcy as soon as possible. AND I agree love thy neighbor. big hugs.

Unknown said...

oh Cora.. I cried when i saw these pictures.. omg... i have to admit,,i dont watch the news (by choice) and i dont read the news paper,,but of course i know about the tornado happenings..but these pictures are just so heart renching that it makes me want to be there.. helping if i can.. our church is collecting for them and i am toooooo.

Erick and Kristen Cedeno, and Abbi too! said...

Hey Cora!! I awarded your blog with the Versatile Blogger Award!! Check it out on my blog!! I hope you are doing good! Have a great day!!

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

The devastation is so heart-wrenching. We just can not fathom the pain, the hurt, the emotions these people are going through. I can not even imagine not having a home, a car, a job anymore. When these natural disasters strike all we can do is pray for these people and believe that somewhere someone will be getting the chance to share the Light, share Jesus with them whereas they wouldn't have had that chance otherwise.