This incredible video shows a wall of dust moving into the Phoenix Valley just before sunset on Tuesday. The dust wall – commonly called a Haboob – was 50-60 miles wide, and covered the city of millions with a thick layer of dust that turned the summer sun black. One woman said she’s lived in the Valley for 50 years, and she’d never seen anything like the Tuesday dust wall.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport had to shut down for about an hour, causing some flight delays. The storm also caused power outages in some areas.
Driving my car here in Phoenix last night, it was all I could do to find my way home. I drove slowly, straining my eyes to find the comfort and security of familiar signs to guide me, as tree limbs littered the road. As I write this, the current headline on the foxnews website says, “DUST MONSTER BLANKETS PHOENIX – Storm descends, limiting visibility and delaying flights as wind topples trees and knocks out power.”
Before bearing down on Phoenix, radar data showed the storm’s wall of dust had reached as high 10,000 feet. Its all part of the Arizona monsoon season, which typically starts in mid-June and lasts through the end of September.
I DIDN’T SEE THIS ONE COMING
Sometimes, significant, powerful storms interrupt our lives without any warning. When we encounter such storms, we cant see the way ahead. It is then that we must remember the things we learned when we could see. Trust in the dark what you saw in the light. Lets always come back to what we know for sure – God is good, His word is true, and Jesus is the conquering Savior. He will never let go of us, no matter what we may face in this world.
I love Alistair Begg’s devotional entry for today:
Divine love is clearly observable when it shines in the face of judgments. Fair is that single star that smiles through the gaps in the thunderclouds; bright is the oasis that blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, He punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while He did this, He took care that His own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance. Not only so, the Lord also had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave; and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab’s table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah. (2 Kings 18:1-16).
Let us from this draw the inference that come what may, God’s people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be torn apart, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be confident then, when you hear of wars and rumors of wars. Let no agitation distress you; don’t be unsettled by fear of evil. Whatever happens on the earth, the believer is sheltered beneath the broad wings of Jehovah and shall be secure. Take your stand upon His promise; rest in His faithfulness, and boldly face the darkest future, for there is nothing in it harmful for you. Your sole concern should be to display to the world the blessedness of taking heed to the voice of wisdom.”
When God the Holy Spirit breathes life into the dead spirit of a man, he does so singly and individually; yet when He does so, making him His child, He immediately places him in His family, the Church, the Body of Christ.
In Romans chapter 8:28-39, there is one group in mind: the “those”, the “we”, the “us” who are “God’s elect.”
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christianity is not merely a personal and individual walk with God. There is a strength we find in fellowship with each other. The passage does not say “you are more than a conqueror.” It says “we are more than conquerors.” God never intended for you to try to win on your own. But together, with all the saints, we are hyper conquerors, more than victorious ones, no matter what the storm may be.
Dearly loved child of God, there is no condemnation for you now you are in Christ Jesus. You will get through this storm – you’ll see. You are condemned only to victory!
You’ll never walk alone.
A friend of mine whom I will call Malcolm (not his real name) wrote to me this week. He recently moved to Redding California to be part of Bill Johnson’s church there. He writes: