"Crazy Alabama" Weather

I love the beach…and by the beach I mean the Gulf coast.  I don’t consider any other beaches “the beach.”  I’ve been to the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts and the Caribbean, and nothing has compared to the Gulf of Mexico.  With that being said though, there is nothing that makes me feel the size of our God than sitting on a beach (any beach), looking out over the water, and seeing no end.  I like spending the entire day at the beach.  I people watch, catch up on reading, get a tan, and think about my size compared to God’s.   I think about how big the Earth is, and then I think about how much bigger the Heavens must be.  I truly stand in awe of the Lord, God Almighty.

A couple of things have brought the beach to my mind.  1) Crazy Love challenges readers to think about God’s love and creation; 2) It’s January…Christmas is over, and I’m ready or spring.

1)  Think about what you can see, touch, smell, taste, and hear of God’s creation…and that’s not even half of it!  He, of course, created it for Him; but He created it for me too!  Even if no one else were on this Earth, He loved me enough to create me.  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.~ Jeremiah 1:5  That verse alone wows me. I am grateful God is using this book to remind me of the simple things.  He is who He is and He created everything…for Him, for you, and for me.  Period.  It’s that simple.

2) I have never been quiet about my preference of warm weather versus cold.  Besides boots, there’s not much I enjoy about cold weather.  Until yesterday…

It was COLD yesterday, but God has been reminding me to Rejoice in the Lord always.~ Philippians 4:4  So before I complained I recited Philippians 4:4 to myself (I did this a LOT yesterday).  Last week it was near 70 degrees and last night the low was 22.  I think by the end of the week it will be in the mid 60s again.  I tend to gripe about the “crazy Alabama weather” a lot, but what I realized last night as I bundled up with my seat warmers on and my heat on full blast, was that it’s not Alabama weather…it’s God’s weather.  I realize it’s quite pathetic that I’ve not figured that out in 27 years.  That just shows how wrapped up in myself I am.  As I was “rejoicing in the Lord” I thanked him for the “crazy Alabama weather” and then kind of laughed to myself at my revelation.  This crazy weather is just another way God shows His mightiness.  The weather shows that He can make it do whatever He wants no matter what time of the year.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand His power when it comes to storms and floods.  I even discussed this with David a few years ago when the lake flooded.  We talked about the craziness of the roads being closed due to water, yet a year or two before, we were being forced to water our grass only every other day because of water shortages during a drought.  I just never thought about simple, day-to-day weather being God’s doing.  I always blamed Alabama.

So my point to this is that God is humbling me.  Mike preached on 2 Chronicles 7 this week where God commands us to humble ourselves before Him.  I’ve also been thinking about James 4:10 lately: Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. Obviously, God is trying to get my attention and he did last night with the thermometer!  I am humbled by God’s greatness.  I am humbled by His might.  I am humbled by His power and creation.  Who am I compared to Him?  I kept repeating in a conversation with Him last night, that “I am nothing.”  Compared to God’s holiness…I am nothing.  Praise the Lord for this!  Praise the Lord for “crazy Alabama weather!”  He has gotten my attention and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for me! 

My prayer for you is that you will humble yourself before the Lord.