I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. -Isaiah 45:2
his was for Cyrus; but it is evermore the heritage of all the Lord's own spiritual servants. Only let us go forward by faith, and our way will be cleared for us.
MASSIVE TORNADO RIPS THROUGH MOORE, OKLAHOMA!
This looks really bad – the town is destroyed.
Briarwood Elementary was hit by a tornado. Kids are reportedly trapped and hurt.
Neighborhood south is “wiped out” after a mile-and-a-half wide tornado ripped through the town.
Here’s the first picture coming from Moore.
THE TOWN LOOKS DESTROYED–
News 9 reported that students at all elementary and middle school students in Moore were not dismissed due to severe weather.
UPDATE: TWO SCHOOLS were hit!
Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla. is leveled by tornado.
UPDATE: KWTV – Emergency crews are rushing toward south Moore, trying to rescue students and staff trapped in an elementary school. They’re worried about gas line explosions as they attempt to help kids at Briarwood Elementary.
The tornado plowed through Briarwood Elementary Shool.
Parents rush to Briarwood school–
Watch live updates regarding the situation surrounding the continually developing storm and the damage left from a massive tornado that went through towns near Oklahoma City Monday afternoon:
KTUL.com – Tulsa, Oklahoma – News, Weather
Update 5:25 p.m. ET: Triage units are being set up in Moore. KWTV reported police saying there have been multiple fatalities so far.
Update 5:15 p.m. ET: Rescue teams are still heading into Moore, Okla., trying to dig out those who are trapped and who need medical care. The screenshot below is thought to be Briarwood Elementary.
(Image: KWTV screenshot)
Update 5:20 p.m. ET: This video shows some of the immediate aftermath and first responders rushing in to help:
Update 5:06 p.m. ET: A mother distraught but appearing safe with her two children spoke to a KWTV reporter who said she held her daughter from being taken up by the tornado by holding her hair.
This video shows parents and other adults rushing in the direction of Briarwood Elementary directly after the tornado left the area:
Update 5:02 p.m. ET: There is not currently a tornado on the ground but meteorologists are tracking still strong storms that appear to be intensifying.
Update 5:00 p.m. ET: “I can’t count the number of homes that are absolutely destroyed,” a reporter on the scene said of the damage.
Update 4:54 p.m. ET: KWTV reporting from the Moore, Okla., area said emergency responders expected injuries to number 100 or more.
Update 4:47 p.m. ET:The tornado destroyed a school gymnasium (below) but the building remained intact. This school is speculated by KWTV to be a different school than Briarwood Elementary, which is said to have taken a direct hit.
You can see the path of the tornado through a school gym in this screenshot. (Image: KWTV screenshot)
Update 4:43 p.m ET:Parents and neighbors seen with “tears in their eyes” rushing toward Briarwood Elementary (screenshot below). Areas where the tornado has passed through are being described as “obliterated.”
(Image: KWTV screenshot)
Update 4:40 p.m. ET: Reporters are calling the damage done by the tornado thus far “catastrophic.”
–
The day after several tornadoes ripped through the midwestern states, a massive tornado was blowing through Oklahoma near Oklahoma City Monday afternoon with intense destruction that has reportedly run through an elementary school.
Image: KWTV screenshot)
KOTVcalled it a “huge tornado” with a “violent rotation.” A storm tracker speculated the twister was either an F4 or F5. A storm tracker also said “there’s houses in the air here” and noted “a ton of debris.” They reporters described houses, trees and more in the tornado as the “debris ball.” An elementary school — thought to be Briarwood Elementary in Moore — is also said to have been hit with some children potentially being trapped.
(Image: KWTV screenshot)
The National Weather Service has a tornado warning in effect until 3:15 p.m. CDT for northwestern McClain, south central Oklahoma and northern Cleveland counties. The tornado in Newcastle moving northeast at 20 miles per hour touched down at 2:55 p.m. CDT.
National Weather Service meteorologists and storm spotters reported hail up to the size of tennis balls as well.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives canceled its afternoon sessions so Capitol employees and state lawmakers could take shelter. Sirens blared and workers made their way to the Capitol basement.
Oklahoma City’s southeastern suburbs were hit by a storm Sunday and two people died. Monday’s storm is in an area that is more densely populated.
KWTV’s reporters described it as looking similar to the violent twister hit May 3, 1999.
This is a developing story. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee:
Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
–Numbers 6. 24, 25, 26.
A profound conviction raises a man above the feeling of ridicule.
–John Stuart Mill.
A garden is a lonesome thing, God wot!
Rose plot,
Fringed pool,
Ferned grot–
The veriest school
Of peace; and yet the fool
Contends that God is not–
Not God! in the gardens! when the eve is cool?
Nay but I have a sign;
‘Tis very sure God walks in mine.
I woke up this morning feeling overwhelmed. After accepting the invitation yesterday to participate here at The Christian Gazette, I was scared. I did not know what I would say, and I was afraid I would not be able to be successful. God is in Control… but that Truth escaped me as my mind reeled last night with “what should I do”, “how should I act”, “when should I post”, etc…, etc… It was through the Word of God this morning, that He reminded me that… wait for it… IT IS NOT ABOUT ME. *shock* huh? LOL! 
So, for the first post I make here at this wonderful community, I would like to share what He spoke to my heart today!
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent [Or sufficient] to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
AMEN!
He is so very Good… isn’t He?
1 Corinthians 10:31
King James Version (KJV)
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Sometimes no matter how you try, something will come up to remind you of how much work you have to do on yourself in order to glorify God. What we do reflects on Him, how we react to other people and how we treat them. I had that hit me hard this weekend. Sadly I lashed out at my husband for something that he did, it wasn’t intentional and I apologized right away, but truthfully I am wrestling with forgiving myself, even though I have already been forgiven by my husband, and I have asked for forgiveness from God.
This past two weeks have been very stressful and I have more than usual on my plate. We also were dealing with sick kittens, and the last of the four died night before last. I don’t know if it was this that caused me to overreact, but I did no matter the reason. So many times we think that we have everything in control and are doing God’s will, when something will come up and show us that we still need a lot of work in order to really and truly glorify God.
Psalm 69:30
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.King James Version (KJV)Isaiah 25:1
King James Version (KJV)
25 O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Since the very day,
creation began,
plain is our God’s touch;
clear work of His hands.
Qualities unseen,
visible to man;
looking to the sky,
beholding the land.
Vast oceans of blue,
mighty mountaintops;
abundant valleys,
bright colors that pop.
The joy of new life,
delight of a child;
various creatures,
living in the wild.
Who could not see Him,
looking all around?
God’s majestic hand,
is so clearly found.
Hear Him, created,
He is calling out;
for all to know Him,
and live life devout.
“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” – (Romans 1:19-20)
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You surround us with clear evidence of You. Thank You that each breath, every heartbeat, is a reminder of Your love and attention for each of us. Thank You that Your power is made plain when we open our eyes to the world around us. Forgive us for taking any of it for granted, and help us to appreciate the divine detail in Your design. May we stand in awe as we take in the beauty that surrounds us, and may we clearly convey our gratitude to You, God. Let us live out loud, a life of love for You, that leads many to move toward You and Your great grace. May lives be changed and hearts be healed, as we worship You for the wonder that You are. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
We are pleased to have another writer for The Christian Gazette. I would like to introduce TeachX3. She has a wonderful blog on her own called Random Ramblings and it is well worth you time to visit. Please do take time to give her a great welcome. God bless you all!
The questions I deal with are a bit different from those he proposes in the above song, but to quote Propaganda, I ain't got an answer.
I do know that I have the Spirit of God within me, because of my active belief in the God of the universe who made his dwelling among us. I do know that God is renewing the world, and that he has already begun to renew me from the inside out.
We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
–John 9. 4.
When asked why he rejected Christianity, Friedrich Nietzsche answered, “I never saw the members of my father’s church enjoying themselves.”
“We all know the value of joy. It alone is the proof that what we have really satisfies the heart. As long as duty or self-interest or other motives influence me, men cannot know what the object of my pursuit or possession is really worth to me. But when it gives me joy, and they see me delight in it, they know that to me at least it is a treasure. Hence there is nothing so attractive as joy, no preaching so persuasive as the sight of hearts made glad. . . . There is no proof of the reality of God’s love and the blessing he bestows, which men so soon feel the force of, as when the joy of God overcomes all the trials of life.”
Andrew Murray, Abide In Christ, pages 173-174
We are pleased to have Shannon from Revelations in Writing, join both The Christian Gazette and Loopyloo’s. If you haven’t read her blog before, we have featured her posts here a few times and it is a great honor that she has accepted our invitation. Please do take time to welcome her here. God bless you all!
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