I’ve been moved deeply by what is unfolding in Kerrville, Texas right now along the Guadalupe River – the catastrophic flood that roared through there suddenly in the early morning hours of July 4, washing away campers and houses and cars, including some from a Christian girls’ camp. In one article entitled, “Chiefs owner’s family loses 9-year-old girl in Texas floods: ‘Our hearts are broken’” (New York Post) https://share.newsbreak.com/dxggz7w7 the words of a lady named Tavia Hunt, wife of the Chiefs’ owner who is a cousin of the little girl who died, is recounted, “If your heart is broken, I assure you God is near,” Tavia Hunt wrote. “He is gentle with your wounds. And He is still worthy—even when your soul is struggling to believe it. Trust doesn’t mean you’re over the pain; it means you’re handing it to the only One who can hold it with love and restore what was lost. For we do not grieve as those without hope.”

Dear, dear, precious, sister-in-Christ Tavia! I am moved beyond words! What depth of understanding! What a wealth of spiritual truth and riches that this world cannot buy nor even begin to comprehend! Oh the eternal hope we have because of Christ!!!!

My heart is so moved to tears for the incredible things happening down there in the midst of such tragedy and heartache. One such powerful moment was that of a bus full of girls being rescued from the Christian girls’ camp. Here is a quote about it the article entitled, “Camp Mystic victims’ families react to tragedy with faith” (NewsNation) https://share.newsbreak.com/dxrq141x Quote: “A video of survivors from the camp on a bus as they were being rescued showed the floodwaters flowing as the girls sang songs of praise and worship. “I’ll shout it from the mountain tops, praise God! I want my world to know the Lord of love has come to me. I want to pass it on,” they sang while driving through the area devastated by the floods.” (This is a Jesus Movement song entitled, “Pass It On” https://youtube.com/watch?v=AkHc9dM2VlY&si=4TJFk7_zLuR6_ix1). Oh what a song to be sung at such a time as that!!!!!!!

Those precious girls, wet and afraid and uncertain of what might come next and seated on that bus, were singing praises to Jesus and living out Psalm 8 which proclaims, “2Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies,That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”

Think about those words! Their tiny voices, the cries of children, the suckling sounds of infants, the sing-song sounds of little ones silence the enemy and the avenger! They shut the mouth of the lion seeking to devour. They shut the mouth of the one seeking to steal, kill and destroy! And God has established it to be so. This is the foundation of His strength. His glory is in this.

Did He not chose David the eighth and youngest snd most unlikely son to face Goliath and become king? Did He not chose 80 year old Moses who stuttered, and Gideon and the 300 unlikely, rag-tag, scrappy group to defeat the multitude of Midianites? Did He not chose Rahab the young harlot of Jericho to become a part if the lineage of Jesus Christ? And the list of “unlikelies” could go on indefinitely!!!! For indeed, “27…God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1).

Truly, our God is great, and is doing amazing things past finding out, even right now in Texas. As Job 9:10-12 says, “10He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.11If He goes by me, I do not see Him; If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;12If He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’” And oh the amazing indisputable truth of Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

May the parents and all who lost someone to eternity be reminded that Job (of the book of Job in the Bible) lost seven sons and three daughters.10 children. All 10. ALL. In one day. In one disaster. Yet the story recounts that Job upon hearing the news, “20… arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there.The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” As the story progresses, Job proceeded to go through intense grief and despair even of life. But in the end, he is humbled beyond words by the incredible power and majesty of God, and sits in astounded awe. “1Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2“I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 5“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42).

God is moving in Texas. God is working in Texas. God is making ready a people prepared for the Lord, in Texas. And I call to all who read this to please be in prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are in shock, who have lost everything, who are grieving the loss of a child or children or other loved ones, and whose pain is beyond words, but they are worshiping still; they are praising Him still; they are believing still; they are holding fast and being held fast still. They belong to Jesus. And we are interconnected with them by the blood of the Lamb. And the Bible commands that we are to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Even so, may we obey and do so.

And as we pray, may we remember Hebrews 4 which says, “14….that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

And that “sympathy” is not just feeling badly for someone, but rather is empathy, which means that He feels it right along with them. For Jesus was tried and examined in all infirmities and weaknesses of human frailty – physical, spiritual and emotional – and was found without sin. He knows. He understands. He weeps. And we in the midst of any situation may frankly and boldly say it like it is before Him, knowing that we will be met with His covenant-loyalty of mercy and the unmatched greatness of His empowering grace, both of which will at the divinely appointed and exact second help us by holding us together like the cords sailors used to put around their ships to keep the raging, stormy sea from thrashing them part.

He holds us together. He holds you together. Pray that the dear ones in Kerrville and all involved in the Guadalupe flash flood will be held together, and will hold fast their confession as they are held fast by the nail scarred hands of Jesus, and that those who do not know Jesus will come to know Him and be held fast as well.

Jesus is coming soon. Let’s help one another to be ready!

Weeping with them,
Holy Light Ministries