You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8 Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

This month is the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. 1,300 people lost their lives in the storm, many of whom have never been identified. The search still continues for bodies; one was found just this week! 10,000 people have been located since the storm, but 136 people are still unaccounted for, leaving their families with no closure. There are not enough bodies in the morgue to go with those still missing, Fox News reported; identifications are still being sought using their DNA.

How do the families react when they receive word that a relative has been identified? According to the news report, some scream, throw the phone, cry, hang up, or say thank-you for the closure.

If you are one of those families, I’m truly sorry; I do not have words enough to comfort you adequately.

The Bible is a real Book, not just filled with fluffy stories about joy, peace, and happiness. As a matter of fact, most of the Bible is filled with the stories of grief, famine, murder, anger, and any other emotion known to man. That is because the Bible is REAL; it comes from the heart of God to the heart of man. It is also filled with comfort and peace from a God who understands all that we go through.

We may not ever be able to identify these bodies, but God knows the identity of each and every one! We may have family members who have never been found; we do not know if they are alive or dead. God knows! God not only knows, but He understands our grief and emptiness. He puts our tears in a bottle and in His book.

True peace and comfort can come from God alone. He promises that comfort in many places in His Word, but it appears in the Psalms again and again. Psalm 55 – Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you, Psalm 56 – He puts our tears in His bottle and in His book. Psalm 91 – He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.

Pray today for the families affected by Hurricane Katrina; it seems a long time ago to us; but not for the families who have lost loved ones. They will live with Katrina memories for the rest of their lives.

I dedicate this Devotional Ezine to the memories of all of those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

God Bless You, Linda

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Gone, But Not Forgotten

Dedicated to Katrina victims and their families

She was a grand old city
On the mouth of the bay.
‘Till the storms lashed upon her
Destruction and decay.

Valiant hope was forgotten
In the wake of the storm.
Homes and buildings shattered.
People lost and forlorn.

Katrina, long forgotten
Changed the world in a day:
Lives still missing forever;
Families left just to pray.

Lord, bring peace to those families;
Steadfast to remain.
Give them hope for the future;
Loved ones not lost in vain.

You alone are their refuge,
Their tears You hold dear.
Give them love, hope, and mercy;
Take away all their fear.

Make their face again happy
Though grief touched their hearts
May they always remember
God never departs.

God Bless You,
Linda Croft
August 12, 2006

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