20170826 : Where Roads Become Rivers - Hurricane Harvey Hits Houston Hard

25/8/17 Fri⇨ 26/8/17 Sat

27/8/2017 (Sun)  Houston

Ever wondered if our roads can become rivers?

Ever imagined if canoes are preferred to cars?

Interestingly , my sister sent this to me on 27/8/17 Sun, Spore time:

Why is it Always "26" ?
26 Dec 1861 Earthquake in Egion, Yunani
26 Mar 1872 Earthquake in Owens Valley, USA
26 Aug 1896 Earthquake in Skeid, Land, Islandia
26 Nov 1902 Earthquake in Bohemia, sekarang Czech Republic
26 Nov 1930 Earthquake in Izu
26 Sep 1932 Earthquake in Ierissos, Yunani
26 Nov 1943 Earthquake in Tosya Ladik, Turki
26 Dec 1949 Earthquake in Imaichi, Jepun
26 Mei 1957 Earthquake in Bolu Abant, Turki
26 Mar 1963, Earthquake in Wakasa Bay, Jepang
26 Jul 1967 Earthquake in Pulumur, Turki
26 Sep 1970 Earthquake in Bahia Solano, Colombia
26 Jul 1971 Earthquake in Solomon Island
26 Apr 1972 Earthquake in Ezine, Turki
26 Mei 1975 Earthquake in N. Atlantic
26 Mar 1977 Earthquake in Palu, Turki
26 Dec 1979 Earthquake in Carlisle, Inggris
26 Apr 1981 Earthquake in Westmorland, USA
26 Mei 1983 Earthquake in Nihonkai, Chubu, Jepang
26 Jan 1985 Earthquake in Mendoza, Argentina
26 Jan 1986 Earthquake in Tres Pinos, USA
26 Apr 1992 Earthquake in Cape Mendocino, California, USA
26 Okt 1997 Earthquake in Italia
26 dec 2004 Tsunami aceh
26-05-2006  Jogja Quake
26-06-2010 Tasik, Jawa Barat Quake
26-10-2010 Mount Merapi Eruption
26 Okt 2013 Haiyan Typhoon, Phillipines
26-04-2015 Nepal Earthquake

And so the apps ended with Haggai 2:6 " This is what the LORD Almighty says :' In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.'"

And so came 26/8/17, Hurricane Harvey hits hard on Houston too. Unprecedented flooding with catastrophic results on this 4th largest city in the States.  Looks like it was worse that Katrina 12 years back.

But such tropical storms are not just affecting America.  In fact Mumbai in India is also facing the brunt of the monsoons with huge flooding too. Floods have killed more than 1000 people in India, Nepal and Bangladesh in recent weeks and forced millions from their homes! 

City states had been paralysed. Incessant rain. Evacuation. Displacement. Stranded. Homelessness. No sanitation .No Light . Power failure. Down Communications. 

Reflections
As I laid in bed last nite and looking out through the window at the red-sky (rain threatening!), I uttered my little prayer for those affected in Houston. I thanked the Lord for keeping me dry as I cuddled myself to sleep.

My own memories of how I was rescued from my fall in the rushing waters of the drain (Longkang as we called) when I was about 13 years old. On the way to school, I waded along Lowland Road (funny name "Low Land"- no wonder it was flooded!), and I just literally walked into the drain and was kind of swept off by the rushing waters! Thank God I was pulled up to safety by the owner of the provision shop! All wet!

So I can imagine what it was like for those Houstonians and the Mumbians.

Swimming is fun. But not in muddy flood waters!

When roads become rivers, it is no fun!

When whirlwinds and hurricanes made their landfall, it is also no fun!

Reading Nahum:-
Nahum, a prophet around 660BC. Nineveh was given the grace of knowing the one true God.  Through Jonah's reluctant preaching, Nineveh repented and was saved. God's grace stayed His judgement call on this city.  However, Nahum- 100 years later, prophesied the downfall of this same city!
Well, whirlwind (hurricane) & storm were mentioned in Nahum.

In Nahum 1 :3 " The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet"
And In Nahum 1:8 " But with an overrunning flood, he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies"

What made Nineveh fall was her great ungodliness. Her weak fortresses and leadership as seen in Nahum chapter 3.  Short book of only 3 chapters.
And so Nineveh fell to the Babylonians subsequently.

As we see the numerous heart wrenching photos of how Houston's devastation is like with this tropical storm and floods, it can be scary.  We just witnessed the historic solar eclipse seen all across America about a week back on 21/8/17.  The sun and the moon - kind of merged on this day.  Happen in 90 years.  The Lord of the creation - He who created the sun and 400x its size of the moon and distance - He is also the Judge of all the nations.  He also holds the power over whirlwinds and floods.  Noah experienced that great flood over 40 days.  Houston had it only for a few days.  Whichever, there was devastation of the land thereafter.  Rebuilding would take much time.

However, in the midst of such tragedy, perhaps something good would still come out of this.  Apart from the heart wrenching photos of massive flooding destruction, we also witness numerous accounts of the human heart of love,  warmth & unity in spirit of helping one another during this process.  

Many lost not only their homes and possessions and even loved ones and pets too.  Swept away in a twinkling of an eye in the whirlwind! The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Can we still declare that even so, Blessed is the name of the Lord?  Can faith arise in stormy challenges? For those who do not know Him, will it be a blame game or one that will pause and submit to the Creator God who is great in power and yet slow to anger - granting a fresh window of grace to knowing Him and Him only? When mobiles and internet is down, whom can we call for HELP? SOS! Save our souls?

Ps 46:10 Be still and know that He is God

Ps46:1 God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble.

v2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea

v3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

v4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

v5 God is within her, she will not fall,

God will help her at break of day.

v6 Nations are in uproar (NK just flew the missile over Japan!),

kingdoms fall ;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

v7 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

.................

V11 The LORD Almighty is with us.

INDEED. ALWAYS.