Hurricane Sandy is hitting our friends in the east with a vengeance. There is massive flooding, wide-spread power outage, and according to some photos roaming the internet, sea-monsters are emerging from the crashing waves onto Manhattan Island. In some of the biggest, most prosperous, most powerful cities in the world, all we have been able to do is prepare for the inevitable and wait out the storm. Offices and schools are closed - even the New York Stock Exchange. Public transportation has shut down. The President has signed "major disaster" declarations for New York and New Jersey. This is an unprecedented national emergency and all we can do is wait for the worst to pass and for life to return to normal.

My mind is filled with thoughts and prayers for our country. And yet, I think of him, and his words stop me dead in my tracks.

"For us, this ear of corn is a gift from God. This evening's rain is a shower of mercy upon us. This healthy breath is life-giving. And maybe tomorrow we will not have such things, but our hearts are so full of God's provision."

Rain is a funny thing in its ability to destroy and restore. Like almost everything, too much is just as dangerous as too little. While we're hunkered down in our homes praying for the storm to pass and the rain to stop. He is going about his everyday life, praying for the rain to start.

So I pray for America. For safety and provision and hope for our friends waiting out the storm. And I pray for Africa. For safety and provision and hope for our friends waiting for the rain.