“Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision. All God’s acts are done in perfect wisdom first for His own glory, and then for the highest good of the greatest number for the longest time. And all His acts are as pure as they are wise, and as good as they are wise and pure. Not only could His acts not be better done, a better way to do them could not be imagined. An infinitely wise God must work in a manner not to be improved upon by finite creatures.Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all. The earth is full of thy riches!”
A.W. Tozer  Knowledge of the Holy

Job 38: 1-15
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind the doors when it burst forth  from the womb when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its door and bars in place, when I said, “This far you may come and no farther, here is where your proud waves halt.’
Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light and their upraised arm is broken.”

As the waves of life have struck then rolled over, I have found that life first happens in the natural then secondly in the spiritual. With each wave of “natural” has come a tsunami of revelation. I believe that we could have the same experience in store for #Tuscaloosa.  A.W. Tozer states, “Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means“.  Might God have allowed this storm in Tuscaloosa as the perfect means to devise a better, more perfect end?   Life is becoming more challenging across the globe – the Japan earthquake even shifted the earth’s axis. Could it be that we are appointed to mentor, assist and counsel and bring to salvation many others and become a beacon of hope and light across the world after we have walked through “perfect means”? Tuscaloosa has the spiritual, city and state government leadership in place to successfully position itself as a city on a hill for this time in our history.

After returning to Tuscaloosa in the spring of 2010, leaving it at the ripe old age of 17, I have spent the last year observing people in spiritual leadership and have witnessed an undeniably rich, bold spiritual fabric woven across this city – this fabric is mature, it is humble, it is confident in what it knows and most importantly, it has developed from a foundation of decades of committed prayer – pastoral prayer threads now woven into a beautiful and strong mosaic. These threads act as a protective network of unity that will sustain it in the days ahead. There is extraordinary power in unity. I can see why Tuscaloosa, Alabama could be the recipient of one of the most destructive storms in the history of our country. Few cities of this size could withstand this level of trauma and tragedy but Tuscaloosa’s citizens are securely braced within fabric covered walls.

It is difficult,  if not appropriately impossible,  to look past the urgency of the needs of people living in the Tuscaloosa communities of Holt, Rosedale, Alberta City and Wood Manor. This recovery will be a long process of restoration requiring dedication, determination and a decision to stay the course toward achieving a perfect end. I am convinced that God would not have allowed this storm to occur without a greater purpose in mind, after all, He is infinitely wise. A God that can see the beginning to the end working with predestined goals makes Him very strategic and the Chief Strategist – there are no accidents in His economy. Although God did not cause this storm, He also makes no mistakes.

Now is the time for The Body to move in its true identity and in the authority they have through the Finished Work of Jesus also recognizing the Holy Spirit as their new best friend (John 14:15). After all it was the Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb (Matthew 1:20). It will be through His power that He raises up Tuscaloosa,  enabling men and women of this city with His spirit of wisdom and might. Pray for this city, its pastors, city and state leadership. Prayer is the single most powerful action available to each of us because by doing so, we access God.

Tracy Gatewood
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