Thunder and lightning

Last night, we had pass through Dothan one of the most memorable storms I have experienced.  I left work to pick the kids up from our church, and drove through blackness interrupted at least once per second by brilliant flashes of lightning.  Transformers were popping off as I drove around "the circle" that encompasses Dothan, trying to get across town to get to the kids before the "really big stuff" hit (whatever that was).  When I got to them, and piled them into the car, I spent the better part of the evening consoling them (particularly my younger two) and comforting them.  One of the thoughts that came to me as I did so (Leigh was out for the evening) was how comforting it was to realize that we will never be subject to the wrath of God.  Throughout his Word, we read of lightning and thunder being associated with His conquering power and wrath (e.g., Ps 77:17-18, 144:5-6).  Until we experience a real thunderstorm (like the one last night) though, we don't really have a good idea of what that means.  We feel real fear when we see lightning strike a tree in the field--we can barely comprehend the raw power that is in a single bolt of lightning.  Yet, we who are in Christ should feel real comfort when we see that; comfort because we know the wrath of God is monumentally more horrible than that single bolt of lightning and ear-splitting peal of thunder, but we need not fear that wrath because it was poured out for our sakes on Christ.  So, a good thunderstorm should be an occasion to say "Glory to God!"--glory because we are saved from His wrath, glory because He is so powerful, glory because he will judge the wicked, glory because He keeps His promises to us!