Issue #1,161 August 24,2004 Stormy Weather
Clouds the color of charcoal hung over the sky like thick heavy blankets. They
seemed to smother everything in their path. The rain pounded down as relentlessly
as a bounty hunter on the fresh trail of a bond jumper. So much water had fallen
that the ground couldn't absorb it, and fresh rivulets formed, running everywhere,
washing away topsoil and gouging little channels as they went. The rivulets soon
became streams and before long looked more like rivers flowing everywhere you
looked.
Thundered roared overhead with the intensity of a Baghdad artillery barrage.
It seemed to go on nonstop for hours. Long before one clap had faded new ones
were following suit. Lightning. Words fail me as I try to describe the frequency
and intensity of the lightning.
My boat was hurridly dragged on shore, and I tried my best to stay dry under
the trees, but it was a futile effort. Soaked to the skin and shivering, I wondered
if the storm would ever end. The story of Noah kept coming back to mind, and I
kept reminding myself that God promised never again.
As quickly as it had blown up, the storm was over. The sun was drying things
up and I was bailing the boat out. A look at my watch showed that the storm had
lasted perhaps twenty minutes, not the hours it had seemed like.
Storms aren't particular. Anyone in the storms path would have gotten wet. Storms
don't discriminate. They hit where they will hit and there isn't any thing we
can do about it.
It's like that with life. Storms of all kinds hit people. They might come in
the form of illness, unemployment, loss of friends of family, financial distress
or a myriad of other things. However they are packaged, they come to all people.
That's a simple fact of life.
The Bible doesn't promise believers a life free of storms. In fact it's pretty
clear that we will have storms. Jesus said,
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice
is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because
it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine
and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house
on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
Believers don't get a storm free pass in life. We do get a solid foundation which
will let us stand no matter how fierce the storm. With Christ at the helm, we
can weather with confidence any storm we encounter in life.
Let the world do its worst. Jesus will keep me standing. Even if the storm takes
my life, I will still be standing with Christ when it's over. Nothing, not even
death can defeat us when we walk with the Lord.
Until next time, praise God in the midst of the storms and trials of life. He
will see you through no matter what.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have
value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing
to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without
you.
HELP FOR THE HURTING
Becoming a Christian doesn't guarantee you a problem free life, but you have
problems as a non-Christian a well. The difference is that with Christ at your
side, you can walk through it all. Will you let Him help you through the storm
you are facing? All you have to do is admit you can't do it on your own and give
the helm to Jesus. Will you do that today?
If you want to know how to do that simply email us and we'll send you some Bible
verses that will explain it to you.
You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your
heart; admitting you need God's help; turning away from your sin and saying a
prayer along the lines of the one below. There isn't any "magic" in the prayer;
it's simply a way to open up to the gift that Jesus already bought for you with
His very life. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. He freely offers it to
all who will accept it.
Jesus:
I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have
sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world
and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and
rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you
Lord.
Amen
If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with
you. It's not the end of the process. It is the beginning of a wonderful journey
to become more like Jesus. It's your starting point.
NEED PRAYER? GOT QUESTIONS?
If you're in need of prayer or answers to questions about the faith email us
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