Tuesday 10/30/12 Storms 2

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for bringing us through the storms of yesterday, and thank You that we have power, and thank You for a message this day.  Lord, please be with all those who have lost power, and even their homes.  Be with all those who must go out and work in the storm, be with those linemen and our National Guard units.  Most of all we ask that You be with Your children, and give us peace in the midst of this storm.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters.  We made it through yesterday and the night.  I have still not been outside to check on things.  However, I just know we have been blessed as I have watched the weather and news all day yesterday, and many have lost homes, including the fire in New York that burnt 50, yes, 50, homes.  Folks, we must use our knowledge and wisdom that God gave us.  Yesterday, and this was on the news, yesterday, one of the fire companies in our area had to rescue a lady who fell into one of the flooding creeks.  Why was she in that water?  "She was trying to save a duck."  Please keep praying for all those who must be in the storms and for all those who are away from their homes, lost their homes, lost loved ones.  And please keep praying for the upcoming election.  Again I tell you and ask you to pray about it - As for me and my house, we vote life.  Please be safe.  Now forward to the message ... And please as you get power back, if you are okay, LET ME KNOW.  Just put it in the subject line ... WE ARE OKAY.

Luke 8:22/25 - One day Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."  So they got into a boat and set out.  23 As they sailed, He fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"  25 "Where is your faith?" He asked His disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another "Who is this?  He commands even the winds and water, and they obey him."  (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, yesterday I wrote a short message expecting the electric to go off even while I was writing.  I wrote about how God spoke to Job from the storm and how He can and even will speak to you and to me if we just ask Him.  Of course along with Him speaking to us, requires us to listen ...

With that said, yesterday as the storm picked up, I was a mess, yes, I confess I was a mess, I was very concerned about our family, our ministry team, our flock at the Bridges, and yes, our little Danny Boy, our baby goat.  I have been unable to get to the goat house since yesterday morning to check on him and the other goats including our little Crockett ... I walked back and forth, I tried to calm the dogs and cats as they wanted out and I would not let them go out.  Dolores even asked me.  "Why are you afraid today?"  Often I would pray, but still I was a mess.  We talked to our kids, we talked to our ministry team, I checked on our flock, and all was well, still I was a mess.  I prayed  more and more, and then I heard coming from the piano, "Peace in The Midst of the Storm."  God was speaking to me from the storm, through the hands of my wife on the piano.  My blood pressure was up, it came down.  I was calming down.  She did not know at the time that God was speaking to me through her, she was just practicing for using this song on Sunday.  She would play it for awhile and then do something else, and then back to the piano, and the song came again.  You see, when you talk to God, you need to listen for Him, not always does He just speak to your heart directly, often He uses the hands of others.  Am I concerned about those things I mentioned?  Yes.  Am I concerned that we will not be ready for Friday when we dedicate Santa's House to the Lord?

Okay, I was falling asleep as I was typing so I took a break.  I woke from a call from Grant and Wanda checking on us, they are fine, no loss of power.  Our son Keith called, he was on his way to work, he was okay.  At this time, being already dressed for when we have a storm like that, I stay dressed in case we would need to get out, I even had my teeth in!!  I put on a big coat, the rain had let up some and the winds were down, so I went out around the piece of property that God has granted to us to use while we are here on earth.  EVERYTHING IS FINE.  All our animals are fine.  We are safe.

Now we must, we must, turn our concerns to those in New Jersey and New York and all those around us.  We must pray for those folks we have not heard from, that list for me would be long, but we are praying.  We must truly turn to God and know that Jesus is still in control, and like in the boat with His disciples and the storms came up on the lake, Jesus calmed the storm, and folks, as bad as it seems i all these states where the storm hit, you will see more people coming to Jesus.  You watch and see how people pull together.  God is so good, He really is, we just need to have faith, and I, folks, was humbled and reminded yesterday to have more faith, and God humbled me.

God is so good and He indeed is still the same and again I will use that scripture ...

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  (NIV)

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  (NIV)

Dear Father in Heaven, we put this storm in Your hands for Your care according to Your will.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now go forth sharing the love of Jesus and your blessings.  Love ya, Pastor Dan.