Thur 11/1/12 Storms 3

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for another day and thank You for all that got done yesterday as we move forward for You.  Lord, thanks for protecting Your people during the storms and for the blessings that have come forth out of the storms.  I pray today that people will humble themselves and come nearer and nearer to You and through this storm You are glorified.  We pray, watch as things happen in Your glory, we see pictures of a baby being born, and Lord, speaking of babies, please bless Linda Miller's tiny grandchild, and bless Beth and the baby who is in the womb.  Please keep Your hand upon the upcoming election, and Lord, bless all those who are running for office, and may Your will be done in the election and in all things.  Lord, touch Barbara's leg.  Please, Lord, bless our ministry team as we go forth in this final day of getting ready to honor You with the building and property that You have entrusted to us to use for You.  Lord, may we do it correctly.  Lord, I pray this day for those on this line and Lord, thanks for protecting them.  Lord, be with those responding to the cleanups following the big storm, and be with our military wherever they are. Please bring peace upon this earth.  I love You, Jesus, and I pray in Your name.  Amen.

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters.  Today is our final day before our dedication of Santa's House and Food Pantry.  Yes, it is tomorrow, Friday, November 2nd at 6:00 PM.  You are welcome to come and join us and enjoy a little peace after the storms of this area.  Please keep this event in your prayers and please pray for the upcoming elections and listen for God to tell you how to vote ...

We have many people on our prayer lists, here are but a few.  Pray for teenager Abigail Bendzin, Linda's grandchild, for Craig and Beth and the baby in her womb.  For Paula, Burt, Patsy, the Saylor family, and all who were affected by the storm.  Keep praying for all those working at cleaning up the mess and please pray for our leaders.  And please by all means pray for our country.  Pray for peace and for the return of Jesus.  Thanks to all who are sending in telling me "they are okay."  I love all of you, some being on this line with me for about 15 years.  God is good, please keep Him on the top shelf of your life.  Now for the message.

Psalm 107:25 - For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.  26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths, in their peril their courage melted away.  27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men, they were at their wits' end.  28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He brought them out of their distress.  29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  30 They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired heaven.  31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.  (NIV)

Good Morning brothers and sisters.  I want to take another look at the scripture I used yesterday and a few other scriptures.  Let me go to this.

Psalm 107:28 - Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He brought them out of their distress.  29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  (NIV)
Let's look at not just the storm called "Sandy" who some are calling the "Perfect Storm" but some of the other storms that we have been through.  But before that, it is really neat that some are calling this the "Perfect Storm" because right away I think only God can make something perfect.  A "Perfect Storm" now people just need to know that God did bring on the storm, not global warming like Al Gore is pushing, but Al surely knows it takes that global warming added that 3 feet of snow in West Virginia as the storm passed through.  God makes things perfect, my brothers and sisters, after all He did make you and me.  He gave us free will, but He controlled the storm from beginning until it ends.

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble!"  I can relate to calling out to the Lord in times of trouble and I am sure you can also.  I came fully to the Lord years ago in one of my troubled times and I am sure if you admit it, some of you more than likely did the same.  Maybe a sick child or a broken marriage or losing a car as you had no money to pay for it ... Storms of life are different for many people and I just know a lot of people will come to Jesus through this storm.  And just why do you think He caused the storms?  Well, I am not God and I do not know His will, but when I read the scriptures it tells me that the storms are caused so that His children come back to Him.  After all, we are all children of God.  The scriptures tell us "Then they cried out to the Lord in their troubles."

Then the scripture tells us, "He brought them out of their distress."  Our Lord God has done this before, and He will do it again ... Did you notice that when it is not cut out how people who had a fireman carry them out of the flood, said, THANK YOU, JESUS, and then thank that fireman also?  Even one reporter thanked God on the air for the area He was sent to did not get hit hard, while right across this body of water the town was wiped out.  As He started to thank God He was cut from the report and they went to someone who was distressed.  We need to thank God for all things.  ALL THINGS!

Now the last part of the scripture.  "He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed."  As we see the storm ending, we know we who love God know that He did this.  While a lot of people will give God glory for ending the storm, how many will thank Him for causing it?  Brothers and sisters, while we do not like to give God glory for a storm, we should, because it is those storms of life that help cause this ...

Romans 14:11 - It is written:  "As surely as I live," says the Lord, "Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God."  (NIV)

That puts it together, folks ... Now it is confession time.

Dear Father in Heaven, I confess that I am a sinner saved by only Your grace.  Forgive me, Lord, and come into my life.  I pray today, Lord, that many, many people will come to You through this storm called the "Perfect Storm", or Sandy.  Thanks, Jesus, for saving all of us, and saving my sins.  In Jesus' Name, I pray.  Amen.

Now go forth and share Your blessings and serve the Lord.  I love ya.  Pastor Dan.