Storms...

I've lived in the Mid-West all of my life. While we may not have the storms that the Plains States have, we still have our share. Just a few years ago a tornado ripped through an area just 30 minutes away. In happened in the early hours of a Sunday morning in November. One area was a trailer park in which around 2 dozen people lost their lives.

As we read about the characters in the Bible, God has included the storms that came into their lives, so that we could benefit from their stories. The people that you and consider to be great, were not great because they didn't have storms, but rather that they did have storms and God brought them through. That's encouraging to this pastor...

Jesus had a conversation with Peter one day about faith and Jesus declared to Peter in Luke 22:31-21, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” What a powerful statement! He didn't promised the immediate removal from the storm, but that Peter's strength (faith) would not fail him.

So many today are facing some of the greatest storms that they have ever faced. Whether its a storm of; sickness, finances, marriage, etc... people are going through storms. Let this statement of Jesus be an encouragement to us all. God has the promise of a rainbow for you! Stand strong and do not give up or in, He'll make a way for us all!

But do this one thing if you have time today: PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE STORM! Lift up their hands so that they will know that they are not alone! Let the Lord use you and I to be those to stand on either side of our friends and support them! They are looking for people to pour encouragement into their lives.


BLESSINGS!

MT