My Devoition today!!! Caught In The Storm

Have you ever been caught in a storm? Stormy weather can cause some very intense feelings and reactions in us.

1. Stormy Weather Can Cause Fear –
In Matthew 14:22-33 is the story of Peter walking on the water. A storm came up while the disciples were in a ship and they were afraid when they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. Jesus told them Who He was and then Peter, one of the disciples walked on the water too--well, at first. When Peter looked around and saw the storm, he was afraid.

Maybe you are in a storm in your life too. It's natural to be afraid. Here's Peter, one of the disciples who learned at Jesus' feet and even he was afraid, but look what it says in Matthew 14:31 after Peter began to sink and called out to Christ.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him,
and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

I know when we study this verse we usually focus on the "little faith" part but I think that first part of the verse deserves to be focused on as well. Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught Peter. When we call on Jesus, He's there for us. I also love that next verse in the chapter (vs. 31).

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Did you notice that? Jesus caught Peter and was with him until they were come to the ship. It doesn't say that Jesus stopped the storm and then they went to the ship. It says that when they reached the ship, that the wind ceased. Sometimes we are going to have to go through the storm. Sometimes the Lord will take the storm away, but other times we have to weather it out.

Another part of that story that I think is interesting is the fact that Jesus is the One that sent His disciples to the ship and told them to meet Him on the other side of the water in the first place. Verse 22

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get
into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side,
while he sent the multitudes away. Matthew 14:22

Jesus knew His disciples were going to be in that boat when the storm came up. He sent them there. We may question why the Lord tells us to do something or where He has sent us, or even the things that we have to deal with because it may not be smooth sailing. We may question why the Lord is causing storms in our lives when all we want to do is to serve Him and obey Him. This story shows me that sometimes we can be right where God wants us--right where He told us to go--right in the center of His will and we can still have some storms come up. What we can take comfort in is the fact that the Lord knows all about those storms and He's there with us through them.

2.Stormy Weather Can Cause Worry - n Mark 4:35-41, the disciples were out on the water in a boat again. This time Jesus was with them. As a matter of fact, in this story, Jesus was sleeping. A storm comes up on the water, and the disciples began to worry that they were going to die. The wind was blowing. The ship they were in was full of water and they were worried about their safety. The disciples went to Jesus and woke Him up and basically asked Him if He cared if they died or not.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow:
and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that
we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the
sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have
no faith? Mark 4:38-40

It's so easy to question God's care when we have that water rushing in on us and we feel like we can't keep our head up above it. What's so sweet is that we can give those worries right over to the Lord because we know He's the one that is capable of calming our waters and our storm. We can have that faith in Him because He is always in control whether we can see it from our view or not.

3. Stormy Weather Can Cause Change.

The story of Noah's Ark is found in Genesis 6-9. Noah definitely had some raindrops falling down all around him and God was wonderful in preparing a way for Noah and his family to escape the flood. We always hear about that provision part of the story and it is a wonderful story of God's plan and protection. But can you just imagine what it must have been like after God safely carried them through the flood and for Noah's family to step off of that ark and look around and realize that they were the last ones standing? Talk about change! Everything they had ever known was different. Their lifestyle would be different. The land and earth itself was different. The whole make up of the entire world as they knew it was different. All their friends and all the people they had ever known aside from their family was gone. I know I would have had a hard time adjusting.

Change can be rough. In my personal life there was a time that change was very difficult for me. My Dad was dying of brain cancer and on July 14, 2008 we carried him to see his doctor in Birmingham for the last time that day the doctor told us that three months would be a long life for dad. Mom was already over tired and drained from taking care of Dad day in and day out and the nights as well....Well as we were leaving the Doctor office that day at Kirkland clinic I will never forget as we were walking over the bridge at Kirkland clinic the Lord impressed upon me that I needed to move in with Mom and Dad to help take care of Dad I just ignored this because this is not what flesh wanted to do. Me and Audrey was living in Shadow Lake Apts. and everything in our life seem to be going good at the time and I remember coming home and saying Lord please don't make me do this I struggled with it and decided if it was meant for me to do it that the Lord would just send someone to tell me. On Sunday, July 27, 2008 there was a brother visiting the church that particular Sunday and he come to me two different times in church and prayed with me that morning and said different things each time. After church we were all talking and he come up to me and said Sis Amy, sometimes we don't understand the message or the words the Lord is giving us to give someone else but through obedience we just have to know that it is what the Lord wants us to do I have come to you two different times today during service to tell you what the Lord has given me to tell you and it just didn't make sense to me and I can't leave today without sharing this with you and the Lord has told me to just tell you to go home....I begin to just weep because I knew this was exactly my answer to what I really needed to do. You know sometimes we doubt things that we really know the Lord is telling us to do and we just want to know for sure that it is him and if it is he will make himself real in the situation and he did in mine.

Sometimes the rain falls on our lives and the storms come up and rage for a time and after a while the storm quiets down or comes to a standstill and we stop and look around and there is all this change. Then that change sets in. Not to say that change is always bad. Sometimes it strengthens us and improves our lives, but that isn't to say that it's always easy for us to go through. This change in my life was hard and it has been over three years now and it is still hard..... Change brings about a difference in our routines and even the little things along with the big things are not the same anymore and it can affect us.

I'm so glad I have the Lord to lean on at times like that. I know when I'm feeling that change that comes with the storms that there's always something that God can show me to remind me that He's still there. For Noah He gave that reminder in the form of a rainbow.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it,
that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God
and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
Genesis 9:16

I may not look up and see a big colorful rainbow in the sky. It may be that I have to actively look for that reminder of God's love. I may have to search God's Word, dwell on His promises, and seek Him in prayer, but in the end, He'll give me that rainbow of comfort. The Lord will let me know that He is still in control.

It will rain again......

I am not sure many will stop by to read this but I really felt like I just needed to share this today for some reason and I have put it off and put it off and I feel like it is for some reason this needs to be shared. Last Sunday afternoon I went to the prayer room at church we always have prayer at 5:00 on Sunday afternoon at the time I went there was no one in there but I went ahead and started praying and I was so discouraged and burdened down just due to some things that have been going on in my life and I was just praying and it was almost like someone just whispered in my ear It will rain again and that song just went over and over in my head....As this begin going over and over in my head it brought a sense of peace to me.

The song goes like this.... But it will rain again The fruit will fill the vine The stalk will bend with wheat The grapes burst forth with wine So go into your field Your work is not in vain God promised harvest And I know it will rain .....The seed you planted deep has yet to grow You've wondered when you'll reap the things you sow And how long has it been Since rain last touched your ground You've searched the skies, but The rain just can't be found.... So lift your head today and see the task This rain will come your way if you will ask Go build your barns, my friend Prepare to store the grain The clouds are coming in And I know it will rain......

I have been praying for a long time for the Lord to do things in my life but I know it will rain again I know the Lord has not forgotten me no matter how much the devil tries to make me think it.....I feel like I have literally went through the fire over the last few years not saying that my problems are any bigger than anyone else's at all but I can only speak for myself...I know through each trial, each sickness, each mistake that I have ever made he has never left me nor forsaken me He will be with me through every situation that I face. I am thankful he is a friend when we have no friends he is a friend when there is no one else around he is there in that midnight hour when there is no one there. He will listen to my ever care and provide my ever need.

If you are burdened down, discouraged, or just ready to quit...I am here to share the word to tell you It will rain again...Don't give up..God has you here in this world for a reason, and when it is our time to go we will be gone...You may be going through the worst trial you have ever faced, something that you think that you can never ever recover from but I know that God has a better answer for you than that....Just remember the song... The seed you planted deep has yet to grow You've wondered when you'll reap the things you sow And how long has it been Since rain last touched your ground You've searched the skies, but The rain just can't be found....It will rain again...

School Starts Again.....Wow where has time gone.....

Well school has started once again and my baby is now in the 9th grade which just seems so impossible. I am so proud of her though of what how she has let the Lord use her in so many ways...She is my blessing and keeps me going! We never need to take for granted of what the Lord gives us, our children are His children as well and he put them in our life to be a blessing to us! I am so grateful and thankful for Audrey!

Just on my mind today......

Alot on my mind today so just decided to sit down and put it all on paper to see if it made sense to anyone else.....it may just be what someone else is needing to hear......

Sometimes I have problems with patience's I sometimes get ahead and want things now, not even thinking I need to pray about it and let it be worked out in God's time. The Lord has taught me many things about being patient over the last several years no matter how fast you want something to happen it is not going to happen until it is time for it to happen no matter how hard you try and make it happen. Just because God makes us a promise doesn't mean that it will happen over night or even over the next year sometimes we just have to continually patiently wait, keep the faith and keep trusting and just know that one day you will receive the promise. Some verses to follow this are:

In Hebrews 6:13-15 it says For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 10:36-For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

God has given us many wonderful promises. Yet God does all these things for us only in his time, according to his divine schedule. He has no deadlines pushing him. True faith on our part demands that we patiently wait on our Lord. This can be the trying time for us all during this time we may endure awful trials and temptations. At times, you may fail. In fact, you may wonder if you will ever reach the goal. But, as you are enduring all these afflictions, if you'll simply hold unto faith with patience-trusting God is at work, keeping his Word, by faith, you will receive the promise in the divine time.

Sometimes we experience confusion, pain, and suffering, it may be in this time that God is working things out for you in His own way. It is most often the sovereign work of our God unfolding a master plan known only to him. Through all the suffering of God's people, he is at work. The miracle soon follows the confusion.

In the bible there are several different men of God that went through trials and testing's before the victory. Daniel and the three Hebrew children for instance....They learned a lot of things going through the fiery furnace I am sure.. You don't go from prayer closet to some mountaintop victory you go to the lion's den. You don't go from consecration to a life of ease and blessing only you go to the fiery furnace. Daniel and the three Hebrew children were not afraid to face pain and suffering, because they knew it always ended in God having his way. Through lions and red-hot furnaces to God's perfect will.

Sometimes we or I know this is me I have a hard time just turning lose of things and letting God take care of it I tend to worry about how the situation is going to work out, and I have even prayed Lord, I am doing all of these things, I am doing all I can do and things still are not happening and I feel so all alone where do I go from here....you know he always whispers and says you are right where I want you to be.....This is when I tend to remember this is just a trial I have to go through and when I get through this I will be a stronger person and be able to help someone else through the kind of the same situations down the road. We as Christians don't like to go through trials, pain, and sufferings but the verse just keeps coming to my mind Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning..

Just a little of what is on my mind today.....Pray it blesses someone

"Getting the Pieces Right"

A father wanted to read a magazine, but was being pestered by his daughter. To keep her busy, he tore a sheet out of the magazine that had a picture of the world printed on it. He tore the picture into small pieces and said "Here, now go into the other room and see if you can put this picture of the world back together again."

A few minutes goes by and he daughter appears in the room and hands him the picture all correctly fitted together.

The father was surprised and ask her how she was able to fit all those little pieces of the world back together again so quickly.

"Oh.." she said, "On the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus and once I got Jesus in the right place, then the world came out alright."

_______________________________________________________

I read this little article this morning and so much come to my mind in Sunday School this last week we were talking about putting the pieces of the puzzle together in our own lives. You know God knows where each and ever piece of the puzzle of our life is at we just have to put it together one piece at a time. Sometimes we may get discouraged, down and out, and just frustrated with life, but I have realized it is in those hard unbearable times that we just have to hold on, stand fast, and believe and keep the faith. If we give up in the midst of the trial then we have gone through it all for vain. I have been down this road many times in my life over the last ten years and today I want to be stronger, more reliable, and have more faith, and more trust than ever, but I realize that the battle is going to get harder and harder as the days go by, but my joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning..

Also there is another verse that keeps going through my head this week as a friend shared with me is Matthew 25:21 His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter into the joy of thy Lord.

Whoever is reading this may just be needing to be told by someone else don't give up stand strong keep doing what you are doing, keep praying the prayers that you are praying even though it may seem at times they are going no where God does hear them....He sees the fight, the sacrifice, the struggle you are in and He cares for you...He also sees your faithfulness just remember what it says in His word...I will never leave you nor forsake you...As lonely as it may seem sometimes I have to continually tell myself I am not alone He is with me all the way....

Just as the last line of this little story states....once I got Jesus in the right place, then the world came out alright."......it is so true once we have Jesus in the right place in our life everything else will come out alright.....

Be Blessed and Stay Encouraged!

New Puppy!

Audrey's New Puppy....Little Miss Daisy.....She is so cute!

AT THE END OF THE ROPE?-Devoition for today...Enjoy!

Are you at the end of the rope? Weary, cast down, about to give up? I challenge
you to answer the following questions with a simple yes or no:

* Does the Word of God promise to supply all your needs?
* Did Jesus say he would never leave you, but would be with you to the
end?
* Did he say he would keep you from falling and present you faultless
before the Father’s throne?
* Did he say that he would supply you with all you need at all times?
Did he promise you all the seed you need to spread the gospel?
* Is he more willing to give than you are to receive? Is he greater in
you than he that is in the world?
* Are his thoughts toward you good thoughts? Is he a rewarder of those
who diligently seek him?
* Is he preparing a place for you in glory? Is he coming in the clouds
to gather his people home? Are you going with him when he comes?

Your answer to all of these should be, “Absolutely, yes!”

Now—take inventory. Ask yourself, Do I really believe God is faithful to his
word or do I waver in my trust?

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation; knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in
faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any
thing of the Lord” (James 1:2-7).

You can lay hold of God’s wisdom, all the wisdom needed to solve life’s
problems—if you will believe with no wavering by casting your very life and
future on this promise.

God giveth to all men…liberally…wisdom.

My Devotion for the day!!

Good one.....
THE GREATEST DANGER

The greatest danger we all face is not being able to see Jesus in our
troubles—instead we see ghosts. In that peak moment of fear when the night is
the blackest and the storm is the angriest, Jesus always draws near to us, to
reveal himself as the Lord of the flood, the Savior in storms. “The Lord
sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever” (Psalm 29:10).

In Matthew 14, Jesus ordered his disciples into a boat that was headed for a
storm. The Bible says he constrained them to get into a ship. It was headed for
troubled waters; it would be tossed about like a bobbing cork. Where was Jesus?
He was up in the mountains overlooking the sea; he was there, praying for them
not to fail in the test he knew they must go through.

You would think that at least one disciple would have recognized what was
happening and said, “Look friends, Jesus said he would never leave us or
forsake us. He sent us on this mission; we are in the center of his will. He
said the steps of a righteous man are order by himself. Look again. That’s
our Lord! He is right here! We’ve never once been out of his sight.”

But not one disciple recognized him. They did not expect him to be in their
storm. Never, ever did they expect him to be with them, or even near them, in a
storm! But he did come, walking on the water.

There was only one lesson to be learned, only one. It was a simple lesson, not
some deep, mystical, earth-shattering one. Jesus simply wanted to be trusted as
their Lord, in every storm of life. He simply wanted them to maintain their
cheer and confidence, even in the blackest hours of trial. That’s all.

From the Depths of My Heart

This Video means a lot to me.....Audrey got the Holy Ghost on January 17,2008 and she was one that was so shy wouldn't hardly sing at all before without just making her, but this was the first song she sang after she got the Holy Ghost this was actually in February 2008 and the Lord really used her and still is...I am so proud of her and always will be! We were in the process of building our church so this video was taken in our temporary church which was NAA office.

"When possible make a U-turn"

I was looking through some old devoitionals that I have and come across this one.....not sure who shared this with me a few years back but thought this was a very good to share....

One of the greatest gadgets I recently received as a gift called a Garmin. A majority of people own these now and the days of getting lost are practically over for the ones who own one. The Garmin is a navigation system giving turn by turn directions to anywhere you want to go. The most popular phrase I hear is, "recalculating." When the driver hears this they know immediately that have missed a turn or made a wrong turn. Once the Garmin recalculates a popular phrase heard is, "When possible make a U-turn." The need to make a U-turn is due to the fact that the driver of the vehicle is headed away from their destination. There are times the Holy Ghost comes to us and could say, "When Possible Make a U-turn." In our spiritual journey we at times will make wrong decisions or miss God's will for our life. When we make these decisions or miss God's will, we find ourselves off course and headed away from God. The good news is that God allows U-turns. The Holy Ghost, is our spiritual navigation system, recalculates for us when we get off course and speaks to our hearts and says, "When possible make a U-turn."

Have a blessed day!