“He caused the east
wind to blow in the heavens, and by His power He directed the south wind. (Psa. 78:26); “And He (Jesus) got up and
rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and
it became perfectly calm” (Mark 4:39).
“When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes
lightning for the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouse” (Jer.
10:13).
Hey Gang: There was a
saying in the Second World War, ‘There are no atheist in fox holes!’ When you have said in your heart, “No, Lord,
I don’t want any part of you,” Where do you go when the doctor says, “You have
terminal cancer and only one month to live”?
As the fires raged throughout the west, coming ever closer
to your home and all your prized possessions, where to you go for help? As the rains came in the south and the water
levels rose even closer to your prized possessions- all those things that you
have placed your faith in and represent your life, where do you go for
help?
The weather forecaster reported, there is a speck in the
distant Atlantic which has drawn sufficient attention that they have named her
‘Florence”. Each day the weather
forecaster reported Florence was gaining strength and had now reached he point
where it gained “Tropical Storm recognition.
As the days passed the reports became more ominous. It was
now a category one hurricane and on a direct line to hit a place that we know
very well - having spent a period of our life and experience two hurricanes
while there - the outer banks of North Carolina.
As the days passed the weather reporters concern grew more
serious as Florence gained in intensity and the track became more secure. It was time to take action and put all of
those precious things that are dear to you in your car and head for higher
ground.
And now you knew, Florence was heading straight for
you. Panic, yes, fear, most assuredly! Help! Somebody help! But, as we read in the Scriptures of the day,
the One who controls the wind and the waters loves you so much He laid His life
down on a hideous cross to be a part of your life when the Florences and other
circumstances show their ugly heads. We
have the assurance that He is right here -right now -with us!
It is at these times when Mark 11:24 kicks into action: “Therefore, I say to you all things for which you pray and
ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you” and
we have the assurance of Luke 22:32: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith
may not fail; and you, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Years ago, shortly after we have completed the construction
of the Ashman and Sherk Homes, we had a near tragedy when a fire broke out and
was working its way up the hill towards these new buildings. We grabbed what was immediately available-
rakes and brooms - and ran to the fire and attempted to beat back the fire, but
to no avail!
Suddenly, the fire jumped over me! I was now standing in-the-midst
of the flames. I dropped my broom, threw
up my arms and cried out, “Lord stop the wind”. Then I stood, along with others of staff and
watched a phenomenal miracle-the wind not only stopped but the fired reversed
course and burned back down the hill to it starting point and went out. When the fire department arrived there was
not even smoke from, the fire.
Even the firemen were astounded. But God does nothing by accident or without
purpose. At my side that day, as we
tried to do the impossible by beating the fire with rakes and brooms, was a
young man who did not believe Our God is
the God of miracles and we, Kings kids, have the power to call His Name when
the alligators are nipping at our tails.
I firmly believe to this day that God allowed the fire as an object
lesson to a young man who needed to see God’s magnificent power in action.
But one last point before closing: teams that are committed
to practice, conditioning and discipline are usually at the top of the winner’s
column. The same is true for those who
are children of God’s family. There will
be times when the Florences of our life will surface and we need to have built-up
a track record of faith in action, in our lives, and call on the Lord to
intercede. I firmly believe that if all the
people of the Outer Bands would have gathered on the sea shore and prayed,
“Lord stop the wind” Florence would have taken a hike in another direction.
Keep in mind ear friends, God loves His children and stands
ready to stop the wind and alligators when we pray with humble hearts.
Blessings,
Gramps
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