Oh God! This storm.

Oh God, this storm! 

Storms can be frightening and destructive. They can be difficult, trying, painful instructive, and helpful? Wait, what? Helpful? Yes, they can be helpful. Instructive? Yes, we can learn a lot from the storms that God sends our way. You mean storms come from God? Well, nothing happens without God's knowing and consent. And, many places in the bible show where God sends "places of lack" (storms, wildernesses, valleys, etc...)our way, or sends us into them. So, yes. 

In the book of Jonah, we find Jonah running from the Lord because he was chosen to work for the Lord, and he didn't want to. Does that sound like us? Because we don't want to give up what the world offers us in carnal pleasures, for the gift of responsibility that God gives to us, we run.

So he ran. In doing so, God sends (ch 1:4) first a wind to awaken him, and then a storm to shake him. 

Here we find one of those places where the Bible says that God sends the winds and the tempest (storm). Just like storms in the natural world, there are typically warnings that precede the spiritual storm. Gray skies, strong winds, etc. If we learn to recognize their approach we can get ready for what's next. Next? What do I mean by that? Some storms can be avoided, while some must be weathered. If the warnings you get from God present an opportunity for you to evacuate, you should do so. But, what if you can't, and when should you stay?

For example: You are in a relationship, and you begin to see flashes of anger, hostility, inhumane behavior, narcissism, constant arguments, belittling comments, lack of empathy, etc. Your first course of action is always to pray. Ask God to instruct you. Then, listen for the instructions and obey them. If the instructions say leave, make haste. Get out.

So what if the instructions from God say that you should stay? Stay in a very difficult situation? Stay in what the world will see as a definite reason to leave? In the storm? If God says stay, you should stay. Take heart for you will not be staying under your own strength, but by His strength. 

When Jonah did get back on God’s course, he was successfully preaching to a large sinful city. But, he was not successful by his own orating skill, but because he was in God's perfect will, and by God's perfect strength. His word says that in our weakness, His strength is made perfect. 2 Cor 12:9.

     

Isn't it wonderful that God would have us to do something and use his power with which to get it done?  Don't let any storm stress you. Instead, why not do what Jesus did when he was in a storm? Mark 4:38.

We love you, and we are praying for you. 

~Pastor, Dr. Erroyl McGinty, Jr.

SALT ministries 

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to discern who has sent a storm when it comes in my life, as well as the reason for it. Empower me with your strength to stand during a tempestuous period, and to rest in it like Jesus did.

It is in Your holy name that we pray, 

Amen

Throw your hands in the air!

  In Acts 27 - Paul, other prisoners, and sailors find themselves in the midst of a great storm. There came a point when the winds were so strong that the sailors could only take their hands off of the wheel (v 15), lest the ship be tossed and broken. 

There are many lessons to be learned from this event in history. 

1.Listen to advice from Godly people to avoid the storm.

2. Don't follow the majority simply because they make logical sense.

3. Some storms can be avoided.

4. If you wind up in the storm, lighten the load - extra baggage does you no good in a storm.

5. Know whose you are. There is an abundance of knowledge, protection, relationships, opportunities, and blessings just from that knowledge alone.

The lessons that you can get from this scripture go on and on (The WORD is rich y'all)!

Primarily, but briefly, I want to focus on this one fact;  You cannot drive a ship well while in a storm. Even though smaller storms are easier to navigate through, and the repercussions are not as great, a small storm can seriously injure.  The size of the storm, and severity of the repercussions from the outcome, typically have a directly proportional relationship. In other words, the bigger the storm is, the more damage it can do... potentially. 

The ship in the scripture example represents your life. As with the ship, your life has a purpose, route, and a destination. They both have a captain, a crew, and passengers.You, your family and friends, and those folks that are just along for the ride. They both have luggage, and baggage. Some things you need, and some you do not. And, they both WILL encounter storms.  

Knowing that there are storms coming can be scary. But, knowing that they are coming also gives us the opportunity to prepare for the storms, and the opportunity to learn what to do while in the storm. Here the crew tried everything to make the situation better. Eventually it was realized that the best thing to do was take their hands away from the wheel, and allow the storm to drive them. We have to get to a point, sooner or later, when we realize that God is in control of everything, that includes the storm!  Prov 16:9  says that a man makes plans, but God makes the way. We must realize that the storm was designed by God to accomplish a purpose. Maybe to get your attention, maybe to warn you, maybe to begin or end a relationship, or maybe to call you home to glory. Regardless though, we have to take our hands off and let Him guide. Trusting Him while in the storm might be difficult, but it is vital. We tend to, just like the crew from the scripture, try everything first and eventually release the control. This surrendering is what God wants. It’s obedience. God honors this, and this is when we are in His divine will. Let go of the wheel!

By the way, while your hands are off the wheel go ahead and raise them a little bit higher and give God some praise.

We love you, and we are praying for you

~Pastor Erroyl and Sis Pinky

SALT

Sis Pinky's prayer

Father, 

Help me to take my hands off the wheel in every aspect of my life. Help me to surrender and praise You for being Alpha and Omega! 

In Jesus’s name we pray, 

Amen