Storms Of Life

by Pastor Bill

Scripture: Psalm 57:1 "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by" NLT

Life has a way of erupting into a storm. Routines may be going along fine and then all of a sudden a storm erupts and everything takes a back seat to the storm.

When a sudden storm hits there is a natural process the storm follows:

1. Wind blows the storm in --- bringing trials and tribulations.

2. Lightning strikes everywhere --- focusing pain.

3. Thunder echoes all around --- engaging fear and preservation.

4. Rain follows --- tears flow.

Then just as suddenly as the storm erupted it stops. The winds subside, lightning and thunder fade away and the rain ends. A new natural process begins:

1. The air is fresh and clean --- a new life emerges.

2. The clouds separate --- sunshine enters with new hope.

3. Blue sky envelopes the horizon --- a new peace of mind settles in.

4. Birds begin singing --- Joy and happiness are restored.

Matthew 8:23-27 puts it this way:

Then he (Jesus) got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat-and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, "Master, save us! We're going down!" Jesus reprimanded them. "Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?" Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: "Silence!" The sea became smooth as glass. The men rubbed their eyes, astonished. "What's going on here? Wind and sea come to heel at his command!" MSG (emphasis added)

If you are going through a storm in your life keep in mind that Jesus is in control and when it is over HE has something better for you.

Prayer: Father thank you for helping me through the storms of life and holding me close. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Just A Closer Walk With Thee

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Refrain

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Refrain

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Refrain

How Mickey Rooney's Encounter With an Angel Led to his Faith in Jesus Christ 

by Mark Ellis

Mickey Rooney with Judy Garland

Legendary actor Mickey Rooney, one of Hollywood’s last surviving stars of its classic era, passed away April 6th from natural causes. He was 93.

The award-winning actor became the biggest star in the world in his teens when he played the character Andy Hardy in A Family Affair.

The son of vaudevillians, he career started even earlier – as a mere babe. On lunch break when he filmed the Mickey McGuire comedies, five-year-old Rooney walked into an office at Warner Bros. studio, and introduced himself to a cartoonist named Walt Disney.

“Come over and sit on my lap,” Disney told the youngster.

When he sat on his lap, Disney held up a mouse he had drawn. “That’s a good-looking mouse, Mr. Disney,” Rooney blurted out.

“It sure is, Mickey,’ he said, and then paused for a moment. “Mickey, Mickey,” he said with a gleam in his eye. “Tell me something, how would you like me to name this mouse after you?”

“I sure would like that, but right now I got to go and get a tuna sandwich,” Rooney replied, and he jumped off Disney’s lap.

“It’s a true story,” Rooney told Kira Albin, in a 1995 interview.

Sadly, Rooney’s private life was turbulent, and his eight marriages became the fodder for late-night comedians’ jokes. But the challenges he survived –including elder abuse more recently – left him with an uncommon depth of wisdom gained with time.

After the deaths of his mother and fifth wife in 1966, he battled substance abuse and financial problems. In the depths of the valley, Rooney had an unusual encounter that he said changed his life, according to the same interview with Albin.

Over breakfast at a Lake Tahoe casino coffee shop, Rooney was greeted by a busboy with “blond curls, a white-rose complexion, and shining teeth,” he recounted.

When the man called his name, Rooney started to stand, thinking he had a telephone call. But the busboy leaned toward him and whispered in his ear, “Mr. Rooney, Jesus Christ loves you very much.” Then the mysterious busboy vanished.

Have a Blessed Friday,
Richard