AFTER_THE_STORM_THE_GODMOTHER

THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED GOD's WILL
ARE COVERED IN HIS REFUGE.
GOD HAS DEFEATED THE ENEMY.
GOD WILL PROTECT US, EVEN IN DEATH.
THOSE WHO ARE NOT UNDER THE
COVERING OF THE REFUGE,
WILL EXPERIENCE THE WRATH,
AND THE WRATH COMES AS A STORM.

REMEMBER......

It's gonna rain, It's gonna rain,
You'd better get ready and bare this in mind
God show'd Noah a rainbow sign,
it won't be water, but fire next time....


                           Psalms 107

1. O GIVE THANKS unto the LORD, for HE is good: for HIS MERCY endureth
       for ever.
2. LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO, WHOM HE HATH
       REDEEMED FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY;

Into The Storm

Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children,
with five loaves of bread and two fish: "Jesus made the disciples get
into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side."
(Matthew 14:22).

The disciples began to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm
arose which caused them to "strain against the oars." (Mark 6:48).
It was the middle of the night and after already rowing about three and
a half miles, (John 6:19), they found themselves fighting against the wind
and waves.

Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told
them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had heard
clearly and obeyed, but were still confronting a very difficult
situation. The story continues as Jesus walks on the water, calls Peter
to join Him and then miraculously calms the storm. But couldn't the
struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait
until morning to travel?

This wasn't the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus.
During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose:
"The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to
drown!'" (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this
first storm, the disciples asked each other "What kind of man is this?"
(Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, Jesus was an amazing man.
But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm,
the disciples began to understand.

Matthew 14:33
"Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying,
'Truly You are the Son of God.'"

As was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm
for the purpose of revealing Himself to us - for the purpose of drawing
us closer. For it's in the storms where we see God's love and witness
His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. "These {storms} have come
so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even
though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise,
glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:7).

Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son,
enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began
in our lives. So let's learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let's learn to
look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every
day. Let's praise Him - even when we're sent into the storm.


His Loving Discipline

In the message, "Into The Storm," we saw that God sometimes sends
us into a storm to get our attention and draw us closer to Himself.
The discipline we endure while in the storm teaches us who we really are,
who God really is, and the importance of our eternal relationship with Him.

When we accept the gift of Salvation through faith in Jesus, we are
adopted as a child of God - "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."
(Romans 8:17). Our Heavenly Father loves us simply because we're His
child - not because of what we do or accomplish. He desires nothing
more than for His children to say, "I love You, Daddy!" But He also
loves us enough to discipline us when necessary.

Hebrews 12:6-7
"The Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He
accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as
sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

We are all flawed vessels with many rough edges - but our Heavenly
Father loves us anyway! He has promised to shape and mold us until we
are "conformed to the likeness of His Son." (Romans 8:29). This process
can be VERY uncomfortable. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time,
but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness
and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11).

We must always remember that His hand of discipline is a hand that loves
us very much. His is not a hand that is out of control like so many
angry "hands" of the world. Rather, His hand is always purposeful and
precise. And as we understand His plan for "righteousness and peace"
in our lives, we will readily submit and even welcome His discipline.

We have so much "self" that gets in the way of our relationship with God
- so many hindrances to truly loving Him and following where He leads.
We must desire a closeness with God above all else. So much so, that we
are willing to pray: "Heavenly Father, do NOT withhold Your hand of
disciple from my life. I submit to Your molding and shaping and ask
that You remove anything which stands between You and I."

We entered into God's Kingdom by His grace. We have now begun a
wonderful journey. Our values and goals will begin to change as we draw
closer to God and keep our eyes focused on Jesus. But along the way,
as our rough edges are smoothed, we will need to learn a joyful submission
to His loving discipline.

Have a Great Day!

                                              Steve Troxel
                                   God's Daily Word Ministries
         Scripture references: The Holy Bible: New International Version.
              Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.


                               IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STORMS
                                         EYE OF THE STORMS
                                          THE STORM IS OVER
                                           THE REVELATIONS


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