This came to mind when I read your post....
HURRICANE WARNINGS -
What are you doing this Labor Day weekend? We live in Florida, so
we are going through a Hurricane! Winds and rain are hitting from
Miami, north up the coast toward Cape Canaveral, and then will cross
the state.
This hurricane was noticed from a far distance giving us plenty of
notice to prepare our homes, but then it slowed down, moving very
slowly over the Bahamas Islands. People have become very anxious,
wanting to have the storm pass over us quickly, so everything can get
back to normal. Don't you agree today? Do you want to get everything
back to normal and for the storms of your marriage problems to be
gone forever?
Did you know that there was a hurricane in the Bible? Paul was on a
ship, as a prisoner, that was sailing into a storm which was a
hurricane as told in Acts Chapter 27 and 28.
"Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "north-
easter," swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the
storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and
were driven along...Fearing that they would run aground on the
sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship
be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm
that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard...When
neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm
continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up
before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to
sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage
and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not
one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last
night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside
me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before
Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail
with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God
that it will happen just as he told me." Acts 27:14-15,20-25
It is difficult to sit in your home with the winds and rain howling
outside. Many people have lost electricity (we lost our power for 12
hours) and the storm is moving very slowing, so all we can do now is
to stay inside and wait out the storm.
Are you tired of waiting out your storm of marriage problems? Then go
to your Heavenly Father and crawl up into His arms for His great love
and protection.
What would any of us do without God's shelter? You may recall the
great gospel song written by Dottie Rambo and Jimmie Davis, "Sheltered
in the Arms of God:"
"I feel the touch of hands so warm and tender,
They're leading me in paths that I must trod;
I'll have no fear for Jesus walks beside me,
And I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
"So let the storms rage high, and dark clouds rise,
They don't worry me,
For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God;
He walks with me, and naught of earth can harm me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
"He walks with me and naught of earth can harm me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
Yes, I'm sheltered in the arms of God."
(Used by Permission-CCLI #1273562)
May you and I pray that this Labor Day weekend that all men of God
will labor in their pulpits, preaching the Word of God that is -
"... Living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
Pray for all men and women who have gone out into the storms of life,
leaving their spouses and children, living recklessly, showing no
concern for the consequences of the dangers of sins that they are
living in that will lead in the end to spiritual death and destruction.
Pray this weekend that many thousands of prodigals will be delivered
from the valley of death to having Jesus Christ as Lord of their life.
Nothing is too hard for your Lord to do!
God will deliver in His proper timing,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, Florida 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org http://stopdivorce.org A Bobservation -
In your mind’s eye, picture a palm tree, standing against the
background of the beach. Do you know how the palm tree developed that
beautiful sway in its trunk? Because of a storm. God created palms
not to break, even during a hurricane. The young tree may be bent by
the strong winds, as is happening right now to some of the trees in
the back yard of our home.
Once the storm has passed, the palm tree, if not straightened, will
continue to grow upward, and with time, leaving the trunk curved.
Our marriage has a curve, as the result of a storm nineteen years ago.
Once again it grows straight, but always with the reminder of
Charlyne’s strong stand against the winds of my sin, man’s comments
and suggestions, and against Satan.
May you not "chop down the tree" just because of storm-force winds.
Hang on, stand strong, and watch your marriage once again grow
straight in the future.
- - - - -
Rejoice Marriage Ministries Bookstore -
http://stopdivorce.org- - - - -
Are you being strengthened and encouraged by "Charlyne Cares"? Join
us in proclaiming, "God Heals Hurting Marriages" by becoming a partner
with us in Rejoice Marriage Ministries. Sow seed in fertile soil and
be blessed by your Lord -
http://rejoiceministries.org/ucanhelp.html- - - - -
Listen to Rejoice Marriage Ministries three radio programs to help
keep you standing strong -
http://rejoiceministries.org/radio.html- - - - -
The best news -
http://rejoiceministries.org/salvation.htmlCourt? -
http://stopdivorce.org/index.php?viewItem=00216&viewCat=2Add our link to your page-
http://rejoiceministries.org/link2us.htmlShare a praise report-
http://rejoiceministries.org/testimony.html- - - - -
Scripture quoted by permission and are from the Holy Bible; New
International Version® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International
Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All
rights reserved.
- - - - -
D