Weathering the storms of life

I got the following excerpt from this blog. I really like it. Learning to dwell deeply & weather the storms of life that inevitabley come shows maturity and not being tossed about by the stuff on the surface. I like the picture this paints...

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philipians 4:7)

There are depths in the ocean, I am told, which no tempest ever stirs – beyond the reach of all storms that sweep and agitate the surface of the sea. And there are heights in the blue sky above, to which no cloud ever ascends; where no tempest ever rages; where all is perpetual sunshine; where naught exists to disturb the deep serenity. Even at the center of the cyclone there is rest. Each of these is an emblem of the soul which Jesus visits, to whom He speaks peace, whose fear He dispels, whose lamps of hope He trims.

During the test of a submarine it remained submerged for many hours. When it had returned to the harbor, the commander was asked: “Well, how did the storm affect you last night?” The commander looked at him in surprise and said: “Storm? We knew nothing of any storm!”

Dwell deep. When doubts assail and stealthy shadows creep across your sky, filling you with a sense of doom. Where thunders roar, and lightnings frighten with their glare, and old foundations seem to crumble beneath your feet. Dwell deep and rest your soul amid eternal things. Upon the surface storms may rage, and billows break on every beach of life, and fling disaster far and wide. If your soul is dwelling quiet in the depths, naught can harm you evermore. Therefore dwell deep, and rest your head upon the heart of God.

- Anonymous

“When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble” – (Job 34:29)

PRAYER!

“Up in a little town in Maine,things were pretty dead some years ago. The churches were not accomplishing anything. There were a few Godly men in the churches, and they said: ‘Here we are, only uneducated laymen; but something must be done in this town. Let us form a praying band. We will all center our prayers on one man. Who shall it be?’ They picked out one of the hardest men in town, a hopeless drunkard, and centered all their prayers upon him. In a week, he was converted. They centered their prayers upon the next hardest man in town, and soon he was converted. Then they took up another and another, until within a year, two or three hundred were brought to God, and the fire spread out into all the surrounding country. Definite prayer for those in the prison house of sin is the need of the hour.” – Dr. R.A. Torrey

Signs & Wonders fuel God's Light

I was reflecting today on a comment made to me the other day about our church having a celebratory meal to thank God for what He has done this year.
As I thought about this I realized that it is not about what God has done this year...but more like 'what have we allowed God to do this year?' A famous man once said, "The world has yet to see what God can do through one man wholly committed to Him." God is willing and wanting to work amongst His people, but we have to open that door and allow Him to work amongst us.
The question could be asked us "How much have we allowed the Holy Spirit to change us, shine through us this past year?" Although it is early for the New Year and looking back on the past year, it is always a good time for a spiritual checkup.
I have been reading Acts lately (& also Faith Like Potatoes) and been struck by the fact that where God's message is preached and responded to, signs, wonders & miracles testify to that. They point to God, they bring Him glory, not the messenger, they encourage others in their faith. What signs, wonders & miracles have we seen in the last year?? What signs, wonders & miracles have we asked for in the last year???
The Holy Spirit is God's Light -- how much shines through is up to us.
Will this time next year be any different?? How will I invite the Holy Spirit to fuel my light & point the way to God????