Many weeks ago I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to do a teaching series this fall on Storms. Little did I know at the time that the launch Saturday of that series (tonight - September 15, 2018) would come at the end of a week when Hurricane Florence has been in the news daily. Like you, I have been praying for all who are in the direct path of this large storm.
Storm stories are throughout Scripture. From Noah to the Apostle Paul, God’s people experience storms. All of us are in one of three categories: we might be facing a storm in the future or are currently in a storm or the storm has passed. No one wants to be in a storm or is exempt from storms. So why do they happen?
That is a question that will be debated for years to come, but, right now, we know two very important truths. First, God is both present in storms and more powerful than storms. And secondly, Godly pain and brokenness in storms are used by God to help not harass you. When these two truths are applied to any and all storms, Godly purpose and clarity will begin to come into focus. God never tells us why He uses storms, but He always grows us in storms.
My prayer and the prayers of others over the last few weeks is that this fall focus on Storms would be used by God to transform thousands of lives. We worship the God who speaks through storms, speaks to storms, and continues to speak after storms have passed. Join us Saturday nights at 6pm beginning tonight at Celebration Church & Outreach Ministry. You can worship with us live at 5501 Midlothian Turnpike or LiveStream via FB or YouTube. Bring yourself and others. Bring those that need to find hope in the midst of a storm. Bring your story of deliverance from a storm.
Feel free to post your comments, questions, and/or insights in response to this blog. Looking forward to seeing what God will do over the next 7 weeks.
Ex nihilo,
R.J. Rhoden
Hello Pastor R.J. Rhoden. I am also a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you and about you being the Minister. I am encouraged by your blog post on Storms. As I went through your blog post I did feel the need of taking a series of messages on the topic Storms. Hope you would not mind if I use some of the stuff of your sermons on Storm. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 39 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have young people from your church to come to Mumbai to work with us during vacation time. I AM sure they will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.
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