Finding Faith and Peace in Life's Storms

1. "How many believe that God is keeping you even now? Amen. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's doing it even now. Yes, indeed. Let's bow before the Lord today. Heavenly Father, we thank you in the name of Jesus for being who you are. As we come and stand before your people, God, it's not about them or me. I pray even now that I might decrease and that you might increase. Save someone today. Encourage another. And when this time is done, we'll give your name. We'll give your name the praise and the glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen." [10:10] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "We've all faced some type of crisis. Amen? And simply put, crisis is described as a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. And we don't get to decide. We don't get to decide. We don't get to decide when a crisis comes about. But it'll just show up. And over time, we try to manage the crisis, but we can't. Anybody agree with that today? Reader's Digest is that famous little book that I think is still out there. In a 1992 edition of Reader's Digest magazine, the author draws up a list of rules for crisis management. It goes something like this. Hope for the best. But prepare for the worst. Look first, then act. Seek help. Don't get locked on the detail. And no matter how bad things get, be truthful. And finally, look for the silver lining." [13:32] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "Isn't life just like, we don't get to call the shots. I know you're a shot caller, but you don't get to call the shots when it comes to situations in life. Amen. Not sure if we're headed in the right direction. We never know where our crisis would take us. It may be on the other side of a situation that has come aboard our homes, that has come aboard our health, that has come aboard our marriages and has come aboard our jobs. You just don't know. And don't worry yourself about, I wonder if I'm going to hit a crisis. Just continue to live in the Lord Jesus Christ and know that he says, I'm always with you, even to the end of the world. You ever get a little anxious sometimes and say, wait a minute, hold on. God, you're in control of anything and everything and me. Amen. It takes a minute to stop and pause and go, wait a minute. Don't freak out. It's going to be okay. Chill. God has got this." [16:47] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Jesus cared. He always cares. And those disciples had to realize that they didn't try to figure it out. But when you've got Jesus on board of your situation, when you allow him into your life, into your business, into your affairs, he is right there to calm the raging sea in life. Do you agree with that today? Has he ever done it for you? I mean, things were falling apart. Reminds me of Paul. He was out on the boat. He said, this is going to be a rough ride, fellas. And the place, boat began to crack up, break up. And he said, just grab a piece of wood and hold on. He said, we will get to the other side. I mean, yeah, I hear you, Paul, but the boat is falling apart. I'm barely holding on. My bills are due. My health is being challenged. You don't realize what I'm going through. But has the Lord not brought you through? Oh, don't make me twist your arm today. Have he not brought you through some situations in life? Yes, there's danger, but God is in control." [21:52] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "A night of great danger, a night of predetermined direction, but finally, a night of great discovery. Verse 39 says, he got up. I could just go with that. He got up. Yeah. You know, he's not, you know, some, you don't need to shake him. He got up. He got up on the third day morning. He got up with all power in his hand. He got up in your situation. He got up in my situation. And that all by itself. He got up in your situation. He got up in my situation. And then he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, quiet, exclamation mark, be still. Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, why are you so afraid? They were terrified and ask each other, wait a minute, who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him." [23:30] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "In a crisis, we look to the hills to which cometh our help. All of our help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer that foot to be moved. In a crisis, we lead and are led to the rock that is higher than we are. And in a crisis, we run to the tower. Amen. Where the righteous can run and be safe. Amen. In a crisis, we must know that we are not alone. We are not alone. We know that our faith, what we believe in God, is the only thing that will get us through. I know that to be a fact. My faith looks up to thee, thy lamb of Calvary, Savior divine. Now hear me when I pray. Take all my guilt away. Oh, let me from this day be holy then." [24:55] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "Well, what's the lesson today? The lesson is that no matter what you're going through, God's got you. The lesson today is that no matter what you're facing, God will bring you to the Lord. Amen. The lesson today, even though you've not made it to the other side, God is already there. The lesson today is he'll make a way out of no way. The lesson today that you can't talk to the storms, but let he who made the wind and let he who made the waves do the talking. In other words, you need a spokesperson. Amen. I'm glad today that no matter what we go through, I just believe. I was thinking this morning as I was coming to church, I said, do you believe what you preach? And yes, I do. It's not some note from an iPad, but it's a God who goes with you. It's a God who guides you through seen and unseen dangers. I'm glad today that he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I'm his own." [26:08] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "I'm glad today and that nobody is trying to dial up a crisis. No, no, no, no. No, you're not looking for one. But when one shows up, you know who's in your boat. You know who's in your life. You know who's in your dilemma. You know who's in your situation. His name is Jesus. Oh, you got the right answer. Jesus, the one who went to the cross. Jesus, the one who shed his blood. Jesus, the one who got up on the third day morning with all power in his hands. I'm glad about that today is that who am I really in a crisis? I may give you my best game face, but my knees are shaking. I may give you my best expression, but I'm glad today that I serve a risen Savior. Aren't you glad today? Aren't you glad today that his name is Jesus? Aren't you glad today that he'll make your way out of nowhere? Aren't you glad today that he'll bring you through? He's making you the light. You know what I'm saying. That's the word of God today. And it's already blessed. Who are you really? When things are topsy-turvy, who are you when the bottom falls out? You are a believer in Jesus Christ." [27:02] (99 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)