Cause when it looks like its game over for you... its just a pit stop for God! #canttouchthisirene

Main Scripture - Acts 27

Main Song - I Told The Storm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghvo32n7Tgc 

Most people would never think of storm and pitstop together, seeing that a storm aka "Mother Nature in Chaos" and pit stop, a place to refuel, recharge, redirect, and take a break to get ready for whats ahead, seem to be pretty opposite. In fact if you mention the word "storm" or "hurricane" right now, most people on the US East coast are probably thinking of a woman named "Irene". Hurricane Irene is hitting the east coast as we speak. When it comes to storms in the bible though, most people first think of a man named Jesus; in particular the storm where the disciples were afraid until Jesus went on to calm the storm, much to their amazement. (Note: You can find the story three times in the bible*:Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25) This is one representation of how God can work in our lives, for in Romans 8:38,39 says that "No power in the sky" (NLT) can separate us from Gods love. But I encourage you to consider a different story about a storm, one that didn't end up with the storm being stopped... but with God saving them nevertheless.  

Paul was held prisoner for crimes he was wrongly accused of. The prisoners were to be taken to Italy. On the way there they encountered a great storm. The gale-force winds beat upon the ship and drove them off course. In an attempt to help save themselves, they laid anchors, and threw things overboard but to no avail. With Paul on board, God could have chosen to work a miracle in the sight of the others and stop the storm, but he had other plans. Instead, He let their ship get wrecked! Now that doesn't sound like too good of an ending, but God, through Paul, allowed everyone on the ship, soldiers and prisoners a like, to make it to shore without harm. 

This is not as exciting a story as the experience of the disciples, nor is it a mighty display of power, but it goes to show that even if things don't go perfectly, God will still protect us from real harm. We may wonder why God is allowing this portion of our trials to continue when we know he has the power to stop it all. I mean, the shipmates lost almost everything they had with them, and most importantly, their ship! But at the end of the day we must trust that God will still keep us, whether we go through something that just looks scary like the storm for the disciples, or we go through something that literally has our life flashing before our eyes, like the shipmates of Paul. God's got you. Even when it looks like you're done for. Cause when it looks like its game over for you... its just a pit stop for God!

Today, pray that God brings YOU safely to your Island of Malta, and then onward to the purpose He has carved out of Time itself, just for you. 

=== It's all about the WORD ===

Read the whole story in Acts Chapter 27 Here -  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027&version=NLT

*Read about Jesus and the disciples storm here - Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:23-27,%20Mark%204:35-41,%20Luke%208:22-25&version=NLT

www.biblegateway.com

www.youversion.com

===  Related Music ===

I Told The Storm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghvo32n7Tgc     (Greg O'Quin 'N Joyful Noize)

Scott Krippayne - Sometimes He Calms The Storm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BMIJHZSavo

Yolanda Adams  - Through the Storm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3VYlv207Wc

Casting Crowns - Praise You Through The Storm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdcyue0bSw

Kirk Franklin - The Storm is Over Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLqiMD0mWn0

=== MORE ON: MALTA ===

Video: Shipwreck Artifacts Found (~5min) - http://downloads.cbn.com/cbnnewsplayer/cbnplayer.swf?aid=14087

Article: Shipwreck Artifacts Found- http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/February/Searching-for-Pauls-Shipwreck-on-Malta/

Island of Malta Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta_Island

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