"I have known Lew and Marion Peterson for over 30 years. Uprightness and Godliness have always been the mark of their lives. These are qualified, faithful servants that have blessed thousands of people around the world."

Dick Iverson

Looking Above the Storm and Clouds

Greetings!
It has been some time since I have written. Most of that time, Marion and I have been in Africa. Though we have wonderful reports of the time away, there are pressures to address here in the US that are challenging many of you.

Challenging circumstances are often like being in a storm or at least like seeing threatening storm clouds. Most of us have some great stories to tell from personal experiences with storms. Well, here is a time for collecting more of them!


KEEP LOOKING "ABOVE"

  There is no doubt about it - there will be storms. Life is filled with storms no matter how "spiritual" we may be.

God's word is filled with the storms that faced His people, however it is also filled with triumph in the time of the storm. The scriptures are such a comfort to us - we have no greater resource in the time of storm than God's word. We could spend hours looking at victory after victory in the time of storm. Perhaps one of the classics would be the disciples in their "fishing boat" We will take time to look at this carefully in Matthew 14:22-33.

Immediately Jesus "made" ( the marginal reference says "invited, strongly urged" ) His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side. It is important to see here this was His commission. Jesus dismissed the multitudes, went "by Himself up on the mountain by Himself to pray " but He sent His disciples by boat "to the other side." Has HE sent you to the other side? So far so good, however "in the middle of the sea the boat was being tossed by the waves because the wind was contrary". Sounds like a strong storm to me! He was not there. They did not have "walky talkies" with them. There was no way to communicate with Him, yet Jesus came walking to them on the water. Wow! How would you respond? How would I respond? I guess we would have to have been there!!

Notice His words to them "Be of good cheer it is I; do not be afraid" What were they thinking? " this is a ghost. Not only are we in a storm but there is a ghost on the water!"

Thank God for impetuous Peter. He at least was willing to be their spokesperson and take a chance none of the others were willing to take. "Hey - if you are who you say you are, ask me to come to you."

Life is filled with chances and problems. We meet them constantly. We have a choice to make. We can choose to recognize Jesus, His Holy Spirit, His great love for us and His Divine enabling in the face of our seemingly impossible circumstances, in spite of the fear of those "in the same boat" with us.

The rest is history. Jesus called Peter. He literally took Peter at his word,"OK, Peter come".

What a joy to serve the God of all power, the only true and wise God, the God who loves His people, the God Who says, "call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver you." Without a doubt we are living in serious times. Things do not look too good to most of us. What we are hearing and seeing is not very encouraging. It seems the storm is raging around us as we hear the reports of gloom and doom. However we are encouraged to look "upward", to see our heavenly Father, to trust in His Word, to call upon Him in the time of trouble for He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and of His kingdom there will be no end!

DO NOT FEAR THE STORM!
"Do not fear [the storm], little flock,for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)

One of the great signs of the closing days of time is fear. We certainly are hearing enough horror stories and fear in the continuing reports of these days to make us question the present and almost fear the future. The storm, the clouds, can only be overcome by "the fire" of God's presence.

How comforting to know God is with us! He will never leave nor forsake us. He is the God of all power. He has promised to fill us with the power and fire of the Holy Spirit!

FDR once said "we have nothing to fear but fear itself". How true that is today. David said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid" (Ps.27:1-14). I would strongly encourage each of us to read this Psalm at least daily, and better yet to commit it to memory. In the midst of David's challenges his confidence is in the Lord His God. David's one desire is to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Why? "He will hide me in His pavilion. He will set me high upon a [the] ROCK. My head will be lifted up above my enemies."

Please take note of David's closing remarks in this Psalm "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord."

Thank you for taking the time to read these musings. They come from my heart. They are my response to the challenges we face. I, like King David, "will lift up my eyes to [actually, above] the hills for my help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth and all that dwells therein"!!