Theme of the Day: Our Gracious God Is With Us Through All The Storms Of Life
A powerful tornado rolls through your neighborhood. A massive hurricane heads straight for your city. A bolt of lightning sends 300 million volts to earth. The raw power and unpredictability of storms can inspire both awe and terror. We cannot stop storms from coming. We can only hope to survive them. However, we know the Almighty God can stop storms. He can calm literal storms. He could remove metaphorical storms, other types of troubles and trials. So, if he can, why doesn’t he?
Well, would you rather have a God who was distant from you but removed all the storms of life? Or would you rather have a God who allowed some storms to come but promised to be right there by your side within them, holding you close? May God give us the top-down faith that sees that the latter is by far the better option. God promises to be with us through all the storms of life. Sometimes he removes them. But when he doesn’t, it’s only because he has plans to use even storms for our eternal good.
Mark 4:35-41
Job 38:1-11
Acts 27:13-26
Psalm 42C
984 – A Vicious Storm, A Raging Sea
501 – Evening and Morning
849 – Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
805 – Eternal Father, Strong to Save
847 – Be Still, My Soul
Prayer of the Day: O Lord our God, so govern the nations on earth and direct the affairs of this world that your church may worship you in peace and joy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Alleluia.