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Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

 

Have you ever noticed how some of the greatest adventures or best memories come when you least expect them? You may have everything perfectly planned out, but sometimes the waves come crashing, a storm rolls in, and you find yourself off course. You can either choose to let stress and fear destroy you, or you can put your faith in the Lord and see where he leads you.

Paul’s journey certainly did not go as planned. He ends up ship-wrecked on a strange island and then gets attacked by a snake. It would be easy to feel defeated after all of that, but Paul keeps his faith and continues to find ways to serve the Lord. The people around him were able to see God’s love through Paul and became believers themselves.

Are you in the middle of a storm? Have you blown a little off course? Maybe you’ve lost your job or you're battling an illness? Instead of shutting down or choosing fear, what if you used this new path to show others God’s glory through you? Trust that God has a plan and he will keep you safe! You never know what miracles he will work along the way!

For our prayer, I leave you with the lyrics from “Praise you in this storm” by Casting Crowns:

I was sure by now

God, You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

And once again

I say, "A-men" and it's still rainin'

 

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I'll raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

 

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUGwUgBvTU

 

Karen DeMauro Karen.demauro@gmail.com