In the Eye of the Storm
On Sunday September 12, 2004 guest speaker Alice Smith at
Bay Community Ministries in Malbis, Alabama led the church
in a prayer against Hurricane Ivan. It was a category 5
hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico moving towards Mobile Bay.
The church is a few miles from the church.
Alice reminded us of an account from Mark 4. Jesus said,
"Let us pass over unto the other side." And when they had
sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the
ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And
there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into
the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder
part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him,
and say unto him, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
"Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a
great calm. And he said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful?
how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-40)
The believer has the authority of the name of Jesus and in
His Name we rebuked the wind and said to the sea as He had
and said to the sea, "Peace, be still."
Monday morning September 13, our daughter-in-law Becky was
admitted to Fairhope, Alabama s Thomas Hospital and gave
birth to their second daughter. Kelly Rebecca Schneider was
6 lb.. 9 oz. Kelly is a lovely child. She is our fourteenth
grandchild and we are truly blessed to have her as a part of
our growing family.
The lights flickered out at 8:00pm Wednesday night,
September 15, as the wind and rain whistled around our son
Steven s home where we had taken refuge from the approaching
storm. At 9:30pm I felt secure and at peace from the amount
of prayers that had been sent up and laid down on a hallway
carpet to get some sleep. At 2:00am on Thursday morning, my
wife June and I were fast asleep when Steven told us that he
had just received a cellular call from our daughter Robin in
Tampa. The eye of the hurricane had just come ashore at Gulf
Shores, Alabama, forty-five miles due south of us.
I thanked him and rolled over and went back to sleep. At
9:30am I awoke and was told the storm s eye had gone
directly over us. Other then wind and rain the worst was
over.
We and four of our children own homes in south Alabama.
Other then some downed trees and branches there was no
damage to ours or any of our family s homes or properties.
At this time all of us but one has electrical power.
We had not wished the storm on anyone else, but rebuked the
wind. Somehow, for what ever reason, the Lord answered the
prayer and we were spared. The Hurricane Ivan was a win/win
situation. We knew that we were in the Lord s loving hands.
If our home or homes had been destroyed, and/or been damaged
we would still have much to give praise to the Lord for. Had
we lost this life in the storm we would have been in a far,
far better place.
We rested in Him as the eye of the storm passed over. He is
the apple of our eye and as believers we are the apples of
His eye. Jesus is the peace that passes all understanding,
the calm that comes in the midst of the storm.
We grieve with those of you who lost loved ones in the
storm. We have compassion for those of you who lost homes
and possessions. We encourage you to "Hold steady and keep
the faith." God loves you and will minister to you and give
you peace.
Harvey Schneider MexSchneiders@Compuserve.com