After leaving the reformatory, she became pregnant without the benefit of marriage.  Two years later she became pregnant again.  Complication with this pregnancy, caused her to have a stroke.  The stroke erased her ability to read and write.  She fought hard to regain what she had lost.

In dire financial straits she went on welfare.  She took in seven foster children, to make ends meet. While caring for her own two children and the seven foster children she went to community college.  Upon her completion of studies she applied to and was accepted by the Albany Medical School to study medicine.

In the spring of 1984, Mary Gorda, now Mary Gorda Lewis, as she is happily married walked across the graduation stage to receive her degree.  Mary Gorda Lewis MD.

"Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid."

Just Thursday night I learned of a family in Marlboro, NJ who moved from West Orange to Marlboro.  The couple, with a toddler in tow, thought they had bought their dream house.  Shortly after moving in their toddler seemed to be plagued with respiratory problems.  It wasn’t long after that the couple themselves were having similar problems. They endured a battery of tests, which resulted in more questions.  A new baby was born, and the baby was having breathing problems.  Finally, the cause of the problem was found.  Inside the walls of the house a deadly mold had been growing.  They had to evacuate the house immediately with nothing but the clothes on their back.  The house has to be destroyed.  The insurance company is saying the mold is not covered under their insurance.  Having spent their entire savings on the down payment, they find themselves with major health problems and medical bills and no place to call home.

"Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid."

Presently we are collecting items to make welcome baskets for, four refugee children who are being united with their mother.  These children, didn’t wake up one day and decide to come to America.  They are coming to America because the storms of political tyranny and oppression is sweeping across their country.  They were faced with a decision, stay and die or flee for your life.

Each of us have experienced storms in our lives.  The storm may have been the death of a loved one, a disagreement, a medical diagnosis, pressure at work.  Whatever the situation was, the truth is that none of us are exempt from storms which effect our lives.

Storms are part of life.  Some are direct results of foolish decisions we make.  Some, like the storm which the disciples encountered, cross our live’s path through no fault of our own.

It is not unusual that life resembles the boat which the disciples were in.   It is often tossed about by storms. Truthfully there is never a right time for a storm.  Storms come when they will.  You and I cannot determine the storms duration, severity or effects.  We cannot control them or contain them.  Like the disciples we are often at the storms mercy.

Some storms can double for a passing spring shower.  They are more of an inconvenience than anything.   Some pass through our lives with the speed and force of a tornado. Some linger, impacting our lives, like the pounding rain of a hurricane.   The effects of these storms are long lasting.  We are often still trying to put our lives back together long after the storm is gone.  How well the residents of Bound Brook know this truth.

Our scripture lesson this morning tells us about the disciples, who fought all night rowing into the storm.  It wasn’t stormy when they set sail for the other side of the sea.   At first the boat glided across the water with each stroke of the oars.  Now, with every stroke forward on the oars, the wind and surf pushed them backward.  It was a constant battle to maintain their position.  It was a constant struggle to keep the boat afloat.  I would imagine that the thought of giving up crossed the minds of the disciples. Physically exhausted, mentally drained the temptation of letting go of the oar and letting the storm carry the boat wherever it wants, had to cross their mind.

Exhausted, still fighting the storm, Jesus came to them, walking on the water.  At first they were frightened thinking they were seeing a ghost.  Perhaps they thought the ghost was coming to take them home.  Who knows? Jesus seeing their fears said,

"Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid."

Peter reacted in faith.  He jumped out of the boat and went toward Jesus on the water.  When the affect of his impulsive action sunk in, Peter began to sink.  He began to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus.  His faith wavered, because he looked at the waves of the storm.

Like Peter, we are called not necessarily to walk on water, but to walk through some tough situations.  If we focus on the waves of our storms, the circumstances of our situation, in despair, we too will begin to sink. We must maintain our focus on the presence and power of Jesus.  It is then that you will hear Jesus words,

"Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid!"

What is your take on storms and God?  In our scripture lesson, Jesus came to the disciples in the midst of the storm. Do you think God comes to you when you experience a storm?

Ron Mehl, in his book Surprising Ending raised what I consider five soul searching questions, which require a simple yes or no answer.

I want to give these questions to you in the form of a test. Give yourself two points for every yes answer, one point for a no answer.

If you scored a five, you should be up here preaching this sermon, because it would seem to me someone who scores a five has absolute trust in God. Anything more than a five means we need to remember that storms are learning experiences, not God’s tools to beat us into submission.

Each storm has the potential to help you and me see and experience God’s goodness, faithfulness, and provisions for your life, which will allow you and me to rest in God’s promises.

Truth is, if it weren’t for storms most people wouldn’t take time to remember God. Stormy times bring us face to face with God. Stormy times remind us God promised shelter in the storms.

It has been said, "If you do not know storms, you will never know much about God." What strikes me funny when I read this quote is how desperately we try to live life by dodging storms.

Storms are life’s greatest classrooms. Storms are times of revelation, restoration and growth. Storms require a decision and a dedication to listen for Jesus’ words, "Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid."

amen

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