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