On Mother's Day, May 8th, 2005, my mother, Sue Campbell, went to be with the Lord. She was 89 years of age and had enjoyed a happy and fruitful life. Many have said, "I am so sorry that she had to die on Mother's Day." My granddaughter, who was only ten years old at the time said, "It's alright because she was the grandest mother of all!"

Mother graduated from college when she had four children. She served as a pastor's wife for 50 years and helped countless couples and women to find a strong faith in the Lord. People were drawn to her by her magnetic smile and the joy of the Lord that filled her life.

When Mother was eleven years of age, Jesus appeared to her in a vision as she made a public declaration to receive the Lord into her heart. This life changing experience happened to Mother in her little country church. From that moment on, she never turned away from the One who gave her new life!

How do you handle sudden problems? Who do you run to for help? The disciples found themselves in a unique situation. They were in a boat with the miracle worker Jesus. They had just spent the day watching Jesus heal the sick and then witnessed an evening healing crusade. 

I am sure they were ready for some rest and peace. But, the Bible gives another story that brought great fear. "And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves. But He (Jesus) was asleep," (Matthew 8:23-27). The disciples did what anyone else would have done. They awoke the Master and said, "Lord, save us! We are perishing! (We are going to drown!)

"But He said to them, Why are you so fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm."

I like Mark's writing from Mark 4:39, "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still! And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." Isn't is wonderful that even in the middle of a storm, you can still have peace - if Jesus is in your boat!

I like the story from Acts 2:2,4. "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

I love the surprise moves of God. He is like the wind. The Holy Spirit moves as He wishes and He is the One Who brought our spiritual birth by His renewing and transforming power.

We find another great unexpected event in Acts 16:26, "Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed."

In this story we find that Paul and Silas were in prison. They had cast a spirit of divination out of a girl who was a fortune-teller. In verse twenty five, we read that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight. As all the prisoners were listening, suddenly God's power caused a chain reaction and brought release to Paul and Silas.