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Hebrides Islands: “Till the Storm Passes By”

‘Hebrides Islands, Inner and Outer off North West Scotland’

From my diary:

Yesterday I got ready to carry the cross from the little hotel where we spent the night. I could see it was rainy and windy but just got dressed for the road in my wet weather clothes. Little did I know what was before me. Denise and Sophia our daughter were to drive out and find me later.

As I walked out of the parking lot and turned to go down the highway I was hit by strong winds. Now, I have carried the cross around the world so I have walked in the wind and rain before but this was something else. Soon the wind became so strong it was difficult to move forward and the rain as it hit my face burned the skin. It was just about freezing cold. The walk became more difficult by the step! Soon I came to a causeway over the water. The water was crashing into the stones and spraying me with even more water. I was almost lifted off my feet as the cross was like a sail in the wind. Like a drunken man I staggered side to side trying to stay on the walkway beside the road. Then the walkway ended! The paved road became single lane with passing places to park. No way could I stay alongside the road without getting blown into the passing cars. I felt it right to turn back to keep from getting hit by a car and hurting myself or someone else. It was a battle! The wind was stronger and stronger. At long last I returned to the hotel having gone a total of only about two miles.

Denise was getting Sophia ready to leave when I arrived back exhausted! She said she saw on TV that there were gale force winds in our area up to 70 mph! Almost a Florida Hurricane!

Now what is the point of this story?

The next morning I carried the cross out of the same hotel in ‘calm weather’. The storm had passed and that water did not even have a ripple of a wave. I took off my coat and enjoyed the very wonderful weather and cross walk. Many people stopped their cars to talk and we were on the front page of “The Hebridean” newspaper.

My point is on that stormy day…hang on! It may be cold and wet and windy and impossible to move forward but…today the storm has passed and it is beautiful and calm and wonderful.

Now what is the point of this story?

Don’t let the storms of life stop you. My son Joshua and I were on a small pontoon boat in the Philippines when the waves were sweeping over the boat and we were on a small ship going through the Drake Passage to Antarctica in a three day storm. I could look up and see the waves, then rise and only see sky. Oh I was sick. It seemed those days would never end…then calm in an inland harbor. I well remember huge dust storm with fierce winds in the Sahara Desert. I thought I might choke to death but we made it through the night. Oh, yes you may need to wait a day or week or even a month but in God’s time and will, things will change and you can enjoy and smile as you walk with Jesus.

Life has struggles. We are born struggling to get out and to take that first breath. All the way through childhood and the teen years and having your own family we face challenges and storms, some of our own making and other outside of our control. Yet Jesus made a promise “I will be with you always”.

n the Book of Acts we have the record of some of the storms the Apostle Paul had and how he endured and pressed on. Here is his account in his own words in

2 Corinthians 11:23-33:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches…If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness… In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”

Here is a song I often sing while I’m carrying the cross around the world. It was written by Mosie Lister “Till the Storm Passes By”:

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place.
‘Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispered, “There is no need to try,
For there’s no end of sorrow, there’s no hope by and by”
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I’ll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies.

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;
In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

Chorus
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

I pray you are blessed with this column. Should you not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, call on Him now to come into your life and save your soul as you repent and commit to follow Him and give your life to God.

In the movie “The Cross” you will see me in read photos and film footage in the middle of some storms and how Jesus was with me delivered me and will deliver you. If you are in storms or know someone who is, I encourage you to get a copy now and view it and be ready to be changed by the power of Jesus and the Cross

God bless you, I love you all. Share Jesus with someone today.

To read more of the cross walk in Hebrides Islands please go to “Crosswalk Stories” Top Left

Pilgrim followers of Jesus

Arthur and Denise Blessitt,

Luke 18:1

Weeks ago I started with the letter A and will go to Z focusing on a nation or island group, and what I learned in that place. If you are looking for perfection then just read the Words of Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible. I’m only a pilgrim that has and is still on a journey with Jesus. He is constantly working on me like a potter does the clay. Welcome to the potter’s house!