An ode to Mike Storter through today’s “Walking in the Word” readings.
1 Samuel 15:1-16:23: The Lord rejected that He had made Saul king because Saul did not keep His commands. He was told to destroy EVERYTHING from the Amalekites, but Saul kept their king and the best of the livestock.
When we give our lives to Christ and accept Him as our Savior, He wants us to rid ourselves of all our sinful habits. He doesn’t want us to keep something on the side “just in case”, or for our own pleasure.
My heart is heavy and conflicted today. We lost here on earth a vibrant, humorous, inspirational, godly man yesterday. (You read devotions about him on various dates on this site.) Every scripture that I read today, my mind turns to Mike Storter and his precious wife and two young daughters. I am quite confident that God didn’t reject Mike like He did Saul. He probably through those pearly gates open wide and said, “Come on in! We have been waiting on you. Let’s get this celebration started!” We may have lost Mike here, but Heaven gained him, and he gained walking and sitting with Jesus. Glory!
Will God do the same for you? Don’t break God’s heart and turn from Him and not obey God’s words like Saul did. Make Him rejoice by your actions, words, and whole being. Give God your all. Don’t save any of your past life for a rainy day. That is trouble in the making.
As I continued reading in 1 Samuel, I came to the part where the Lord had chosen David, had David anointed, and Saul (not knowing what the Lord had done to David) summoned him and helped Saul feel better when the evil spirit would overcome him. That is how Mike Storter was for most. He was like a breath of fresh, chocolate chip cookie, filled air. No matter how you were feeling before you saw Mike, you always felt better and uplifted by the time he left you.
John 5:24-47: “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing;” Oh, how I feel certain that Mike is fully living! He knew, especially through his battle with cancer, that he couldn’t do anything on his own. All strength, life, and power came from God and God alone. (Well, Mike would probably give a lot of credit to his strong-in-faith wife, Laura.)
In verse 35 it says, “John was like a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were happy to enjoy his light for a while.” I couldn’t easily insert Mike’s name where John’s name is in the verse. Everyone was happy to enjoy his bright light for a while.
Psalm 64:7-10: “People will see what God has done. They will tell other people about him. Then everyone will learn more about God. They will learn to fear and respect him.Good people are happy to serve the LORD. They depend on him to protect them. All those who want to do right will praise him!” Wow! Scripture after scripture today makes me think of Mike Storter. Reread verses 9 and 10 above. Mike was a living testimony (as we all are when we have lived a sinful life and turned it all over to Jesus) for people to see what God has done. Through Mike’s experience and testimony others will tell others about God and His love. Through Mike’s life and death, people will learn more about God and respect Him. Mike was not just happy to serve the Lord, he was overjoyed to share and serve the Lord. I so pray, and am assured, that through this loss that my town (and beyond) has received, others will come to know and grow with Christ. That wouldn’t only put a smile on God’s face, but I can imagine Michael pumping his fist, while probably wearing orange and blue (a die-hard Gator fan), grinning and jumping for joy.
Proverbs 14:8-9: “Fines are needed to make fools obey the law, but good people are happy to obey it.” I never rode in a truck with Mike Storter, but knowing his zest for life, I could imagine a fine or two for speeding. But then again, he was such a godly man, he probably was happy to obey man’s law because he wanted to obey God. Be happy. Obey God. That will make Him happy and your life so much easier.
Thank you for allowing God to relate Mike’s life through the daily reading of God’s Word in “Walking in the Word” to me. For those who are interested, I will attach a couple of links that were posted yesterday about Mike after his passing.
What type of legacy do to you want to leave behind? I’m not talking about one of fortune and fame; I’m talking about the life you truly lived. Mike’s wife, Laura, and his two precious daughters (Taryn and Hope) are sweet legacies for Mike. They live each day to its fullest as if it is the best day of their life. Go for it! Live today as if it is the best day of your life. Put a smile on God’s face.
http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2012/may/21/longtime-minister-coach-loses-battle-with-cancer-ar-406353/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/KYVIlA
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