Stormy Weather and FEAR

Matthew 14:22-34  (New King James Version)

"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.”  And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret". 
                                                                      

               

The disciples of Jesus were in a ship.  A storm came up and they became afraid.  But then, they saw Jesus walking on the water - toward them.  He told them who He was. As the story progresses,  Peter, one of the disciples, walked on the water too.....at first....until he became afraid of the storm.
                                                       

Are you experiencing a storm in your life at the moment? 
It is human nature to be fearful your current situation. 
Matthew 14:31 says, "And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  Notice that Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught Peter.  
But wait - look at the next verse.  It says "And when they were got in to the boat, the wind ceased".
Jesus caught Peter and was with him until they got in to the boat.  
It does not say that Jesus stopped the storm and then they went to the ship. It says "when they got in to the boat , the wind ceased".   If you are experiencing a storm in your life right now, please understand that God knows and He does care!  
Sometimes our Heavenly Father will go "through" the storm with us and then there are other times when He may take the storm away.  
                                    Another part of this story that catches my eye is that Jesus is the One who sent His disciples to the ship and told them to meet Him on the other side.  Matthew 14:22 says, "Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away." 
Jesus knew what was about to transpire.  He sent them.  
So many times we question God when He tells us to do something or go somewhere.  We become frustrated and question Him when we're trying our best to serve Him and obey His Word.  Yet, the storms of life come and create havoc and disappointments for us.  Today, I encourage you to find comfort in knowing that our Savior knows, He cares and He is right there with us "through" the storms.
                                           
                                                      

Do not be afraid!  

Jeremiah 1

The Book of Jeremiah 

 The Message Translation

Chapter 1

1 1-4 "The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:

5 “Before I shaped you in the womb,
    I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
    I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
    that’s what I had in mind for you.”

6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.
    I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”

7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’
    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.
I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.
    Don’t be afraid of a soul.
I’ll be right there, looking after you.”
    God’s Decree.

9-10 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said,
    “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!
See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do
    among nations and governments—a red-letter day!
Your job is to pull up and tear down,
    take apart and demolish,
And then start over,
    building and planting.”

11-12 God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
    I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”
And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.
    I’ll make every word I give you come true.”

13-15 God’s Message came again: “So what do you see now?”
    I said, “I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us.”
Then God told me, “Disaster will pour out of the north
    on everyone living in this land.
Watch for this: I’m calling all the kings out of the north.”
    God’s Decree.

15-16 “They’ll come and set up headquarters
    facing Jerusalem’s gates,
Facing all the city walls,
    facing all the villages of Judah.
I’ll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah
    for walking out on me—what a terrible thing to do!—
And courting other gods with their offerings,
    worshiping as gods sticks they’d carved, stones they’d painted.

17 “But you—up on your feet and get dressed for work!
    Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say.
Don’t pull your punches
    or I’ll pull you out of the lineup.

18-19 “Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work.
    I’m making you as impregnable as a castle,
Immovable as a steel post,
    solid as a concrete block wall.
You’re a one-man defense system
    against this culture,
Against Judah’s kings and princes,
    against the priests and local leaders.
They’ll fight you, but they won’t
    even scratch you.
I’ll back you up every inch of the way.”
    God’s Decree.

The Parable of the Young Mother

The young mother placed her foot upon the path of life.

“Is the way long?” she asked…and her guide said, “Yes, and the way is hard. You’ll be old before you reach the end of it, but the end is better than the beginning.”

The young mother was happy, and she just couldn’t believe anything would ever be better than these years. So she played with her children and gathered flowers with them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams. The sun shone down upon them and life was good. The young mother said, “Nothing will ever be better than this.”

But the night came…and the storm. The children shook with fear and cold. But the mother drew them to her and placed her arms around them with her coat. The children said, “Mother, we’re not afraid for you’re here and no harm can come to us.”

That night the mother looked up at the stars and said, “This is better than the brightness of the day, for I have taught my children courage.”

The next day came and there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew weary, and the mother became tired and weary, but she smiled and said, “A little further and we’re there.”

That night the mother said, “This day has been better than the last. My children have learned fortitude in the face of hardship. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength.”

The third day came and there were storm clouds that overshadowed the earth. Clouds of war, and hate, and evil. The children stumbled and groped along the way, but the mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes to the Light.” The children looked and saw beyond the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.

That night the mother said, “This has been the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

The days passed, and the weeks, and the months, and the years. The mother was old and she was little and bent, but the children were tall and strong, and they walked with courage. When the way was hard, they helped their mother, and when the way was rough, they lifted her.

At last, they came to the top of the hill and in the distance they could see a shining road with Golden Gates flung wide. The mother said, “I have come to the end of my journey, and now I know the end is better that the beginning…for now my children can walk alone and their children after them.” But the children said, “Mother, you will always walk with us, even when you have passed through the gates.”

And they stood and watched as she went on alone and the gates closed after her. But the children said, “Mother is with us still; for a mother like ours is more than a memory…she is a Living Presence.”

Author Unknown

Your Words

Remember the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bone, but words will never hurt me"?

Well, news flash........words can hurt!

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, 

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” 

(Proverbs 16:24)

What a powerful scripture!

 YOUR WORDS MATTER

Power of death and life are in the tongue

Those who love it will eat its fruit

What’s said may not seem so very wrong

In fact it may even seem cute

Indeed, It only takes a spark remember, 

to start a forest fire

Careless words, just like an ember

ignite, sending word-flames higher.

By our speech we can ruin a person’s world

Peace and calm all at a loss 

Release destruction, with angry words unfurled

Turning harmony into chaos

You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue

Truly, it never has been done

The same small member with which praise to God is sung

Is used to undermine and destroy someone

Cursing and blessings from the same tongue! 

In one breath praise, yet the next sows discord

A wild orchard of ripe fruit overhung

Scattering it’s seeds for miles abroad

Friend, let your conversation be pleasing to the Lord 

Ancient treasure from the mighty deep

Your words like a rare gift no price can afford

And a resource the hearer will gratefully keep

You may think your words don’t matter

Indeed, oh friend they do!

In a moment you can build up or shatter

With words that come from you.

                               Author Unknown

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Christian Junk Food?

The bottom line is that retail stores fill their shelves with items that are trending; merchandise that consumers are most interested in; products most requested and those that generate large profits.

With this in mind, have you been in a "Christian" bookstore  (a store that sells resources for Christ-followers) of late?
                                  

         

(Please note - I have absolutely nothing against Christian bookstores.  My opinion is about the Christian culture of today, as I view it.)
                                                                         

Sadly, you will notice shelf after shelf of books that focus on the believer's "own" happiness (or lack of), their success (or lack of), and other matters in this earthly journey called "life". 

                  But, is it  "Christian junk food" ?

There are very few books regarding evangelism, Biblical discipleship, the nature of God, prayer, theology and resources to equip us for the work of the Kingdom. This type of reading material is scarce and generally not available for immediate purchase.

Secondly, though I often like to shop for these types of items, also on the shelves you will find many decorative items for your home, tee shirts, jewelry and more.  Yes, they proudly display Christian verses and sayings but, I wonder...if we actually lived out these truths as we should, would we still feel the need to purchase and wear (or display) these items?

Final thought...if Christian bookstores offer to the consumer what they desire, what kind of work for the Lord are we equipping ourselves for with all of these "Christian-themed", miscellaneous products...instead of quality books that teach us how to win and disciple the lost for Jesus? 
                                                    

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What's Your Vision

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Do you have a vision?  

What are you passionate about?  

What is your all-consuming desire?

What do “feel” deep in your heart that God has called and gifted you to do?

(Yes, when your vision is truly of God, you will “feel” it.")

Habakkuk 2:2

Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it."

                                                           

Habakkuk 2:3 

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,  It will not tarry."

..... “it will surely come.”  

God will not only reveal our destiny, if we are listening and obeying Him, but God will also open doors, provide resources and give you opportunities to fulfill your vision.  Actually, as our Pastor reminded us this morning, God doesn't really open doors.....He "is" The Door.  (John 10:9)  Once God gets your attention and you “find” your God-given purpose, understand that you will not always get things right.  But, when we are in line with Christ, He has already given us the power to overcome obstacles. Isn't this encouraging?  Should you ever find yourself off track, make the corrections, redirect and get back on the track and “follow it”.

                                                            

Philippians 3:13-14

The above scripture in Habakkuk 2:2 said to "write the vision and make it plain….that he may run who reads it.” 

Run?   Yes – this means to take decisive action.  Write the vision and understand it, then make an action plan.

Did you write your vision down? 

Are you reading and re-reading it on a every day?

When you wrote down your vision, did you indicate the reason you wanted to "fulfill" it?  

Talk about your vision often.  Stay in prayer!  God may even add to it and you will notice the momentum being generated. 

                                                       

“Following” your vision requires consistent prayer, reading God’s Word, personal discipline, energy and resources.  Remain focused and avoid distractions. 

Be encouraged! 

Stop listening to voices that discourage you.  Will yielding to the call of God upon your life always be easy?  Absolutely not.  However, it will always be a blessing to others and have eternal rewards.  

Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and [finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

John 12:24

" Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

 God is not finished with you!

                            

What’s God’s plan for you?

Continue to Seek Him 

and then Submit to His guidance.

Write the vision in a clear and specific way.

Make a plan to achieve it, then humbly and patiently- wait in faith, "believing" for it to come to pass. 

                                                                                            

Proverbs 29:18  says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish!" Another version says, "When the people have no vision, they run aimlessly!"