Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Rejoice! Don't be afraid!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Wow! You know when words just take on new meaning? That's this passage tonight. God speaking so clearly to rejoice,  and I will have peace. Don't be afraid, and I will have peace. He promises to guard me, my heart and my mind, through His peace that goes beyond all understanding. He does this for me.

What wonder. What reassurance. What Love. 

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your (my) spirit. Amen." (vs.23)

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Different than Planned

Luke 8:22-25

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

I had a "moment" the other day....I was teaching Sunday School on this passage. Before, I'd always thought of this passage related back to Jesus question, "Where is your faith?" I thought he was rebuking the disciples lack of faith; them thinking He wouldn't do anything to get them out of this mess.

Perhaps some of the disciples were thinking that He wasn't actually do anything...has a follower, those times are hard. Heart breaking. We cry and stress and wonder where God is. We sometimes demand that He answer. We give Him ultimatums and suggestions on how He can help us.

But this passage goes deeper than that, I've realized. I think that most of the men in that boat were probably thinking that Jesus just wasn't helping them with their plan. They wondered why they He was sleeping and not helping them shovel water out of the boat. Why He wasn't helping them tie down the lines? "Master, we're going the drown." -- Aren't You going to help us?! We are having issues!

Jesus didn't need to help them bail the boat. He didn't need to help them tie down the lines. He had better plans. A bigger plan.

So often in my journey of faith I've been like that. Waiting for God. Give Him nice suggestions how how to bail me out. Mad that He hasn't shown up. But He has a bigger plan for me. He's not helping me with my plans...because His are greater. Later often, but greater.

This is a truth I've known and talked about before, but never seen in this particular and very real story. It doesn't mean that He won't help me along the way or doesn't care that I'm going through hard times. But His plan is bigger, His ways are different. 

I'm holding a bucket, and He's got the whole storm in His hands!