Good morning friends. It’s interesting how we want enough Jesus to buy in but not enough to sell out. We don’t want the Jesus of the scriptures. So often, what most people want is what Jesus can give them. They have gotten carried away with what they have seen Jesus do, but not just because of who Jesus is. Someone will miss this. Have a great day.
Have you ever found yourself in that place? Have you ever found yourself stuck in one of life’s storms, and no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, it seems that you cannot make any headway? Well, we all have times like that! It may seem to you like the storm will never end and that there is no possible good that can come from what you are facing.
You know we have seen and heard about the devastation of what hurricanes can do. Such hurricanes as Sandy, Wilma and the one that sticks out on everyone’s mind is Hurricane Katrina. These were serious storms. And from the likes of these, the aftermath is still prevalent. There has been movies and books written about the perfect storm. But is there such a thing as a perfect storm? A mature hurricane is by far the most powerful event on earth.
Humph, think about it, the combined nuclear arsenals of the United States and the former Soviet Union don’t contain enough energy to keep a hurricane going for one day. A typical hurricane could provide all the electrical power needed by the United States for three or four years. People who fish for a living and spend time on the sea have frequently experienced diverse weather conditions. But those who have experienced a severe storm have one emotion in common-fear.
Do you feel as if your life’s circumstances are a mighty storm? Listen, mark recorded an instance when a storm threatened the boat carrying Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. In a panic, the disciples woke Jesus. He calmly rebuked the wind and sea by saying “Peace be still!” (Literally “hush”) as if He were quieting an agitated child. Immediately, the storm stopped and the waters became calm. The disciples asked, “Who can this be that the wind and the sea obey Him!” Look at Jesus who has the authority over heaven and earth. He will give you the strength to survive the storm until He ultimately calms it. When we trust in the power of God His peace keeps us from panic.
While the storms of life are never pleasant, they do produce certain benefits in our lives that we would do well to make note of. The Storms are God’s means of transportation. Think about it. The very thing the disciples feared. The sea, was the very thing the Lord used as the vehicle to reveal Himself unto them. He will do the same in your life and mine. Storms are God’s means of testing. The storms of life have the potential to reveal the Savior to us in a way we may have never considered before. When He comes to us, walking on our storm, He gives us the same message of hope that He gave to the disciples that stormy night. Storms are God’s means of testimony. God wants us to use our storms as testimony to show His power in the face of anything that we go through. The storm will rage until it has accomplished His purpose and then He will cause the winds to cease for you. All He is trying to get us to see is that He is in control of the storms of life. It isn’t me and it isn’t you. Jesus is the Master of the Sea and He is the Master of the Storm as well! When your storm begins count it all joy because God is going to show Himself in it for others to see. You are being used to show His Glory! The storms of life contain some hidden blessings!
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:11.
Live life, give people hope, and share your heart, wisdom, and resources. Never place a period where god says there should be a comma.
As always peace and blessings, be safe. Take advantage of your opportunities but never allow your opportunities to take advantage of you. Remember God loves you and so do I. ©krw 4.22.16
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