Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and
cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for
what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray.
Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
Jesus got into a boat, and his followers
went with him.
A great storm arose on the lake so that
waves covered the boat, but Jesus was sleeping. His followers went to him and
woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We will drown!”
Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You don’t have enough faith.” Then
Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became
completely calm.
Matthew 8:23-26 (NLV)
Jesus snuck away for a quick respite; He was out
of sight for just an instant when a storm came up. But He “didn’t leave”.
And these same men who had been with Him, heard
from Him, been amazed by Him, been inspired to greatness with Him, suddenly forgot
everything He had taught them.
They allowed a storm to fill them with fright.
Their faith and assurance in just an instant disappeared.
They forgot WHO was with them!
Isn’t that just like us?
We do that too, don’t we?
Yesterday during our EASTER service Pastor Mark
passionately reminded us that STORMS are inevitable and are sometimes devastating.
And we all get fearful when the clouds gather and darken, when the waves intensify
and the storm rumbles. It is just human nature.
And we too sometimes forget what we know. (The Lord is good, a
stronghold in the day of trouble…Nahum 1:7 ESV)
We fixate on what we see, and we forget what we
have experienced. We focus on the storm.
We fixate on the circumstance rather than on Christ.
But just like the fear-ridden fellas on the boat,
we aren’t going to perish.
Jesus is there. Just like in the boat.
Jesus brings peace. Just like in the boat.
Jesus is with us just as He was with them. (…it is the Lord your God who goes with
you. He will not leave you or forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV)
Remember friends, storms will ALWAYS gather around
us from nowhere all the time. Obstacles
will surface. Jesus said there would be
“trouble” – (John 16:33)
But don’t fixate on them or on it.
Instead… Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid …and
don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go WITH you.
He will not
leave you or forget you.
He IS with you.
Always with you.
Love you all…
OPPORTUNITIES
for HOPE
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