This page will always be as the title suggests.  This section will be where I will publish thoughts and testimony, to share from the Bible and encourage.

This month, I want to share a few thoughts from a very familiar portion of scripture.  I have heard many people share from this account and it has only recently been shared again.  There is so much to take from this, so much to encourage us in the 'storms of life'.  Scripture tells us we will have trouble in this world, John 16 v 33.

Mark 4 v 35-39

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Jesus said 'Let cross to the other side'.  It was Jesus's idea, this was not what the disciples decided to do.  They did not end up in a storm because they had been disobedient, they were in a storm because they obeyed!  

Jesus told them, 'Let us cross to the other side'.  He did not say, 'Let's cross over the sea, but halfway across we will get caught in a storm and drown in the middle of the sea of Galilee.  When the disciples, experienced fisherman, were terrified it would seem they forgot what Jesus said.  When things get a bit rocky, difficult, etc, how often can I be prone to forgetting what God has promised or told me.  When things are hard and difficult, they are just that, hard and difficult, but Jesus is always there.  Another thing to note is, if Jesus had told them they would get caught in a violent storm, would they have gone?  We do not often get all the detail otherwise we would probably say, No!  

Joseph in the Bible is one good example.

• He was favoured by his father and presented with a specially-crafted garment.  This made his brothers jealous and even more so when he shared two dreams he had in which he ruled over his brethren.
• his brothers took their chance and threw him in a pit
• when they saw a Arab caravan passing they sold him instead slavery
• he was sold to Potiphar, one of Pharoah's ministers.  It went quite well at first, until Potiphar wife tried to seduce Joseph. He fled, but Potiphar's wife said it was Joseph who enticed her, so he was flung in prison
• In prison he interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and baker.  When the cupbearer was later released and no-one could interpret Pharoah's dreams he remembered Joseph but this was two years later
• Joseph was now appointed viceroy and prepared the land for famine.  It was then his brethren came to the land to escape famine and they were reconciled.

If Joseph had the choice, he would probably have edited out the part of being flung in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused and put in prison.

With Jesus asleep in the boat, the disciples woke him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing'?   In the midst of our problems and difficulties, our eyes, feelings and emotions will always tell us Jesus is not there.  They will tell us, God has forgotten about us.  This is not the truth.

The waves were beating into the boat.  Boats do not sink because of the water around them, they sink because of the water that gets in them.  Take the focus off the storms around us and focus on Jesus who is in the boat.

The moment Jesus arose and spoke, the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  All it took was a word from Jesus.

The disciples later ask,  "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him"! The disciples ask a good question: Who can this be? It can only be the LORD, Jehovah, who only has this power and authority. O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when waves rise, You still them. (Psalm 89:8-9)

Every storm has a expiry date.  When everything seems to be falling apart, actually everything is falling together.  Jesus knew the miracle to come.  When we believe He has full authority we don't need all the details.  A Word of God for our lives rarely comes with all the details.  We cannot control what is coming out way - the storm is not for us to fix but stand steady.   There are no shortcuts, our response is almost more important.

 

Ps 139 v 10......even there, you hand shall lead me and your right had shall hold me. 

In this Psalm, David realises that wherever he is, God will be there.

Even there, even here, even everywhere, God is always present to lead and guide, to strengthen and support.

Know today:

• you are not alone
• you not stuck
• you're not without someone who cares

There is no escaping God's presence.

 

Jesus was asleep in the boat.  At no point was He disturbed by the storm.  It is possible, it is possible to be at such peace?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

.