[Mark 4: 35-40]

Mark 4: 35-40
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. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Life Boat

Sometimes it seems that Jesus is asleep during the storms of our life. The storm commands all our attention  and we forget that Jesus is in the boat. We want Him to act, to calm the storm and when He seems to do nothing we say, "Lord, do You not care?" But He is in the boat with us and Jesus says His presence is enough. We are to have faith in His presence.

He commands the storms, when they will arise and when He will say, "Peace, be still!" He doesn't promise smooth sailing. He promises to be in the boat. He asks us to trust in that. And when the storm comes we are to look to His presence and find our peace lest He should say to us, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?

It is not faith that Jesus will calm the storm but faith that Jesus is right there with us in the storm. The storm and its outcome is of His choosing. We are safe because Jesus is in the boat.

I am writing this to you who have thought about saying yes to Jesus and are still wrestling with that decision.

I haven't been a Christian for too long. Spent most of my life without Him. I can remember (as if from another life) the yearning in my heart, the empty space and the wanting of something more. I had a lot of bad habits I had no hope of giving up. Excessive drinking being one of them. I drank to relax after a day of work and I drank on the weekends to have fun. It wasn't just the drinking. It was everything. I had tried life my way and I wasn't happy. I noticed that something or someone would come along and I'd be happy for a while. But it didn't' last. It became old. I used to have a 14" TV and watched it for years without complaint. Then I got a 32" screen and WOW; I thought I was at the movies. I marvelled over how great it was for about a week. Then it became matter of fact. It was just a TV. And that's how it was in my life. Nothing sustained me. Nothing truly satisfied.

Through a series of steps - a word here, a person there, going to church once is a while, picking up a Bible and reading - I felt a tug on my heart. I started to think that maybe I wanted to be a Christian. But to me it meant I'd have to change and change a lot.  To be a Christian meant I couldn't do this and I'd have to do that. The thought of it overwhelmed me. I just couldn't do it. The other Christians I met seemed so pure. So innocent somehow. I felt old and dirty next to them. I just didn't see how this was going to happen for me.

Then I learned about God's grace. I truly understood it for the first time. Jesus wasn't asking me to change. He was asking me to come to Him as I was. It was me He wanted, as I am, baggage and all. I had no power to change myself. I wasn't supposed to. I was to say yes to Him and He would do the rest. I couldn't believe it. This wondrous grace He offered. That He would accept me and loved me as I was. If I gave myself to Him, He would cleanse me from all my sin and make me into a new person.

During church one morning the Pastor did an altar call - an invitation to accept Jesus into your life. I heard the words in my mind "Now is the time. Today is the day." and I got up and I went and I asked Jesus into my life. That was the beginning. New birth in middle age. And what can I say to you so that you will understand just how wonderful it is to know Him.

He is removing those things in my life that are displeasing to Him. When my Lord shows me stuff about myself that needs to go, He does it in such a gentle, loving way. He gives me what I need to change it. All I have to do is say yes. The drinking is gone now. It didn't go all at once and I know now why it took a while. I learned to trust in Him during that process. When I relied on my own willpower, I failed. When I called out to Him, He answered.

I have a joy in my heart now. A joy that doesn't fade or become old. I have a sure hope that extends beyond this life to eternity and it's found in Jesus Christ. How I praise Him and love Him. I have such gratitude to Him. I am not alone. He is with me always.

To you who read this:
There is nothing else. You will search in vain. And if you are getting tired and want new life, take that plunge. Look for Jesus and He will find you. He wants you because He loves you just as you are.

Hebrews 12:2

"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."

I am that joy. Me, and my brothers and sisters with me. Not yet attained but set before You. You looked with eternity's eye beyond the cross, despising it's shame and saw us. Your joy.

John 14:21, 23, 24

"He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.."

"If anyone loves Me he will keep my word.."

"He who does not love me does not keep My words.."

Daryl,
You have a decision to make and you are having problems because you haven't made it. The battle is in the mind, not your body. If you love God with all your heart, you will obey Him. It's that simple. Start practising Jesus presence. He is with you always. Bring every thought to Christ. Bring every action to Christ. Picture Jesus with you during your days. Would you do what you do, watch what you watch and think what you think if Jesus was right beside you? He will honor your desire to please Him. If you are tempted: in the moment you are tempted, pray to Him for help. He is faithful.

My Father's Love

My Father's love for me is based
Upon the wonders of His grace
No merit mine. No claim to make
No deed to put His love at stake

I am not hidden from His sight
He knows each triumph, peril and plight
He knows full well my inner being
My hurts and fears His eyes have seen

And furthermore the Lord my God
Has made me His own special charge
Before creations call He knew
Who I would be. What I would do

He fashions me throughout my days
He is the Potter to my clay
He sees the me I will become
Wrought by the power of His Son

His love for me transcends my birth
He gave His Son to give me worth
I trust myself to His own care
My Father's numbered all my hair

And I will be what He will make
There is no surer, safer place.

Haley

Thanks for the welcome Blackeyedpeas!

A.W. Tozer....

There is no doubt that the possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in life. Because it is so natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is. But it's outworking is tragic. This ancient curse will not go out painlessly. The tough old miser within us will not lie down and die obedient to our command. He must be torn out of our hearts like a plant from the soil: he must be extracted in blood and agony like a tooth from the jaw. He must be expelled from our souls in violence as CChrist expelled the money changers from the temple.


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We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation but we shall be a grief to our Lord. Whereas if we obey God, He will look after those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and to leave all consequences with Him. Beware of the inclination to dictate to God as to what you will allow to happen if you obey Him.

Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest