Speak now, Jesus

A couple of nights ago, I restlessly tossed, unable to fall asleep. Who knows exactly why that happens? Maybe too much caffeine, too late in the day? Perhaps too many concerns about life piling up? As I lay there in the dark around 1 am, the thoughts began to tumble, a jumble of grief, worries, problems - real and imagined - all magnified by fatigue and the dark of night. 

Knowing that God has given me authority over my thoughts and that there is the promise of His Presence, I prayed for the Spirit to quiet my mind, to fill my heart with His Presence. Taking a cue from the story in Acts when Paul and Silas sang at midnight in that prison, I offered songs of worship… and finally feel asleep.

Matthew tells us about panic moments on the Sea of Galilee when he and the other disciples learned about the power of Jesus. "Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27, NIV)

When you are feeling the rising sense that life is out of control, when you realize that you cannot control that person, that sickness, that situation that appears to be threatening – turn to Jesus! The disciples did not present a request that was carefully worded or that obliquely sought help. They shouted over the storm – “Lord, save us!” Apparently their cry was motivated more by panic that faith, given Jesus’ first response that noted that their faith was so small that panic had overtaken them.

But, He spoke to the storm and their faith grew deeper as they saw clearly that He is the Lord. Those men in that little boat that day knew the most important thing – that Jesus was in the boat with them. May we remember that He promises “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  What comes from that assurance? “So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV)

My own experience as a Christian is that sometimes He stills the storm so that peace returns and sometimes He stills my heart so I can ride it out. Regardless, I have learned to trust Him; not perfectly as my restless night shows, but with an ever growing faith. Will you trust Him today? Will you ask Him to speak to your heart, to reveal His mastery of it all?  

Here is a word from the Word. Join David in your declaration of dependence! "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:4-6, NKJV)

__________

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the peace of Christ, I stand

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend

© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Missing the boat?

The ‘truth’ is an elusive thing these days. It is a bold person who will tell the truth to a society that is filled with traps of offense. How many times have we known something to be true but we are warned “Don’t say that. People will get their feelings hurt.” So, we pretend, avoid, and ignore the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’ and the truth is lost to us, increasing the deception that deepens our confusion.   

Truth is often difficult, but when we are committed to it, Jesus promised that Truth would set us free. I make no case for rudeness or cruelty, but we need to recover the ability to say and hear challenging things, to enter into dialogue even about things we find disagreeable. We are all better for those discussions. Sometimes we discover that what we cherish as ‘truth’ is not really true, at all. We gain new perspective, deeper understanding, if we love the truth more than we love our own comfortable place in this world.

Jesus told the truth and to our modern ears His words are harsh, even insensitive. His Gospel was shaped around entering God’s reign, a choice that made the rest of life pale by comparison. He made no compromise, no accommodation.  Take a look.

"When Jesus noticed how large the crowd was growing, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!” But Jesus said, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head.” Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead.” (Matthew 8:18-22, NLT)

Those challenging words come after two miracle stories, the healing of a Roman centurion’s servant of paralysis and Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. Jesus displayed a kind of spiritual authority that was capturing the attention of many. A man who belonged to the religious elite was caught up in the drama, excited by the possibilities and blurted out his intention to follow Jesus. But, the Lord saw deeper and told them man the hard truth. “Following Me involves a real cost.”  It means making the comforts of life in this world secondary to God’s call. In so many words, He told that man “You haven’t through this through and I don’t think you will make it, so go reconsider your words.”  

Another follower spoke up about his desire to take care of his parents. Jesus’ words to that man are harsh to our ears. He is not relieving us of responsibility for aging parents, by the way. In many places the Word speaks of being loving and caring for family. Jesus is reminding us that He is first in our loyalties, that even the most noble of obligations must be secondary to His call. “Seek first the Kingdom of God” is about everything, every relationship, every job choice – all of life.

Jesus spoke to both of those would-be followers just before He got into a boat to go to the other side of the lake and it would appear from the text that both of them ‘missed the boat’ that day and perhaps in the larger sense. A decision made in a moment can change destiny!   

What is Jesus saying to you, where is He calling you to go?  Maybe His call seems hard, even harsh. His words may even appear insensitive or beyond understanding.  The call to discipleship is hard, irrational even, unless we are willing to enter the Kingdom with the understanding that the richest rewards may not be found until He comes again or we step over time’s threshold into Eternity. IF we love ourselves more than we love Him, we too will ‘miss the boat.’

Is there something in your life that Jesus is asking you to put under His mastery?  Is there a choice, maybe not all that significant in terms of the world, but big to you that He is asking you to make for Him? Say “Yes!” Invest in spiritual treasure. Die to Self. Choose life over death. Love the Truth and He will set you free.

The word from the Word is a truthful promise received by faith. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:34-40, NIV)

___________

I have used this song in CWTW often recently.
It just speaks to my heart so powerfully.  I hope it inspires you.

Build My Life  (a link to the song)

Worthy of ev’ry song we could ever sing

Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

Jesus the name above ev’ry other name

Jesus the only one who could ever save

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

We live for You

Holy there is no one like You

There is none besides You

Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love to those around me

I will build my life upon Your love

It is a firm foundation

I will put my trust in You alone

And I will not be shaken

Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Elizabeth Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Martin, Karl Andrew (Admin. by Arkyard Music Services Limited)

Kaple Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)

Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

Solid, Steady, Resilient

I am sure you have already figured this out  - but just in case – here goes:  Storms are going to come your way in life. Regardless of your preparations, your defenses, your strategies, and your plans it is impossible to eliminate all risk, to avoid the hard things. About twelve years ago, life was rolling along. I loved the pastoral work that I was privileged to do.  Bev was enjoying her teaching career immensely. We had purchased the home we thought would be ‘just perfect’ for retirement, at that time just a distant thought. 

Then...
Dad got cancer and died after a long struggle. Two years after his death, Mom’s doctor called me to tell me that she had advanced lung cancer.  There were still adopted children in her home. Bev and I turned our lives upside down to buy a larger home, moved Mom in, and to start over with her family in our care.  She died and life was complicated, to say the least. Just when that storm was subsiding, Bev learned that she had end stage cancer and left for Heaven two years later! That’s not to seek sympathy, just to remind you that in spite of your best laid plans, things go awry.

What then?  Jesus reminds us that we need to be building life on a foundation that can keep us from falling apart when the tempestuous winds of life blow over us. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV)

What or whom is the foundation of your life, friend?  
Is your security resting on your financial resources?  

The economy can change, the job can go away, in the blink of an eye.
Is your life wrapped up in a great loving relationship? 
Celebrate it, but be honest enough with yourself to remember what the Psalmist wrote: "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NLT)  

Perhaps you are ready to stop reading today, convinced that Jerry is too grim, a terrible pessimist. No, I have experienced the reality of life’s uncertainties of which Jesus spoke. Yet, here I stand, as Paul said,  How? It is not just because of courage, or grit, or denial. I stand because my foundation of life rests squarely on the eternal promise of God that life is more than my stuff or even those I love.  

Life’s only true and lasting hope is found in Christ – knowing, serving, and loving the Living God as we anticipate that moment when we transit from this world into His Presence, beyond the reach of sorrow, disappointment, or suffering. Is your hope resting on the salvation that is a gift of an eternal God?

The word from the Word is FULL of hope. Make it yours today. Writing from a prison, confined on false charges, Paul says: "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." (2 Timothy 1:12-14, NIV)

_____

Living Hope
(Listen, learn, love)

How great the chasm that lay between us

How high the mountain I could not climb

In desperation I turned to heaven

And spoke Your name into the night

Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness

Tore through the shadows of my soul

The work is finished the end is written

Jesus Christ my living hope

Who could imagine so great a mercy

What heart could fathom such boundless grace

The God of ages stepped down from glory

To wear my sin and bear my shame

The cross has spoken I am forgiven

The King of kings calls me His own

Beautiful Savior I’m Yours forever

Jesus Christ my living hope

Hallelujah praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ my living hope

Then came the morning that sealed the promise

Your buried body began to breathe

Out of the silence the Roaring Lion

Declared the grave has no claim on me

(REPEAT)

Jesus Yours is the victory whoa

Jesus Christ my living hope

Oh God You are my living hope

Brian Johnson | Phil Wickham

© 2017 Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

CCLI License # 810055