May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Luke 8:22-24
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to
the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. As
they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat
was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master,
Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked
his disciples.
Lake Erie tossed and turned.
The waves rose and crashed after tornados had attacked the northeastern
shores. Tim and I happened to spend a few days at the lake, in Marblehead,
after some tough storms went through the area. We watched the water rise and
wash the shore like hands reaching to grasp whatever the waves could steal.
The next day, a sailboat ventured onto calmer, yet choppy
waters. The boat bobbed up and down and I thought, if I were on it, I might be
seasick.
The Sea of Galilee tossed a boat around when Jesus and some
of his disciples sailed. Jesus fell asleep and the storm frightened the men.
When Jesus woke and settled the waters, he asked, “Where is your faith?”
I may not sail in a boat, but it seems like storms attack
our shores too often. A spiritual battle rages around us as good and evil fight
for dominance. When fear overwhelms, Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?”
It’s then I understand, this life was not meant to be lived
alone. Yes, I’m surrounded by friends and family, but I need more. I need
Jesus. I don’t want him to wonder where my faith is. I want him to know my
faith remains in him, every day.
When life rocks the boat, and even when it doesn’t cling to
Jesus. Have faith in the one who makes a difference.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved
us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your
hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
What do you get when you add three friends, a beautiful day,
an outdoor venue, and the Christian musician/singer Crowder?
An amazing night of worship and renewal.
My friends, Bev and Krista, and I traveled to the Fraze
Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio. White clouds billowed in the blue skies, the
temperature hovered around eighty and the place was filled with people ready to
worship Jesus.
If you aren’t familiar with David Crowder and his music, he’s
a multitalented musician who is one of the most humble and down-to-earth
performers I’ve seen. He offers a variety of music that touches the heart. From
a few rock/rap songs to gospel to the music I sang with my grammy, no matter
what music came from the stage, it all pointed to Jesus.
To be able to sing along and see the open sky filled me with
joy and reminded me of the many times I attended church camp and sang outside
under the stars. As the words of the songs echoed and we offered a joyful
noise, my imagination pictured Jesus returning on the clouds to receive God’s
children. What a glorious day that will be.
One song that especially touched my heart, All My Hope,
encouraged me. In this broken world, we still have hope. When nothing else makes sense, hang on to hope in God and his plan to call his
children back to him through Jesus. Even as sin and despair try to separate God’s
children from him, Jesus provides the path of grace back to his Father.
Don’t give up. In Jesus, we have hope.
I hope you'll give the song a listen:
Psalm 31:12b, 14-18
I have become like broken pottery...
But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Shattered into a thousand shards.
I know what it feels like to have my heart broken like pottery.
Don’t you? If you live on this earth long enough, something will most likely
shatter your heart and throw you into a tailspin.
Recently, our family endured a difficult situation. Many of
us, along with friends and acquaintances, spent the night praying, seeking God’s
help when we felt helpless. Thanks be to God, the results were positive and a
blessing even in the midst of stress.
My heart still hurts for my family, but I know God’s comforting
hand is on us. When someone in my family hurts, I want to take the burden from
them and carry it myself, but because I’m not the one who has the strength for
such a task, I seek Jesus and ask for his help.
God's servant David struggled and lived a life of turmoil,
even in his dedication to God. At times, his heart shattered over the suffering
he endured. In the Psalm, he broke down and cried out to his Father to deliver
him.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus carries my burdens when I can’t. He takes the exhaustion
and worries and lifts them on his shoulders and walks beside me. I am so grateful
for his care for myself and my family.
Seek Jesus.
Psalm 37:23-24
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
So many rocks.
If you walk far enough on the hiking path at our park,
you’ll find an uneven incline filled with rough rocks of all sizes. When we’re
feeling energetic, Tim and I take Rosie to the top. Tim and Rosie amble up the
rough, rocky terrain, but I have to stop and take a breath. Honestly, it’s not
that steep, but for me, who generally walks on a flat surface, it’s a challenge.
And it’s one I like to take occasionally.
With the help of my hiking stick (thank you, Zeke,) I pick
through the rocks and take careful steps, because this old girl doesn’t want a
broken hip.
I love the verses in Psalm 37 that remind me the Lord has me
in his sights, and because I love God, He watches over me and helps me when I
might stumble, whether over literal rocks or in everyday life.
With each step I took on the rocks, I measured the
consequences if I’d fall. I considered how to move through the path without
harm. Isn’t that how I should live my life? Instead of hurrying and fumbling,
it’s important to check my steps, even as God holds my hand. It’s too easy to
stumble along and possibly fall on the path and in life.
I need to take caution in the words I say, the actions I
take, the attitude I carry, and how I treat others. Am I judging when I should
be praying? Am I criticizing when I should be compassionate? Am I causing
someone else to stumble when I should be helping them along the path?
As you walk the path God prepared for you, discover ways to
move alongside other people and help them navigate life as God helps you.