With all that’s going on in our country and world and the depressing news media, I pray and keep receiving the same story imprinted on my heart about Jesus taking a nap in the storm.
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I don’t know about you, but there are nights where I haven’t been able to sleep due to worrying about the panic that is happening in seemingly high places. 😂💃 #IllCatchUpOnMySleepInHeaven
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But let’s imagine how the disciples feared for their lives about the storm and undulating lake. I bet some of them even heard stories of being sunk by such storms and I bet their “news media” of the day (aka gossip and word of mouth) told them all the possibilities of drowning and/or dying. Heck, they probably even had the story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale–in the back their minds (there probably weren’t whales in the lake–but fear does funny things to our imagination). 😅 I’m not going to lie–I would’ve been a basket case. I may have even tried shaking Jesus awake. #SonofGodWakeUp #DoYouSeeThis #TheresAStormBro #BeamUsUpToHeaven
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And yet….Jesus slept through it. Man, I wouldn’t even doubt if he snored.
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Was Jesus trusting on his own knowledge of boats and sea? Was he listening to the people’s past stories that invoked fear?
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No, He knew the power of God. He knew God would make a way for Him. He just needed to take a stand and rebuke the wind and waves.
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“23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 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.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27
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So, the beauty of this story is that storms will come…but God has a way for us. He has already given us the power through faith and through His Son’s holy name.
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God’s been telling me to work on my faith muscle instead of my worry one (which can probably bench press 500 lbs of news media). 😅🤣💪
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How do we build-up our faith?
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
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Starting the day in the Word, listening to podcasts about the Word and ending the day with the Word.
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When that storm comes knocking, may we be filled so much with faith–that fear has no entry. 🧡💪💃 May we have the courage to rebuke the storm and have that smooth sailing of peace and calm.
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P.S. I like definitions so, I’m going to put this one here.
Rebuke: to reprimand : to reprove sharply or censure formally usually from a position of authority
Tag: Uplift
Tree of Life
May we think before we speak, and may our words be like water to our neighbor’s dehydrated roots.
Pebble in the Shoe
“I cannot go on like this,” said the girl, overwhelmed by life itself.
God: Trust…in Me. Take day by day for life is full of sorrows by waiting and yearning for tomorrow. When people drain you, do not wallow in your dehydration. I am the living water; I will fill you up.
When people suck the air out of you, I will breathe into the breath of life. When people are like a storm threatening to break and beat you down, remember that you are built upon the rock. Do not let the enemy deceive you into believing you are built upon the sand!
Take off your spectacles for I have already given you sight…do not believe that you must earn all my blessings. I am not like people around you. I give freely…you just have to open your present and don’t let the enemy steal it from you.
Do not fear in what you may lose, but hope in what you will gain.
Inadequacy is a lie. You are made perfect in the Greatest Sacrifice. I will call you accordingly to how I made you. Do you not believe that your interests are important to Me? Far from it! I love you and I will use you…use you in your uniqueness. Trust in Me.
Side note: You may talk to God about the pebble in your shoe, and He will address the rocky area where you traveled. He knows what you’ve been through…what you’re going through. The pebble will become heavier the longer you hold onto it.
Take time to speak to God…go for a walk by a stream and skip rocks across the water (throw your pebble out while you’re at it!).
onthecliffoflife.com 