Help!

Recently, I was reading from Matthew chapter 14. specifically verses 22- 32. Verses we are familiar with, and have read from several times.. so let me share a few thoughts from my reading. 

First of all, notice that after a busy ministry day (He had just fed over 5000+ people) Jesus withdrew and went off by Himself to pray. He was in prayer for a while. a good long while. The bible even says: “Night fell while he was there alone” (14:23)

I’ve never prayed all night, but I have prayed during the night. But Jesus prayed all night, until about the 4th watch of the night- or 3 AM; when the disciples were terrified due to the high wind and waves that were rocking their boat. 

this is where Jesus, after a night of prayer, begins to walk on the water. The disciples, already scared from the storm, think that they are seeing a ghost, and they panic all the more! 

Once they calm down; they realize that it is actually Jesus, and not a ghost, Peter gets the idea that He would like to walk on the water, too. 

So says: “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you walking on the water.” (28)

Jesus, agrees and Peter begins walking on the water. 

things are ok, he’s actually walking on the water that is until Peter takes his eyes off Jesus, then he sinks like a stone. 

the same thing can happen to us. When we call out to Jesus and do what He is telling us to do, we feel good about it for a while, but then we begin to get a little scared, or we hear rumours of people who are not happy, and then we begin to question Jesus, and then we sink into the water; all the while forgetting that the same Jesus who called us before we started waking on the water, is the same Jesus who is with us now that we are actually on the water.

Just because things get a little hot— or in this case wet— doesn't mean that Jesus has left us; He has already promised never to do so; but let’s be honest, we are human and we get scared and we will fall down, but its not because Jesus let us down; its because we took our eyes off of him. When we get to this point, we can take heart the words found in Matthew 22:31: “Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith”, Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” (NLT2)

When we feel ourselves falling into deep water, we can take heart that when we reach out for a hand, Jesus is reaching back, ready to pull us out of the water, or mud, or whatever mess we might be in. 

He's in the waiting.

So, we went to church yesterday; (Short story long: we tried to go to CorbettChurch.ca our normal church, but becasue the roads were terrible, we ended up at MRWC for the day. we spend 1 1/2 hours driving to church, when MRWC is literally a 10 second drive from our house.)

Anyway, one of the worship songs we heard yesterday was “ Take Courage”. What. A. Song. I’ve listened to it a few times now, as you can imagine. here, are the lyrics: 

[Verse 1]

Slow down, take time

"Breathe in," He said

He'd reveal what's to come

The thoughts in His mind

Always higher than mine

He'll reveal all to come

[Chorus]

So take courage my heart

Stay steadfast my soul

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

And hold onto your hope

As your triumph unfolds

He's never failing

He's never failing

[Verse 2]

Sing praise my soul

Find strength in joy

Let His words lead you on

Do not forget

His great faithfulness

He'll finish all He's begun

[Chorus]

So take courage my heart

Stay steadfast my soul

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

And hold onto your hope

As your triumph unfolds

He's never failing

He's never failing

So take courage my heart

Stay steadfast my soul

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

And hold onto your hope

As your triumph unfolds

He's never failing

He's never failing

[Bridge]

And You who hold the stars

Who call them each by name

Will surely keep Your promise to me

That I will rise in Your victory

And You who hold the stars

Who call them each by name

Will surely keep Your promise to me

That I will rise in Your victory!

[Chorus]

So take courage my heart

Stay steadfast my soul

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

And hold onto your hope

Watch your triumph unfold

He's never failing

He's never failing

So take courage my heart

Stay steadfast my soul

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

Hold onto your hope

Watch your triumph unfold

He's never failing

He's never failing!

[Outro]

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

He's in the waiting

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before that I am in a season of waiting. I’m waiting to get better; I’m waiting for another transplant. I’m waiting to preach often, I’m waiting to be a pastor. I’m waiting to be done waiting. 

This song reminds me that God is with me in the waiting. I guess I knew that, but I need to be reminded. A lot. I need to remember that God is with me in the waiting (I know I just said that, but it bears repeating. God is with me in the waiting.) He’s with you too. 

No matter what we are waiting for, let us remember that He is with us in the waiting. 

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV84)

May we continue to find new strength as we lean into Jesus, who is with us in the waiting.

God has made me forget....

I have been reading through the Old Testament story of Jacob, preparing a sermon on one part of his life. I hope to preach it sometime….. but I digress. 

as I was reading about Jacob, his story also ran into the life of Joseph— Joey was his son, after all. There is so much truth found in the lives of both Jacob and Joseph, but what stood out to me, today, at least were the names of Joseph’s sons. 

it comes from Genesis 41:  

“Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh 51 and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."

52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”(NIV84)

I find the names Joey gave his children interesting. 

the first child he named Manasseh— the wording sounds like “God has made me forget.” 

if you know the story of Joe- you know he had been through a lot! (had a dream, told his brothers about said dream, got sold into slavery; ended up in the Penthouse, and the the Jailhouse, then second in command in all of Egypt…) 

He had endured a ton. but looking back on his life, he chose to name his son: God has made me forget. Interesting. 

His second son was named Ephraim; which sounds like God has made me fruitful. 

Also intersting. 

Not only did God help Joey get over what was done to him— God has caused me to forget— He also helped Joey to be fruitful— or to have enough. 

Where do I fit in in this mess.. where do you fit in this mess? Well, If your past is less than stelar, ask God to help you forget; and if your present is fruitful; be sure and thank him. 

God is able to make you forget; and God is able to make you fruitful. But don’t forget Who it was that made you fruitful.

One of those weeks....

So I’ve been having a bit of a challenging few days. I will not go into specifics, but let it suffice to say that I’ve been having “one of those days” frequently. 

AS i was trying to get myself out of this “funk” I found myself doing some praying, journaling, and reading some of the Bible.. I came across this one verse that i wrote down on my desk calendar.. “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has pronounced…” (Psalm 105:5) 

The Psalmist then went on to recount how God had provided for His people. How He remembered His covenant. How God was with Joseph, and leading Him. How God had led His people through the wilderness…. It is quite the passage to read through and be reminded of how God came through for His people then. 

I have been pondering this verse off and on for a few days…. trying to get out my my self induced funk by remembering how good God has been to me— even though at this particular time it seems that I am stuck in the wilderness that even God needs a map to find me— but He led His people out once before, right? 

I also “stumbled” upon Psalm 103: “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” (NLt2)

Throughout Scripture, there seems to be emphasis placed on remembering what God as done for us. 

Its no coincidence that we are compared to sheep in the bible; sheep are, among other things, forgetful…. or dumb…. I can also be dumb. I can forget all the good things that God has done in my life and focus only on my current situation and how its not what I want it to be. 

So, I need to “remember the wonders…” God has been faithful to lead me right up to this point, and He is faithful and He will continue to lead and guide me, even if I am so far in the wilderness… I simply mustn’t forget the good things that He has done for me. 

New Year, Same God!

Just a quick entry to kick off this new year, and also because I will try to write a sermon on this verse in a little while, so I don’t want to give all my good stuff away…but as I was reading my bible I came across one verse that has stuck with me ever since. It comes from Isaiah 41:10: 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

If there ever was a verse to cling to in this new year; or anytime, really, it would be this verse. There is so much truth in this one verse. So many promises. God is with us, God will help us. God will strengthen us. God is our God! So. many. promises.

When you are having a bad day. (Not If, but when) I would like for you to remember this verse. remember the 2 commands and the 2 promises from this one verse. This one verse could very well change your life. 

Will you join me in committing this verse to memory?