"God promises a safe landing but not a smooth passage."
Whether it is the disciples on the sea or Denis Shackel on Mount Ruapehu 8000 feet above ground, we need to claim the promise "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Phil 4:13 ... even if we can only get through it "five seconds at a time".
And regardless of what we are going through, we need to remember to "stock the hut." THAT' S LOVE
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35
Holy Spirit, please show me how to Stock The Hut today.
“What an incredible time of fellowship we had on Saturday with Kingdom Life Fellowship. The Lord made His presence felt in a dramatic way. As I shared the message of encouragement for Kingdom Life’s membership, I could feel His passion flowing through me. Yes, He sometimes uses us mortals as vessels to utter messages to His people.
The testimony of how the Lord responded to intercessory prayers uttered by Kingdom Life is, in my view, a sign to the fellowship that God is encouraging them to carry on with His work. One of the very first requests that they prayed for as a corporate group under the name Kingdom Life Fellowship was answered affirmatively and dramatically by God in a very short period of time. Praise God.
Let us all go forth and tuck ourselves into the bosom of Christ so that when the enemy comes around to steal, kill, and destroy (and we can be sure that he will) we are protected in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour. Yes, we are to ‘tuck in’. And, we are not to operate in our own strength – while there is nothing wrong with having a degree of independence, that approach taken to extremes can result in us being isolated from others and therefore EASY PREY to the enemy. Yes he is relentless but the Lord our God is stronger so we have nothing to fear.
It feels good to be a part of Kingdom Life Fellowship and I will keep you in my prayers. Please keep me in yours, particularly during this time of transition for me.”
"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus...."(Hebrews 12:2)
With all the storms around us like division, leadership let downs, riots, famines, etc.. the Word of God calls us to "keep our eyes fixed on Jesus". The Word doesn't say that, just because its something we should do as Christians. It says it because that's what really matters. Mark 4:35-41 tells of Jesus and the disciples crossing a river to get to the other side. While on their way [to the other side], a storm kicks up and literally begins to physically break the boat. As this was going on, Jesus was in the back of the boat.........sleeping.......on a cushion......Jesus knew about the storm going into it, but yet He went in, with a cushion, and the intention to sleep; with the intention to be at peace.
After Jesus wakes up and calms the storm, He says to the disciples “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). Now if Jesus had asked, why WERE you afraid, that would make more sense [to us]. If He did that, the issue then would have been about the disciples not trusting Jesus through the storm. Instead He asks why ARE, pointing to a state of now. The storm was long, gone, and done away with but Jesus was focused on the real issue; the focus of the disciples.
So a few things to point out
Jesus wants us to have intentional peace, both through and after a storm.
Jesus wants us to have intentional trust in Him.
The only way we can do this, is to stay focused on Jesus. When we are focused. the storm really isn't an issue. The family struggles, work situations, gains, status', positions, and any thing else really aren't an issue.
With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we wait on Him to take care of everything else.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 ~ NASB)
The Psalmist David makes it very clear in Psalm 19 that creation testifies of the greatness of God! "Day to Day" creation speaks and "Night to Night" the knowledge of God is revealed to us in the moon, stars, and galaxies. There is no language or speech where their voice is not heard. Stop and think about it. Creation sings a constant song of praise to the Creator and giver of life. It is the our knowledge of the greatness of God that amplifies the love and humility revealed by Jesus Christ, The Creator King, shown on Calvary. Take some time today to meditate on the greatness of God revealed in His mighty works, and may our lives join in singing the unending song...Hallelujah!
31b But now let me show you a more excellent way.... 1 If the Bride of Christ could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, the Bride of Christ would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If the Bride of Christ had the gift of prophecy, and if the Bride of Christ understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if the Bride of Christ had such faith that the Bride of Christ could move mountains, but didn’t love others, the Bride of Christ would be nothing. 3 If the Bride of Christ gave everything to the poor and even sacrificed its' body, the Bride of Christ could boast about it; but if the Bride of Christ didn’t love others, the Bride of Christ would have gained nothing. 4 The Bride of Christ is patient and kind. The Bride of Christ is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. The Bride of Christ does not demand its own way. The Bride of Christ is not irritable, and the Bride of Christ keeps no record of being wronged. 6 The Bride of Christ does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 The Bride of Christ never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When the Bride of Christ was a child, the Bride of Christ spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when the Bride of Christ grew up, the Bride of Christ put away childish things. 12 Now the Bride of Christ see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then the Bride of Christ will see everything with perfect clarity. All that the Bride of Christ knows now is partial and incomplete, but then the Bride of Christ will know everything completely, just as God now knows the Bride of Christ completely. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Don't let adversity get you down except on your knees!
Moving Mountains of Adversity through Prayer* - Psalms 23
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures." Pray for God's PRESENCE.
"He LEADS me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He GUIDES me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Pray for God's LEADERSHIP.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are WITH me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Pray for God's COMPANIONSHIP.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will PURSUE me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Pray for God's BLESSING.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being around me like a providing and protecting shepherd, in front of me as my reliable guide, beside me as my constant companion and behind me like a relentless host, pursuing me with blessing, goodness and love. Whatever valley of adversity or fear I may be facing in my life right now, however difficult or challenging, help me to remember that I am not alone. Because you are with me, I have no need for fear. In your enabling name and through your empowering Spirit, AMEN.
*Reference: Praying with Power Moving Mountains: Pastor Kenneth D. Mulzac
I have been meditating on our journey through Psalms 23 and have already found it bringing joy and peace to me this week. As believers, we are surrounded by a caring, loving, and correcting God who provides Leadership, Companionship, and Protection on our journey as His followers. Continue to be blessed as you meditate on Jesus, The Shepherd King this week, and take some time to revisit Psalm 23. Here's a great song to check out, nothing like some good ole' gospel to drive it home!
