Jesus Calms the Storm

Matthew 8:23-27

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!”

I’m sitting here waiting for my friend to meet me.  It’s a like a little piece of heaven is here on earth today. The sky is a beautiful shade of blue with fluffy white clouds playing in the air.   A breeze is blowing-teasing my hair and the trees.  I lean back and look up.  A tall pine tree is swaying and bending almost in time to the beautiful music I hear playing.  I feel the breezes in my life-tossing me about-teasing and testing my faith.  Will this breeze turn into a storm?  There was such a storm that tossed me about, bent me to the ground and left pieces of me lying around. I thought I had split in half like some of the trees do sometimes, but God was not finished with me.  He had not left me alone.  I found out he had barely begun on me. 

By his grace, he bent me to the ground and brought me back up again.  I see the old pieces of me lying around on the ground.  The pieces of worry, fear and mistrust were left behind. Like bark off a tree the control I wanted to have blew off me.  Jesus touched my soul and gave me life.  Just as the pine popped back upright, he brought me back upright.  My soul healed, the Lord has claimed my life.  He will never leave in the storm.  I may sway and bend, but I will not break.  He is my strength and my life is his.   He has rescued me and poured his love over me.  His sacrifice allows me to have the breezes and the storms in my life.  His sacrifice has shown me how to trust him and leave the fear and worry to him.  His hand is always there, reaching down to pull me, to pull all of us, up from the ground and up from our storm.  Will you break or will you reach up for the hand of Jesus?

Romans 15:13

            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.

Laura Olsen

Eye's Up!

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

My girls and I try to do a nightly devo, just a small 5 minute reading and scripture that allows us to share the word together. We forget more than we should, and I’m often reminded how important it is to them when their opening prayer each time we DO it includes, “Dear Lord, please keep us doing this devotional each night…”

Last night’s devo was about when you are down and out and life just isn’t want you want it to be. Darkness is surrounding you or your depressed or your angry and just can’t seem to get out of the muck. The verse we read was the one above and I kept thinking – how is this going to tie together? I was grumbling in my head because I was exhausted and figured I’d have to tie it together for the writer, but God whispered hush and I did.

The theme of the devo was to encourage someone else – to forget about your situation and circumstances and instead to love and do for another. To shift your focus from your problems to someone else’s and reach out even though you don’t think you can. I read the other day that 90% of happy people all have 1 thing in common – they give to others.

Lift your eyes today and give someone else the encouragement that you need in your own life, and watch what a change in perspective will do to your ability to persevere and not give up.

“Set you mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Col 3:12

Verged from the Path (Devo)

I was reading back through my journal this morning and sat in amazement at the number of times in the last two years I've "verged from the path" God has me on. You know each time I moved away from him it wasn't that I made the decision to, it was a subtle small step of disobiedience. Something that didn't matter in my own eyes.

Joshua 1:7 says, “…do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (God is speaking to Joshua about sticking to the commandments given to Moses)

I knew God's instructions to me were to stay on the path, but my way seemed better, faster – more efficient. But it wasn’t any of the following, it was a way to rebel that I could justify and remain tucked in my ignorance that every decision I make, every step I take to the right or left of the path God’s planned for me is one that could continue to lead me into the next poor decision.

As I'm trying to correct my small rebellions, I can feel the brilliance of Gods glory warming my heart and a still small voice whispering in my ear, “It is in the little things that I seek your obedience, daughter. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Might sound trite, but make every decision you make unto the Lord - use his council and guidence and fall back on the old, "How would God feel about this if He knew?" Because He already does. :)

May your day be filled with Joy from the only joy-giver!

Laurie