Thursday.. Here it is again. What do we do?

Thursday... Here it is again. What do we do?

There is a verse in Matthew 9 that caught my attention this morning. It is verse 1 (NLT) and this is what it says, "Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town." And then I thought back to a couple of verses that I read yesterday in chapter 8. Verses 23-24 says, "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping." And here he is getting into another boat.

Now these four books that tell the story of Jesus here on earth are not biographies. Each one of them has a different audience they are written to and they each have their own purpose so these two chapters may not be telling his story in order but let's say it is. Jesus had gotten into a boat and there was a fierce storm but that experience didn't keep him from getting into another boat.

2023 may have been a fierce storm for you but you now have the choice of getting into the boat of 2024 without being afraid and the experiences of 2023 holding you back.

In that first story in chapter 8 Jesus was asleep and verse 25 says, "The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!'" Maybe that is how you felt in 2023. I mean, you were desperate and afraid and in no way do you want to go through that again.

Now Jesus response to them in verse 26 is maybe his response to us in how we are looking at 2024 after an horrible 2023. It says, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" It then tells what he did, "Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm."

And then in verse 1 of chapter 9 it says, "Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town." That other boat experience didn't stop him from getting back in a boat.

Yes, he is Jesus and yes he is the Son of God and yes he has power beyond measure and if you have a relationship with him and he is living in you then he will be with you in this new year. You have survived because of him and you will survive again and again because of him so go ahead and get into the boat of 2024 with him in it with you.

The response of the disciples in chapter 8:27 is, "The disciples were amazed. 'Who is this man?' they asked. 'Even the winds and the waves obey him!'" And he can be with you no matter what happens in 2024 if you have him with you. So don't be afraid. Even your little faith can do wonders with him in your boat this year. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

Search This Blog