It's a storm...Hold on!

The last few services we’ve been hearing about storms from our Pastor. Listening to those sermons, I’m beginning to understand a few things. There are times God ask us to “go to the other side” knowing that to get there will require us going through a storm. It may be a situation that you have never been through before or it could be a situation you’ve faced many times. What ever the case…He wants you to face it head on.

However, I’ve noticed something about Jesus that I think we as followers sometimes miss. The bible says that he spoke to his disciples in parables. Well if he spoke in parables, don’t you think in some of His actions could have been lessons? Watch this.

Let’s look at the first storm the disciples encountered. Jesus says in Mark 4:35, “Let us pass over unto the other side”, which in my opinion is a direct command to his fellow travelers. When the storm arose they didn’t take into consideration the words Jesus spoke. So when they woke Him up to inform Him of the conditions, He scolded them for not having faith. Then He spoke to the very thing causing, for lack of a better word, mayhem. He spoke to the wind. An element you can’t see or touch, but you can feel its effects. He spoke to the cause and then commanded the affected area be still.

The next storm we read about in Mark says Jesus had to constrain or force the disciples into a ship. Now, I’m not sure about you, but Jesus having to force those guys on a ship was probably necessary. How many of you would want to get on a ship just after experiencing what they went through? Not very many! It’s no wonder He had to “constrain” them. And it’s almost funny because they experience yet ANOTHER STORM. It’s almost like he was messing with them. But it’s this storm that I think He shows them just “who” He is and the power He possessed.  It’s this storm that He walks on the water, rather walks on the affected area of the storm....See where I'm going?

See, the first storm He spoke to the wind or the cause and spoke peace to the affected area. This time He walked on the affected area. You see He had the power to control either one, the cause and the affect of the storm. It was only Peter that actually caught on and asked, “If it’s you bid me come”. Jesus told him to come on.

It’s only through Jesus that we can truly make it through the issues we’re facing. Peter didn’t sink until he looked at the cause and affect of the storm. He himself wasn’t affected until he took his eyes off of the true controller of both. It was through Jesus that Peter was able to himself walk on the affected areas that the storm touched.

Where are you in your storm? Are you hiding in the deck below, are you struggling with the ores trying to get the ship to shore or are you trusting in the one who controls the cause and can calm the affected areas of your storm?

If not, don’t you think it’s time you let go and call on the one who can speak peace? Try it and see what happens. Then let me know how things turn out.

Just my thoughts on a page…

Climbing the Mountain of a New Year...You Ready?!

It’s a new year and everyone is making new goals and resolutions they want to achieve in the upcoming months. As I was reading this morning, I found myself wondering how I was going to complete everything I said I wanted to do this year.
Well, I’ve got the answer. I’m going mountain climbing.

Last year I sent Donna a picture of a mountain. The same picture I’ve posted with this blog. In the lower right hand corner you can see a small cart with a lot of supplies or cargo attached. I told her that the picture represented us. When we moved to Longview, Texas we thought we would be going in one direction, but wound up going in a complete opposite way. We thought we were reaching our mountain top, but it turned out to be a valley with a huge mountain in front of us. It was like God said; nope I have something else for you.

This year, we made up our minds that nothing or no one was going to prevent us from accomplishing what God has for us to do and like so many of you out there, we made goals and resolutions for 2012. The question is how are we going to accomplish them all?

Here are some tips I came up with on achieving or reaching your goal or “mountain top”.

1) You have to plan your trip.
In planning a climb you’ve got to ensure you have the trip mapped out. Where do you want to be day 1, day 2, day 3? What is your destination? How do you plan to get there? What tools will you need for the job? Do you have the right equipment? All of those questions will need to be asked. If you can answer them then move on. But you must have a plan. Once you’ve got your plan….work it!

2) Prepare the mind
When you start out with anything new, it can be stressful. You have no idea where you’re going and no idea what you may have to face, so you’ve got to be ready for anything. You’re taken out of your comfort zone and placed in a place where the decision you make could be life or death decisions. Can you make them and think through the decision in a timely manner? Are you a positive thinking person with an honest outlook or will you let the negative influence you to quite and lose your ground? Negative self talk is an area you’ve got to overcome. Honest thinking and a cool head is what most climber need.

3) Prepare the body
You don’t want to start out climbing a mountain and not be in shape to do so. Just like being prepared mentally, you’ve got to be physically ready. Start walking or jogging when you get home from work. Exercise with the kids or with your spouse. Get the body fit and in shape, because there are some climbs that can be physically demanding. Are you ready for it?

4) Pick a great partner
Any time you go climbing, hiking or cycling you want to have a partner with you. Many times people go into places and they aren’t familiar with the terrain. If something was to happen, you want to have someone with you who could help get you out of a rough situation or even go for help if it was serious enough.

The same applies to life. You’ve got to have a good partner who can give you motivation, inspiration and help you through a tough point. You want someone who can be upfront and brutally honest with you, but at the same time be kind. Having a mentor or coach is great and can be beneficial for the climb. Many times the coaches or mentors have been through some of the same situations you’ll face and can give you great advice.

5) Pray
This is usually one of the first things that should be done. And I should have made it first on the list. Prayer is one of the most important things you can do if you’re going to be successful in life. You can plan all you want and prepare your minds and body, but if your soul isn’t prepared you do yourself a great injustice. In everything you do you must keep God first and foremost in your life.

Just my thought on a page…