Stormy Seas

Haiti Update:


Convoy of Hope is currently responding to the disaster in Haiti. Currently, there is an urgent need for fuel as well as clean water. We have several staff members who have set up a distribution site and have been able to distribute food and water. Here is the Convoy link for the latest updates and a spot to give (http://www.convoyofhope.org/). Please remember to pray for the people of Haiti and to pray for the Convoy staff as they work in Haiti.

Thoughts to Chew On:

I was reading Mark 4 the other day and came upon a story about Jesus and his disciples that made me chuckle.  I found it humourous because of the way it exemplifies human behavior  The story is found in Mark 4:35-41.   Jesus and the disciples decided to cross the Sea of Galilee when all of a sudden a huge storm came up. The disciples were frightened. They were scared out of their wits. I can imagine the panic they must have been feeling. I am sure they were pacing back and forth, their faces pale, and thinking about their near deaths. However, Jesus was taking a nap. The Message version says his head was on a pillow. In the midst of the disciples’ chaos, Jesus was sleeping! The disciples finally wake Jesus up saying "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?" Jesus went ahead and did what Jesus does. He calmed the sea. Jesus stopped the storm and then he asked the disciples "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"  The disciples just stood in awe of Christ. Not even noticing they were just called cowards.

I love how Jesus was sleeping in this story. It made me think "Well, if Jesus wasn't worried about the storm, why were the disciples?" How many times in life as we are going through the storm do we fret, worry and panic? Yet is Christ fretting, worrying and panicking? Christ is always there with us as we face the hard things in life. He is there to comfort, to give courage, and to give strength. We need to remember that he is there and to exemplify his behavior as we face our storms and battles. If Christ isn't panicking and worrying, do we need to panic and worry?

Another point that I picked up was that the disciples kind of snapped at Jesus. While, we can't pick up voice intonation and body and facial language, the words themselves seem snappy. The disciples wake Jesus and say "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?" Their words show doubt in Christ. I am sure they were said out of fear of death and fear of the storm. We too need to be careful of our words when we are under pressure. When we feel stressed, fearful, insecure and so forth we have to be careful not to take that out on those around us. I suppose we need to count to ten or step out of the room until we have better control of our actions and words  

I pray that you continually let the Lord change and mold your heart.  I pray that you learn to trust him completely.  May the Lord guide you through your storms and may you go through the trial with faith in God and being gentle and loving with those around you.  Be blessed!    

* Pictures are from yahoo image search "Sea of Galilee Storm" and "Calm Sea"