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So here we are on  edge of another holiday. Let me reach out to you with a holy brotherly hug and let you know if you don't have anyone call a sweet heart this year you are surrounded by the love of the Father and the intimacy of the presence of Holy Spirit is closer than any spouse. I know that doesn't take care of everything, but don't let go of hope, God knows what you want, and what you need and He is seeking to bless you.


Bible Study:
All you need is Jesus in the boat.

We are following Jesus after one of his most notable miracles, certainly one his most witnessed, The thousands of folk He fed with loaves and fishes. And this created a small problem for Jesus. They wanted to make Him king.

15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

I imagine Jesus treasured His alone time with God, a time of refreshing, a time of renewal and a time to get the next direction. I live with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in my backyard, and I find getting alone, getting away is often most conducive to living my Christian life and a time to receive the next marching orders. I imagine we all feel the need to get away.

16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

And so venturing on their own, the disciples returned to form, and went to the sea. Their lack of concern for Jesus being not among them is interesting, they were doing what they knew to do. Treading water, perhaps. Not doing good, not doing bad, just doing.

18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.

And then things began to get worse. It seems that when we tread water, things always get worse. But they were well acquainted with the ways of the seas and the storm did not seem to bother them and they went on for a while

19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.

Okay you’re three or four miles out in the boat and you see someone walking towards you, you would be sacred too.

20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

An amazing little miracle this, in this one miracle, Jesus proclaimed his mastery of both creation (the natural laws of water and sinking) and time. Nobody but He who created them, could manipulate them so well. Nothing more than a passage of time for Him and the apostles, but a glimpse for us into the Majesty of Jesus Christ.

What can we take from this little moment in time, this miraculous segue from one miraculous part of Jesus’ ministry to the next. Well I guess it would be , if you are out there slogging away in a direction of your own choosing, and the seas begin to rise, and the sky begins to darken, and then Jesus comes to you and says do not be afraid, welcome Him into the boat. For He will get you to your destination, regardless of circumstances

 

 Devotional My Utmost For His Highest By Oswald Chambers

 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You —Isaiah 26:3  Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22 ).

Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.

"We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . ." ( Psalm 106:6-7 ). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, "But God is not talking to me right now." He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.