two miracles here…

the third thing you do when you face a crisis and they will come is rely on GOD’s control. 

mark 4:39 (niv), JESUS got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “quiet!  be still!”  then the winds died down and it was completely calm.

this is the incredible power that JESUS demonstrated over nature.  the storm is about to capsize the boat and JESUS says, “quiet!  be still!” that’s really kind of a wimpy translation.  the greek literally means JESUS said, “sit down and shut up!”  HE wakes up and says to the winds and the waves, “sit down and shut up!”  instant quiet.  placid seas.

actually there are two miracles here.  first the winds stopped instantly.  we’ve all been in situations where the winds stopped instantly.  but if you’ve ever been out in a storm in a boat you know that even after the winds quit, the waves still keep going for a long period of time.  it takes time for a sea to quiet.  so it says that not only did the winds stop but the lake went absolutely placid.  double miracles.  amazing power! 

what is the point of all that?  just to show off?  no.  JESUS did that to point out that nothing is beyond GOD’s control. absolutely nothing.

just a thought from the front porch…  

worry and anxiety will grip my life when…

worry and anxiety will grip my life when i begin to rely on anything other than GOD.

philippians 4.19 (gnt), and with all HIS abundant wealth through CHRIST JESUS, my GOD will supply all your needs.

and GOD not only cares and not only is HE willing but he has the abundant wealth.  HE has the funds, the money to meet my every need.

paul says GOD will supply all that you ever need.  GOD has promised to provide everything that i need, not everything that i desire.  in fact, no loving parent ever gives his child everything he desires.  you as a parent know better than they do what they need. 

and the same is true of GOD.  sometimes as a loving parent HE will say no.  sometimes as a loving parent HE won’t give us everything we ask.  but HE will give us what we need. 

listen to these words from a prayer at the end of proverbs in chapter 30.8-9 (lb).  give me neither poverty nor riches.  give me just enough to satisfy my needs.  the verse goes on to say, for if i grow rich i may become content without GOD and if i’m poor i may steal and thus insult GOD’s holy name.

the writer of this prayer was saying, “i understand myself.  LORD, i know if i have too much my temptation is to not trust YOU.  i want it to be enough in my life just to be content that you meet my need.” 

can you be content with that?  it’s hard in the culture in which we live and the county in which we live to be content with that.  i love what matt atkins says, “the problem with contentment is that i always want more of it.”  that’s a great statement.  we are a want more generation. 

just a thought from the front porch…