Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Call from across the waves.....

Storms.  Sometimes they seem pretty constant.  Right now I'm between big waves in a moment of relative peace in the storms of my own life.  Lovely.

But storms are a vital part of the journey.  As Corrie ten Boom said, "In order to realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the stress of the storm."  Sometimes they're also a big reveal in showing us what we're actually holding on to as our personal anchor........

This photo and the next what Sybille Stahlberg saw outside her window in Germany this week.
The song I can't get out of my head lately says, "And I will call upon Your name, and keep my eyes above the waves." (Oceans, Hillsong United)  Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water as long as he kept his eyes 'above the waves' and on Jesus. (Matt. 14:28-31)

What is our anchor and where do we have our eyes focused today?

My son recently turned 16.  He was soooo excited to go for his Learners license before he was 16, but now that he is he's taking his time.  And that's fine by me!  We'll just let him do that when he's good and ready.  As part of the process we'll teach him one of the first rules of driving well; not to put his focus on what's directly in front of him, but to keep his eyes on what's ahead.  Or to look at where you're going, not where you are currently at.

We can keep our eyes focused on Jesus because we've looked ahead and know what's coming:  the end of life's storms and our destination of Heaven with Him.  We also need to remember exactly Who it is that we're fixing our eyes on.

Who He was:
You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.  For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.  They staggered  back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."  Moses himself was so frightened that he said, "I am terrified and trembling." "(Heb. 12:18-21)


Who He is:
"No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.  You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things.  You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.  You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel." (vs.22-24)

Who He always will be:
"Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.  For our God is a devouring fire." (vs.28-29)

"Our God is a devouring fire."  Selah.  Oh yeah, definitely time to pause and reflect.

When the storms of life rage all around us, when the world that we live in continues to fall apart, we need to listen to the gentle voice that calls to us from across the waves, "Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” " (Matt. 14:28-30 MSG)

Peter didn't hesitate.  He knew Who Jesus was and that He could be trusted.  He didn't hope that Jesus would call on someone else.  He, like that kid in school who always knew the answers, waved his hand up high and said, "Pick me, pick me!"

We need to remember Who He is.  We need to remember Whom we serve.  We need to respond to His call based on Who He is not on our own strength and ability.  We need to fix our eyes on Him and remember that when He calls us, "Come!" from across the waves that it's not a duty or a burden------it's a PRIVILEGE. 

What my friend and neighbor Lexi Waterhouse looked out the window into her paddock and saw this week!

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