He Calms The Storm

Job 38:1, 8-11

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Mark 4:35-41

Divine Inspiration

When we go through trials and tribulations in life, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that God is testing us, testing our faith.  The first reading from today’s readings is from the Book of Job.  Is there anyone who has suffered more than Job, who would be within their rights to ask why God is testing him?  In reality, all that Job was afflicted with was borne out of the lack of cleanliness and lack of modern-day medical assistance.  It was not God creating the misery.  Yet, what pulled Job through was his faith in God.

In the New Testament, the Gospel of Mark, the disciples are in the boat, fishing, just trying to do their jobs, when a huge storm blows out of nowhere.  Isn’t this usually the way it happens?  We’re minding our own business, doing our jobs, doing our best each day, when out of nowhere, stress, conflict, even tragedy strikes.  The stock market crashes and jobs are lost.  Or, disease settles in.  Suddenly, we’re thrown into chaos, and we start asking, “Why, God?  Why are you testing me?” 

Yet, it really is not God testing us.  Why would he send bad things when he loves us?  He wouldn’t.  The things that happen to us are just part of the human experience here on earth.  No, what we need to ask during those times is for God to guide us through them; to calm the wind and the storm the way Jesus did for the disciples in the boat.  We need to dig deep into our faith, the faith that we work on building every day when we pray, when we give thanks to God, when we talk with him.  It’s important to build this faith, this relationship with the Lord, so that it’s there when we need it most.

How is your relationship with the Lord, the Divine, the Universe?  Do you know Him?  He knows you, he loves you, and he’s there waiting.  It is never too late to call out to him.  And the relationship we have with him can never be deep enough.  The point – the message – here is to turn to the Lord ALWAYS.  Whether in good times or bad, the Lord loves us and wants to be our Rock.

Amen.

Readings and Divine Inspiration from Sunday, June 21, 2015

Be Amazed!

Deuteronomy 4:32-34

Romans 8:14-17

Matthew 28:16-20

Divine Inspiration

Be amazed at the Glory of God!

Be AMAZED at the Glory of God!

As we go about our days, our lives, our own issues, it is easy to take the Lord for granted.  Sure, we love Him and we pray to Him; that’s not in question.  But do we really ever step back to just revel in how AWESOME God is?

In the Old Testament, Moses asks the people if they have ever seen or heard anything so great as the Voice of God.  Think about it – God had just brought them out of Egypt and slavery.  He parted the Red Sea, for Heaven’s sake!  And yet, the people fell back into their daily issues and worries and started complaining again.  They had failed to continue to be amazed at God’s glory.

In the Gospel, the eleven disciples are travelling with Christ.  They see all He is doing – the teaching, healing and miracles – and yet, they doubted.  They failed to be amazed by the glory of God.  And there were there with Him!

When we get caught up in our own fears, doubts and issues, and we fail to be amazed by God, we’re not alone!  In fact, we’re in good company.  But, that doesn’t mean we should give up.  No, to the contrary, we should try to remember and find something every single day that reminds us of God’s glory and amazes us.  Maybe it’s seeing a beautiful picture of the land.  Maybe it’s simply seeing the sun!  Maybe it’s a phone call from a loved one or a smile from a dear friend.  All of this comes from God and is a reminder of how much He loves us.  And when take time to notice the signs he sends to us every single day, when we realize just how very much He loves us, it is truly awesome, truly amazing.

Be amazed at the glory of God.  Be amazed every day with the signs of His love for us.  And, share that love with one another. 

Amen.

Readings and Divine Inspiration from Sunday, May 31, 2015