A Piece Of Peace

Psalm 66

How do we find peace, in a world overrun with chaos and confusion? Where do we go, to escape the trials of life, if only for a moment. One thing I’ve learned, and truly belive is, pressure bursts pipes. When air or water fills a pipe, with no way for it to be released, eventually that pipe will break, and all the air and water trapped inside will burst out in multiple directions. This would indeed be a dangerous situation to deal with, but more importantly, many people have experienced this same “explosion” taking place in their own lives.

Living today, as in times passed, we endure seasons of suffering. Whether our suffering is related to physical, mental, or even monetary issues, all men will face situations that will push them to the brink of breakdown. So, how do we find a piece of peace, when it seems so far away? Some result to habits (drinking, smoking, gambling, fishing, etc.) in order to find peace, but the peace that surpasses all human understanding only comes from God.

Rather than look for natural ways to find peace in your life, try following king David’s example in our text. Although the “man after God’s own heart” was far from perfect, he knew the only way to experience real peace was to shift his focus from his problems and past mistakes, and invest most of his time giving glory, honor, and praise to the name of his Lord. This may seem unconventional to those who are babes in biblical learning, but consider all king David experienced, and take note of how he maintained a righteous lifestyle with God, despite his shortcomings. Rather than make his problems bigger than God, He placed God above all his life’s experiences.

Oftentimes, we find ourselves worrying and complaining about our struggles, and this causes us to stress and wallow in misery. But, if we change our perspective, as David did, and make God bigger than our worries, He’ll give us peace to endure, and overcome those things that seemed to weigh us down. Be encouraged, and don’t allow your past, present, or potential future to cause you to fear. Instead, seek God, make His name glorious, then allow Him to pour out His peace into your heart, as you grow from your struggle, and move on to the next chapter on your journey.

Thicker Than Water

Psalm 101

Close relationships have great potential for conflict. Our homes can be difficult places in which to “behave wisely.” Our families usually see us at our worst because we relax and let down our mask of good behavior. Often we do not treat our family members with the same respect and kindness we show to friends and business associates. David must have understood this as he promised to walk within his house “with a perfect heart.” Because we want to treat those who are close to us well, let us pray that God will remind us to follow him at home, and that our lives will be Christian examples.

(Excerpt from Life Application Bible pg. 1036)

Natural Vs. Technological

Jeremiah 27:5

“I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm…”

Sitting by the water, trying to understand some verses of scripture I read, I looked into the sky, then saw a bird, and an airplane flying directly over my head simultaneously. Immediately, I considered God’s beautiful, and natural creation, in contrast to man’s inventions. God made all things very good, and has sustained His creation for thousands of years. Man, through God’s wisdom, has developed countless technological advancements that can only mimic what God originally set in motion. Man cannot fly like the birds of the air, so they made airplanes to soar through the skies, in order to travel from place to place without restriction. Fish can swim at various depths of the sea, but man can’t withstand the pressures at lower levels. For this reason, the submarine was invented, so that men could traverse the deep waters of God’s great oceans. Man can only imitate, what God spoke into existence, so all should honor and appreciate the mighty God of all creation, and His magnificent handiwork.

From Galilee To Jordan

Matthew 3

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “From Galilee To Jordan” starring, John the Baptist, and Jesus! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

John the Baptist: Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

(Crowds of people from Jerusalem, Judea, and all the regions of Jordan begin to come and hear John speak.)

John the Baptist: Hear me, and let my words penetrate into your hearts. Confess your sins before the Lord, and be baptized.

(Countless men and women confessed their sins, and were baptized. Note, baptism was an outward sign of inward confession. Although the water didn’t save men, the act showed others that a person made an honest confession to follow God.)

(John’s quick popularity caught the attention of the Pharisees and Saducees; the religious groups who held themselves to a higher standard than what God set in place.)

John the Baptist: Ahhhh, look who’s here. Oh generation of vipers! You must have heard about the coming wrath upon all who oppose righteousness. Make sure your acts are righteous, and that your works are good, because if you have bad thoughts and evil intentions, you will be cut down and destroyed.

(This message obviously didn’t rest well in the hearts of those wicked ones.)

John the Baptist: Surely, I baptize you with water unto repentance, but there’s someone coming after me, who is mightier than I am, and I’m not worthy to even carry his shoes. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

(The crowds of people wonder in amazement of who this other person could be.)

(“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.”)

John the Baptist: It’s you! But, I cannot baptize you. I forbid it! You are…

Jesus: It’s alright. Do it now, because we have a responsibility to fulfill all righteousness.

(“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” I wish I could have witnessed this in person.)

In times when you feel as though you’re unworthy to serve God, remember, you were made to bring glory to His name. So, in all you do, do it as unto the Lord, and He will reward you for all the good fruit you produce in the earth.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “From Galilee To Jordan”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!

Walking Through The Impossible

Matthew 14:22-33

If you had the opportunity to switch places with the apostle Peter, on the night he walked on the water to meet Jesus, would you accept? Imagine being the only person in history to do the impossible, and live to tell others about it!

When the men on the ship saw a figure walking on the sea, they became terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. But, Jesus told them, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” The men undoubtedly knew the voice of Jesus, as they had been following Him for quite some time, but of all who were on the ship, Peter alone acted on faith, and asked to join Jesus on the water. After accepting Jesus’ invitation, Peter stepped down out of the ship, and began walking on the water. As I sit and write this lesson, I’m looking at the water as boats sail by, and wonder what thoughts ran through Peter’s mind as he took his first steps on water. Well, the Bible mentions, Peter gave more attention to the boisterous winds rather than Jesus, and he began to sink because of fear. Jesus immediately stretched forth His hand and caught Peter, to save him from drowning.

While focusing on Jesus, Peter was able to do the impossible, but the moment he placed his focus on his problems, his faith wavered, and he began to sink. Although we may not walk on water, we will face tough situations in life, but if we keep our focus on Jesus, we’ll walk through all that we face, and come out on the other side. On the other hand, if we focus on the wind and waves, we’ll sink in all our problems and difficult situations. Don’t allow your inadequacies to take precedence over the awesome power of Christ.

Just A Touch 2

Matthew 14:34-36

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was constantly on the move, traveling from place to place, doing the works of His Father. His purpose was to reach and teach as many as He could, during the time He would spend on the earth.

After revealing another dimension of His power by way of walking on water, and being acknowledged a second time as the Son of God, Jesus and those who followed Him, went to a land called Gennesaret. This fertile land was north of the shore of Galilee, and was known for producing both temperate and tropical fruits. This particular area was also brimming with people who suffered sickness and disease. So, when the men of the land recognized the man among them was Jesus, they quickly spread word to all the country, to bring all who were diseased to Jesus.

The most interesting point in this story seems to relate to the woman who had the issue of blood. I’m not 100 percent certain there’s a relation with the woman and the people of Gennesaret, but all who came to Jesus, sought only to touch the hem of His garment for their healing, so word of the woman’s story may have spread to this land as well. These sick folk had enough faith to believe, only a touch of Jesus’ clothes, would bring their healing. Mercifully, their faith was in the right place, for all who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment were made perfectly whole. Jesus didn’t perform half healings, but His manifestations were total and permanent.

Jesus healed according to the faith of those who came to Him, so all who desired healing, sought total deliverance and restoration. When you come to God, do you seek partial deliverance, or do you want God to give you a total and complete manifestation of those things your heart desires? Reach out in faith, and touch Jesus, so He can make you whole again.

Solitude On Hold

Matthew 14:1-21

Losing someone you love, is never an easy thing to handle. In fact, many who’ve lost loved ones have given in to sadness and depression, so much to the point they’ve allowed idleness and stagnation to dominate their days. While there are numerous ways people cope with death, nothing is ever certain to bring joy to a heavy heart. Personally, when dealing with losing someone close, I often try to keep myself busy with work, or other things that occupy the time. This is because, the longer I sit idle, the more my thoughts will run rampant over things I wish I had said or done differently, while my loved one still lived.

After reading the lesson text, I was brought to tears while recognizing how Jesus dealt with losing someone, just as many of us do today. When the disciples brought word to Jesus, that his cousin John the Baptist had been killed, He sought the quickest way to get away from everyone. Jesus, the Son of the true and living God, sought solitude after the news of John. Being all powerful, and the creator of all things, how was Jesus subject to like passions as we are? This is proof, our Savior understands our hurts, pains, and struggles. He feels what we feel, and copes in ways we seek as well.

Unfortunately, when trying to distance Himself from people, many heard where He had fled, then followed Him on foot, out of many cities. Jesus was hurting, and needed time to heal, but after seeing the great multitude that followed, He was moved with compassion toward them. Have you ever been in a situation, when your heart was beyond heavy, yet you had compassion on someone else? Jesus was truly God in the flesh, and didn’t allow His present suffering, to forfeit blessing those who diligently sought Him.

As the story continues, Jesus fed over 5,000 people from two fish, and five loaves of bread. When we go through seasons of hurt, pain, and shame, we must be strong, and keep our focus, because God may decide to use us, to help someone else get through their hard season. Jesus is a loving and caring person, so remember, when you’re suffering, He’s moved with compassion for you too.

Obedience Leads To Victory

2 Kings 3:9-17

When life seems to be cool, calm, and collected for you, how often do you acknowledge God in your ways? Do you pray to the Father only in times of great need, or have you discovered that making daily prayer a part of your spiritual journey extremely beneficial?

Many of us forget to make God a healthy part of our day, but the moment times begin to get tough, we quickly come to our senses, and reach out to the One who can bring us the victory. God demands obedience from those who are in Christ Jesus, and expects them to walk in His ways, and keep His commandments regularly. But, the moment we allow ourselves to waver from God’s commands, the sooner we’ll find ourselves in deep water.

Our text gives a prime example of the importance of seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness, before making decisions. In the New Testament, the victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave has already been won through Jesus, but the men in our text had yet to experience life after the resurrected Christ. Instead, they sought prophets of God, for confirmation of victory before they set out for battle. The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom had set their minds to attack the men of Moab, because king Mesha of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel (for more details, reference chapter 3 in its entirety). As the three kings prepared to do battle against the Moabites, one of the men remembered how God used prophets to give word whether or not they would fair well in battle. The prophet Elisha was mentioned to the kings by one of the servants, and the men went quickly to seek him out. Elisha was hesitant at first to assist the kings, but then requested a minstrel to come and play an instrument, while he sought words from the Lord. God gave the prophet Elisha specific commands to tell the three kings, and if they were to obey them, they would cement their victory, but if they did not perform the easy commands from God, their fighting would be in vain.

Sometimes, it only takes simple obedience to receive the best from the Lord. Oftentimes, we make it hard for God to bless us by getting too comfortable in times when our money is good, and things are going well for us. But, whether we are in seasons of good or times of struggle, we should always seek to fulfill the will of the Father, and not become complacent, because only through obedience, can we guarantee victory in all areas of our lives.

The Last Meal

1 Kings 17:8-16

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “The Last Meal”! Starring, Widow Woman, her son, and the great prophet, Elijah! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Widow Woman arises from her knees with her son, after praying to God for strength, as she and her son prepare their last meal. Being a widow, it was very hard for her to make ends meet, especially during a time when the husband would provide majority of the family’s income and goods.)

Widow Woman: …in the name of the Father, amen. Son, go and wash your hands, while I prepare dinner.

Son: What are we having today mommy? I want a lot of food. I’m very hungry!

Widow Woman: Sigh… yes my son, I will make you as much as your little tummy can hold (knowing all she had was enough for just the two of them, she didn’t want to disappoint her son).

(The son goes to wash and prepare himself for supper)

Widow Woman: (Speaking softly under her breath) Lord, we need you. Since my husband was laid to rest, I can barely provide for myself, and my son. After today, I have no provisions for the days after. Please Lord, make a way for us to survive. I know you have all power to do great things, so reveal your power to me and my son, today.

(Widow Woman tilts her head back, looks to the heavens, as tears roll down the sides of her face. All of a sudden, she hears a voice commanding her to prepare her home to receive an unexpected guest, who will require sustenance and rest.)

(During the reign of the most wicked and cruel king Ahab, God prepared the prophet Elijah, to speak on His behalf, in order to reveal His judgment to the king. After doing as God commanded him to do, the prophet Elijah went into hiding, as God provided unconventional means of food while he waited. When the source of provision had ceased, and the brook dried up, it was time for God’s servant to move to his next destination.)

Elijah: God, my Lord and strength, the ravens have gone scarce, and this beautiful brook has dried up. Where will you have me to go, so that I may rest and have food?

(God told Elijah to arise, and go to Zarephath, and dwell there, for He had already commanded a widow woman to sustain him while there. So, he arose and went where God instructed. As he neared the gate of the city, he saw a woman gathering sticks.)

Elijah: Hello madam! Excuse me, but if you don’t mind, could you please bring me some water to drink? My journey was quite long, and I am parched.

Widow Woman: (Thinking in her mind whether this was the unexpected guest or not.) Yes! Yes, good sir. I will fetch some water for you.

Elijah: Ma’am! Pardon, but while you’re going to get the water, could you please also bring back some bread, so that I may regain my strength? But only if the request isn’t too great a task.

Widow Woman: (Speaks with tears in her eyes.) As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

Elijah: Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

(Widow Woman went to do as Elijah commanded. She arrives home to began meal preparations.)

Son: Hey mommy! Did you find all the sticks you were looking for?

Widow Woman: Yes son, I find them. I need you to sit there for a moment. I have to prepare a meal for a very special person.

Son: But mommy, I’m hungry! My tummy is making noises like a frightened horse!

Widow Woman: My son, you are a bundle of joy. Give mommy a few moments, then we all will eat well.

(After obeying the words of the unexpected guest sent by God, Widow Woman, Elijah, and her house, ate good many days thereafter.)

*Obeying the commands of God tend to get harder, the more we deal with the pressures of life. But, overcoming what wars against us with obedience to God, will guarantee that not only will our faith grow stronger, but God will make a way to deliver us from our struggle, no matter how intense it may be.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “The Last Meal”! Thanks for tuning in.

Fulfill All Righteousness

Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus, the Son of God; mighty in power, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Jesus, the Savior of the world, made no reputation of Himself while in the earth, yet fulfilled His assignment flawlessly. Jesus, the matchless king, and only begotten of the Father, submitted Himself to the authority of the land. Jesus, the first Comforter, walked in unparalleled humility, while not losing His status as God’s gift to mankind.

John the Baptist saw first-hand, the ultimate act of humility, when he was approached by Jesus, to be baptized. John was effective in fulfilling his act of righteousness, commanded by God, to prepare man to receive Jesus. So, when asked by the Son of God to baptize Him, John immediately forbade Him saying, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” In other words, John felt unworthy to baptize the One who has the power to save his very soul. When God gives you an assignment, you’re expected to carry it out. John’s assignment was to baptize, and prophesy of the coming Savior. Fortunately, Jesus was wise in sharing with John, they both were sent of God, and had to fulfill what they were sent to do. This freed John to then carry out the baptism of the Savior.

Has God called you to do something special, but you’re hesitant to fulfill it, because you are intimidated by the titles and prestige of those you are to serve? If God called you to do something, He’ll give you the strength to carry it out. John wasn’t wrong for feeling the way he did toward Jesus, but God called him to do a job, and that job had to be fulfilled. Take pride in doing what God created you for, knowing that in your obedience, you’ll be fulfilling your part in God’s plan of righteousness.

“Set your mind on doing your best, and allow God to do the rest.” – Ell