Highlights

We often remember our lives through the "highlights," those moments when we felt the best. Or at least that is the way we would like to remember our journey. But for many of us we have some pretty painful bumps along the road. So what do we do when our "highlights" turns into "The Greatest Disasters of ...."?

It is very hard to not get consumed by the difficult things in life. Most of us have gotten sucked up into sadness, depression and perhaps even despair at some point in our lives. We allow our minds to drift between those painful moments as if flipping through the old photo album, turning pages almost out of obligation, feeling compelled to dive deeper.

One of the most powerful things we can do to keep our heads up in life is to follow the example of Scripture. The LORD instructed His people to "remember" repeatedly. They would be facing a time of uncertainty and change. The LORD would tell them to "remember" His faithfulness and take courage.

I think we all need a way to remember the highlights of our journeys. Perhaps today is the day to begin that list of things to remember. We can begin with Scripture and read of His faithfulness to His people down through history. Then we can take an honest look back and focus on those moments when the LORD showed up in our lives. Then we can gather the moments from others who are also traveling this pilgrim road.

But having the list is not enough. We must choose "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) We can move our minds. We can "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." (2Cor 10:5) We don't have to drift aimlessly in our thought life. We can take charge.

We are now eight days from our flight to Okinawa, eight days to a new adventure with Him. We could focus on the fourteen hour flight from Dulles to Tokyo, sitting in coach. Or we could see the faithfulness of the LORD to place a supportive community around us, ready to support our launch into the direction of God. We can choose to see His hand at work and anticipate His working through us. We can choose to remember the times when He showed up and received the glory, and get ready to pass the glory back to Him.

I say to you, "Remember!"

Authority’s Interdependence

Mark 4:36-37

      There is something curious about our lives. Sometimes we are full of energy and life, and sometimes it seems as if someone pulled the plug, and we run on empty. We all have these times, times when we reach for our reserves. If you are a parent, you can certainly relate. When the diaper needs to be changed again you wonder if it will ever end. All those interruptions in the middle of the night make functioning during the day very hard.

      Or the deadlines at work are taxing your brain creating stress that seems to pushing you to the point of exploding. You thought you could handle the promotion, but now it seems as if you have too many things on your plate at once. You are not alone. It seems as if Jesus had a moment when His physical body had run out of steam.

      Notice the words in our text, “just as he was.” Something is out of the ordinary in Jesus. They took Him on board the boat, “just as he was.” We read in a few verses that He falls asleep on the boat, even in the middle of a fierce storm. He had run out of steam. But what is significant is that Jesus allowed other to minister to Him. They helped Him into the boat. They took Him.

      He is allowed to sleep in the boat. They do all the work of navigating, even when the storm arises. They minister to Him by giving Him space to rest. He is tired from ministry to others and they minister to Him.

      It can be hard to imagine the Creator of the Universe being tired, but Jesus was. His physical body had the same limitations that ours does. We all need to learn to take care of ourselves and recognize that we can only give so much before we must take a rest.

      Notice that there are others in boats in this storm. Perhaps they are following Jesus to the next place of ministry, hoping to get in on the action. They too are caught in the storm as well. When a storm happens in your life others can be caught up in the storm with you. Just because you are having a difficult time doesn’t mean others around you aren’t experience the storm as well.

      As was common during that time the geography plays a role in what happens. The winds blow off the desert plateau and down the steep hill and across the water. The winds from the top of Mount Hermon over 9000 feet above sea level fall to 682 feet below sea level. They create squalls that arise in a few short minutes. The winds create huge waves in the process. And if you weren’t expecting them and you are in a small boat, yikes!

      Sometimes when we are in the journey to the other side and we get caught in a storm. It doesn’t mean we sinned or failed to listen and be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to go across the lake. Jesus was also in the storm. Storms come to everyone, the just and the unjust. In those moments we need each other. Our journey is a journey together.