Be prepared

It’s unnecessary for me to write to you about this service for God’s people. 2 I know about your willingness to help. I brag about you to the Macedonians, saying, “Greece has been ready since last year,” and your enthusiasm has motivated most of them. 3 But I’m sending the brothers so that our bragging about you in this case won’t be empty words, and so that you can be prepared, just as I keep telling them you will be. 4 If some Macedonians should come with me and find out that you aren’t ready, we (not to mention you) would be embarrassed as far as this project goes. 5 This is why I thought it was necessary to encourage the brothers to go to you ahead of time and arrange in advance the generous gift you have already promised. I want it to be a real gift from you. I don’t want you to feel like you are being forced to give anything. (2 Corinthians 9:1-5, CEB)

Are we prepared to show what we have done and are doing for God’s mission?

We do not do this to prove that we are good and we are following, but we do this to help others see that it is possible to support God in all circumstances.

We need to always be prepared to be ready to move and show how God is working in and through your life.

Never shy away from the glory that God gets by your following God.

Boldly talk about what God has motivated you to do and be.

Love People. Love God.

Integrity

16 But thank God, who put the same commitment that I have for you in Titus’ heart. 17 Not only has he accepted our challenge but he’s on his way to see you voluntarily, and he’s excited. 18 We are sending the brother who is famous in all the churches because of his work for the gospel along with him. 19 In addition to this, he is chosen by the churches to be our traveling companion in this work of grace, which we are taking care of for the sake of the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our desire to help. 20 We are trying to avoid being blamed by anyone for the way we take care of this large amount of money. 21 We care about doing the right thing, not only in the Lord’s eyes but also in the eyes of other people. 22 We are sending our brother with them. We have tested his commitment in many ways and many times. Now he’s even more committed, because he has so much confidence in you. 23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and coworker among you. If there is any question about our brothers, they are the churches’ apostles and an honor to Christ. 24 So show them the proof of your love and the reason we are so proud of you, in such a way that the churches can see it. (2 Corinthians 8:16-24, CEB)

We want people to see we are handling the money they entrusted us with in a manner that is upright. Not that it is really important for this, because we are handling it appropriately before God. But to keep up relations we do things that show that we are always and completely above board.

We need to live always with integrity. Integrity is doing what is right even when people aren’t looking or noticing. To act like a follower of God at all times, not just when we are being watched.

I have come to discover that usually when people have issues with someone else it is because they are authentic and a person of integrity. Because they are not and have a hard time with someone who is.

But if we all strive to be a person of integrity, our lives would be so much easier. Because only a liar has to have a good memory.

Live your life in such a way that you don’t have to have a good memory, and freely give away the grace, mercy, and love you have received.

Love People. Love God.

Do you believe?

21 Jesus crossed the lake again, and on the other side a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. 22 Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, came forward. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded with him, “My daughter is about to die. Please, come and place your hands on her so that she can be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him. 25 A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28 She was thinking, If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll be healed. 29 Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in her body that her illness had been healed. 30 At that very moment, Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His disciples said to him, “Don’t you see the crowd pressing against you? Yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus looked around carefully to see who had done it. 33 The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth. 34 He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking with her, messengers came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying to Jairus, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?” 36 But Jesus overheard their report and said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.” 37 He didn’t allow anyone to follow him except Peter, James, and John, James’ brother. 38 They came to the synagogue leader’s house, and he saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “What’s all this commotion and crying about? The child isn’t dead. She’s only sleeping.” 40 They laughed at him, but he threw them all out. Then, taking the child’s parents and his disciples with him, he went to the room where the child was. 41 Taking her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Young woman, get up.” 42 Suddenly the young woman got up and began to walk around. She was 12 years old. They were shocked! 43 He gave them strict orders that no one should know what had happened. Then he told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43, CEB)

It is interesting that these 2 stories are with each other. The synagogue leader comes to find Jesus because his daughter is ill and he has heard what Jesus can do. He believes in the stories he has heard about Jesus and thinks there maybe hope. But on the way a woman, who was robbed of all of her money by doctors, who knows Jesus can heal her, touches the fringe of his cloak and is healed. Then when Jesus realizes what has happened he asks who touched him, and of course the disciples are like, who didn’t touch you? But Jesus knew someone was healed, and she came forward, and she was sent on her way. And when Jesus arrived at the synagogue leaders home, those there laughed at Jesus when he said the girl was sleeping. They didn’t believe.

Do you believe? These stories show faith and no faith. They show trust in God and no trust in God.

Where are you?

Love People. Love God.

Why silence?

31 Jesus went down to the city of Capernaum in Galilee and taught the people each Sabbath. 32 They were amazed by his teaching because he delivered his message with authority. 33 A man in the synagogue had the spirit of an unclean demon. He screamed, 34 “Hey! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.” 35 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” The demon threw the man down before them, then came out of him without harming him. 36 They were all shaken and said to each other, “What kind of word is this, that he can command unclean spirits with authority and power, and they leave?” 37 Reports about him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. (Luke 4:31-37, CEB)

Jesus told his mother in John that it was not time yet when she asked him to turn water into wine and correct the problem there.

Jesus also told his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen.

And most every time Jesus expels a demon he tells it to be silent.

Now I know there truly is a time and a place for everything, but if God was in your midst wouldn’t you want to know?

Or maybe Jesus knew that us knowing would be something we couldn’t handle at that point.

But know that Jesus came to set us free from everything that binds us and keeps us from God. He came to restore us to relationships that feed our souls.

Love People. Love God.

Grace

Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia. 2 While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity. 3 I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily. 4 They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this service for the saints. 5 They even exceeded our expectations, because they gave themselves to the Lord first and to us, consistent with God’s will. 6 As a result, we challenged Titus to finish this work of grace with you the way he had started it. 7 Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you (2 Corinthians 8:1-7, CEB)

Grace is given, not earned…

While things were rough in Macedonia they were showered with grace. It wasn’t because of the rough times. But God saw them and showered them because God is love.

Grace is given to us and we need to give it away freely, because grace will always be given.

Know that God is love and God’s grace will always cover your life.

Love People. Love God.

Truth…

2 Make room in your hearts for us. We didn’t do anything wrong to anyone. We didn’t ruin anyone. We didn’t take advantage of anyone. 3 I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I’ve already said that you are in our hearts so that we die and live together with you. 4 I have every confidence in you. I’m terribly proud of you. I’m filled with encouragement. I’m overwhelmed with happiness while in the middle of our problems. 5 Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we couldn’t rest physically. We were surrounded by problems. There was external conflict, and there were internal fears. 6 However, God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival. 7 We weren’t comforted only by his arrival but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your desire to see me, how you were sorry, and about your concern for me, so that I was even happier. 8 Even though my letter hurt you, I don’t regret it. Well—I did regret it just a bit because I see that that letter made you sad, though only for a short time. 9 Now I’m glad—not because you were sad but because you were made sad enough to change your hearts and lives. You felt godly sadness so that no one was harmed by us in any way. 10 Godly sadness produces a changed heart and life that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but sorrow under the influence of the world produces death. 11 Look at what this very experience of godly sadness has produced in you: such enthusiasm, what a desire to clear yourselves of blame, such indignation, what fear, what purpose, such concern, what justice! In everything you have shown yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it wasn’t for the sake of the one who did wrong, or for the sake of the one who was wronged, but to show you your own enthusiasm for us in the sight of God. 13 Because of this we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we were even more pleased at how happy Titus was. His mind has been put at rest by all of you. 14 If I’ve bragged about you to him in any way, I haven’t been embarrassed. Instead, our bragging to Titus has also been proven to be true, just like everything we said to you was true. 15 His devotion to you is growing even more as he remembers how all of you were obedient when you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 16 I’m happy, because I can completely depend on you. (2 Corinthians 7:2-16, CEB)

We are called to speak the truth. We are called to say what needs to be said even when we know that it may not be heard, or it maybe painful to hear.

We are not called as those who follow Jesus to sugar coat things and make everyone feel good. We are called to speak the truth in love and to show concern for all.

This doesn’t mean we are mean or intend to hurt others by what we say, but we must say the things that need to be said.

When my parents confronted my sister, who is an alcoholic, they did it to help her. To get her to see what she was doing not only to herself, but the whole family. And when one in the body of Christ hurts or is hurting, then we all hurt.

We must speak the truth in love, not to hurt but to heal.

Love People. Love God.

Don’t be afraid…

45 Right then, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake, toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After saying good-bye to them, Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray. 47 Evening came and the boat was in the middle of the lake, but he was alone on the land. 48 He saw his disciples struggling. They were trying to row forward, but the wind was blowing against them. Very early in the morning, he came to them, walking on the lake. He intended to pass by them. 49 When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost and they screamed. 50 Seeing him was terrifying to all of them. Just then he spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” 51 He got into the boat, and the wind settled down. His disciples were so baffled they were beside themselves. 52 That’s because they hadn’t understood about the loaves. Their minds had been closed so that they resisted God’s ways. (Mark 6:45-52, CEB)

Jesus was going to pass them, so when they got to the other side he would jump out from behind a tree and yell, “boo” really loud…

No not really. Jesus sent the disciples ahead and they struggled on the water. I understand this. Sometimes the wind blowing the wrong direction can cause severe issues on the water. But Jesus was walking and didn’t have any issues.

He got close to them and said, “Don’t be afraid.” Do not have fear, I am with you and all is good.

Isn’t it good to know that Jesus is in the boat and all is well.

Even when we don’t see Jesus, he is in the boat.

Don’t be afraid, face the winds head on and love out loud!

Love People. Love God.

Run the ship ashore

39 In the morning light they saw a bay with a sandy beach. They didn’t know what land it was, but they thought they might possibly be able to run the ship aground. 40 They cut the anchors loose and left them in the sea. At the same time, they untied the ropes that ran back to the rudders. They raised the foresail to catch the wind and made for the beach. 41 But they struck a sandbar and the ship ran aground. The bow was stuck and wouldn’t move, and the stern was broken into pieces by the force of the waves. 42 The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming to shore and escaping. 43 However, the centurion wanted to save Paul, so he stopped them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and head for land. 44 He ordered the rest to grab hold of planks or debris from the ship. In this way, everyone reached land safely. (Acts 27:39-44, CEB)

Have you ever been on a boat in rough waters? I have and it is an experience I will never forget. Even after that I went back on the water. Because of the adventure and the possibility of disaster.

We never know what is going to happen in life, but one thing that is guaranteed is that life won’t be smooth sailing every time.

There will be rough seas, and you may have to run the boat ashore, but then get another boat and get back out there.

God is always with us, and wants us to live the best life we can. This is done by sharing love and being with God’s people.

Live and share the love and grace you have been given.

Love People. Love God.

What did he say?

13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they could carry out their plan. They pulled up anchor and sailed closely along the coast of Crete. 14 Before long, a hurricane-strength wind known as a northeaster swept down from Crete. 15 The ship was caught in the storm and couldn’t be turned into the wind. So we gave in to it, and it carried us along. 16 After sailing under the shelter of an island called Cauda, we were able to control the lifeboat only with difficulty. 17 They brought the lifeboat aboard, then began to wrap the ship with cables to hold it together. Fearing they might run aground on the sandbars of the Gulf of Syrtis, they lowered the anchor and let the ship be carried along. 18 We were so battered by the violent storm that the next day the men began throwing cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they picked up the ship’s gear and hurled it into the sea. 20 When neither the sun nor the moon appeared for many days and the raging storm continued to pound us, all hope of our being saved from this peril faded. 21 For a long time no one had eaten. Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have complied with my instructions not to sail from Crete. Then we would have avoided this damage and loss. 22 Now I urge you to be encouraged. Not one of your lives will be lost, though we will lose the ship. 23 Last night an angel from the God to whom I belong and whom I worship stood beside me. 24 The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar! Indeed, God has also graciously given you everyone sailing with you.’ 25 Be encouraged, men! I have faith in God that it will be exactly as he told me. 26 However, we must run aground on some island.” 27 On the fourteenth night, we were being carried across the Adriatic Sea. Around midnight the sailors began to suspect that land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line to take soundings and found the water to be about one hundred twenty feet deep. After proceeding a little farther, we took soundings again and found the water to be about ninety feet deep. 29 Afraid that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they hurled out four anchors from the stern and began to pray for daylight. 30 The sailors tried to abandon the ship by lowering the lifeboat into the sea, pretending they were going to lower anchors from the bow. 31 Paul said to the centurion and his soldiers, “Unless they stay in the ship, you can’t be saved from peril.” 32 The soldiers then cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just before daybreak, Paul urged everyone to eat. He said, “This is the fourteenth day you’ve lived in suspense, and you’ve not had even a bite to eat. 34 I urge you to take some food. Your health depends on it. None of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said these things, he took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, then broke it and began to eat. 36 Everyone was encouraged and took some food. (37 In all, there were two hundred seventy-six of us on the ship.) 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. (Acts 27:13-38, CEB)

What would you do if you were on a ship and someone on the ship said the ship will be lost but we will all be safe? And mind you this is after you haven’t seen the sun or the moon for days because of the rain that has been beating down on you…

I would be a little skeptic and wonder.

But God does things we do not understand.

God works in ways we do not get.

God does things the way God wants to, when God wants to.

So trust God. Know God will always be there for you.

Love People. Love God.

How can you sleep?

35 Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” 36 They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along. 37 Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. 38 But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” 39 He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. 40 Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?” 41 Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41, CEB)

Have you ever been on a boat in high winds and waves?

I have, I remember it like it was yesterday and it was probably 3 or 4 years ago at this point. I was on a boat with a couple of friends who owned the sail boat and my wife. We were going to a local marina to celebrate my wife’s birthday. This was not the first time I had been on a sail boat. I raced with the captain every week for most summers at least two years before this and probably another 2 years after. I only stopped racing because I moved away from the area. But this day we were just taking our time going across the bay, until the captain saw the storm coming, and knew we would not make the marina before it hit. We were in at least six foot waves, which may not sound like much but when the boat if only 25 feet long, six foot waves is enough to hear the motor spin out of the water every time you go up.

And I knew we were in trouble when the captain stopped talking. Hos gaze was fixed on the horizon and he was focused to make sure his boat and crew were safe. And we were safe with him at the helm. But I could not have slept through that.

But Jesus was so sure they were ok, he was asleep at the back of the boat.

That is how God is in our lives. Able to rest completely.

Trust God. You always can.

Love People. Love God.