5/2/13

From Gary... Long ago, far away and a blessing awaiting me




Today, Buddy is at the pet groomer getting his much needed maintenance and when we came home, it seemed strange to come into the house without his enthusiastic greeting.  So, I guess I had him on my mind when I came to this picture.  One day last week I took Buddy for  his usual dogie walk around the retention pond and snapped this picture of our old house.  We bought it about the time of 911 and later sold it to our daughter and her husband.  It is only about a mile and a half away, but it seems much farther away now.  As I stood there in the noontime heat, I wondered what our lives would have been like if we had not sold it.  And this reminded me of Moses on Mount Nebo and couldn't help but wonder what his thoughts might have been as he looked upon the promised land... 

Deuteronomy, Chapter 32
 48  Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying,  49 “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is across from Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession. 50 Die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people;  51 because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn’t uphold my holiness in the midst of the children of Israel.  52 For you shall see the land from a distance; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel.” 

Moses was told to speak to the rock in order to bring forth water.  Instead, he struck the rock with his staff.  His disobedience had a penalty and it must have pained him greatly to realize that all those years of wandering in the desert would NOT RESULT IN HIS ACTUALLY GOING INTO THE PROMISED LAND.  Still, Moses was close to God, so he must have understood that he was soon to be with God in heaven and so his sorrow must have been accompanied by joy as well.  This is a little like what I felt as viewed "our house" across that field, because although I think it would have been nice to live there- living here is great!!!  The bottom line is found in this Scripture...

Romans, Chapter 8
 28  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 

From Jim McGuiggan... Trust and throwing Hippos


Trust and throwing Hippos

"I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him," she said to me. "Oh," I said, "and why’s that?" and she proceeded to tell me of a bad experience she had had with him about something. It would appear that the temptation to cover a person’s entire life with a blanket of distrust on the basis of one bad experience (or several bad experiences in the same area) is almost too strong to resist. We got into a lengthy discussion about this person who had been our mutual friend. I don’t remember how it went exactly but I know the direction it went and cutting out what would have been most of the plain and useful verbal moves on both sides we’re left with something like this.
"You mean you wouldn’t trust him in anything?" The hurt was still acute and what I got was a re-rehearsal of how wrong the wrong had been and then, "how can you trust a person like that?"
"You think he’d hurt his children or run around on his wife?
"Good heavens no."
"So there are things about him that you could bet on?"
"Well...(sigh)...of course."
"He was way out of line in this matter; he shouldn’t have treated you that way but you’re not prepared, are you, to blot out all the good things in his life?"
A hesitant and very slightly irritated, "No, but right now I’m not prepared to trust him again."
"I understand, but he’s been a good friend to us down the years, hasn’t he?"
"(Another sigh) Yes, I remember when..." and she told of a great kindness. More than one. Now the tone was softer.
Finally, "I’m sure you’ll work this out with him, a step at a time."
Still, it’s true that some of us by repeated failures show that we can’t be trusted with money. Some of us can’t be trusted in our relationship with the opposite sex and some of us don’t know how to bridle our tongue. Some of us are smug when successful or abusive when given authority or lazy when people are depending on us to get things done and on and on and on. And those that really do watch out for us in a discreet, strong and loving way are to be treasured even if their presence sometimes irks us.
In Romans 12:3 Paul thought it was vitally important that we recognise our limits. People are very wise as well as humble if for the sake of others they stay clear of situations they know they’re weak in. Should they seek growth and the exercise of virtue in those areas of weakness? They should seek maturity as a whole person; but if they know their limitations it’s good for them as well as others that they engage themselves in their areas of strength until they have reason to feel (under God) the ability to engage in other areas of service.
What we’re tempted to do with a single individual we’re tempted to do with a community of people.
Many years ago I went looking for a room to rent in Birmingham, England. In several parts of the city I saw signs outside the rental accommodation: No Irish! Some poor soul had had enough with former Irish tenants and had shut the door to all of us. Shame on those Irish that provoked that kind of thing. Shame too on those who shut us all out because some were a real pain in the neck. Though I can easily understand why the property owners would react the way they did, they robbed themselves of the benefit that another kind of Irish would bring. And when we close down on a whole believing community because someone mistreated us or one of their preachers went whacko, I’m certain that we’ve blundered at numerous levels. (If a strong pattern of mistreatment emerges it’s (past) time to examine underlying "causes".)
"That’s all very well, but you don’t know how badly hurt I’ve been." Oh, I know I have a comfortable life and that things with me and mine (while they aren’t perfect) are fine indeed, so I’m not about to compare myself with many poor souls that I know personally and a host I’ve heard of. I know too that I’ve deeply hurt many in my life but I must confess that I’ve been deeply hurt as well. All that to say, I would guess that the vast majority of us shouldn’t make an excuse out of how badly we’ve been hurt when we’re trying to justify our refusal to put ourselves at risk again. Or to admit that the offender is trustworthy in many other areas. Maybe it’ll help if we self-examine and know that despite our over-all trustworthiness there are areas we wouldn’t trust ourselves "as far as we could throw a hippo."

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Jesus Walks On Water


                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                     Jesus Walks On Water (6:45-52)

INTRODUCTION

1. Have you ever felt alone...
   a. As you battled the storms of life?
   b. Wondering where Jesus was when you needed Him?

2. Then perhaps the miracle we are about to study may be helpful...
   a. When Jesus walked on the water
   b. Recorded in three gospels (Matthew, Mark, John)

[Our study will be based on Mark's account (Mk 6:45-52).  We'll divide
the study in two sections, beginning with verses 45-47 where we read
of...]

I. THE PRAYER IN JESUS' ABSENCE

   A. JESUS PRAYED AS THEY WERE ROWING...
      1. Jesus sent His disciples by boat to Bethsaida near Capernaum
         - Mk 6:45; cf. Jn 6:17
      2. He Himself departed to the mountain to pray - Mk 6:46
         a. Even in His busy schedule, taking time to pray was a
            priority for Jesus - cf. Mk 1:35
         b. If the Son of God needed prayer, how much more the children
            of God today! - cf. Col 4:2
      3. Thus at evening, while His disciples were rowing, He was alone
         - Mk 6:47
      -- Two vivid scenes:  Jesus praying on the mountain, His disciples
         rowing in the sea

   B. JESUS PRAYS AS WE ARE WORKING...
      1. Like the disciples rowing in the sea, we are to busying working
         a. Working out our salvation with fear and trembling - cf. Php 2:12
         b. Abounding in the work of the Lord - cf. 1Co 15:58
      2. Meanwhile, as on the mountain, so now in heaven, Jesus prays
         for us
         a. He is our great High Priest - cf. He 4:14-16
         b. He makes intercession on our behalf - cf. He 7:25; Ro 8:34;
            1Jn 2:1
      -- Two vivid scenes:  Jesus praying in heaven, His disciples busy
         on earth

[As we return to our text (verses 48-52), the two scenes become one as
Jesus joins His disciples and we read of...]

II. THE PEACE OF JESUS' PRESENCE

   A. JESUS' COMING BROUGHT THEM PEACE...
      1. Jesus saw His disciples straining at rowing - Mk 6:48
         a. For the wind was against them
         b. Matthew records the boat was being tossed by the waves - Mt 14:24
      2. Jesus came to them, walking on the sea - Mk 6:48
         a. About the fourth watch of the night (3:00 to 6:00 am)
         b. He would have passed them by had they not called out
      3. The disciples saw Him, thought it was a ghost, and cried out
         - Mk 6:49
         a. Perhaps like King Herod, they were prone to superstition
            - cf. Mk 6:14
         b. Given the circumstances (dark night, stormy sea), who could
            blame them?
      4. They were greatly troubled, but Jesus spoke words of comfort
         - Mk 6:50
         a. Note that Mark says "immediately" - Jesus sought to allay
            their fears quickly
         b. "Be of good cheer" (NKJV), "Take heart" (ESV), "Take
            courage" (NASB)
         c. "It is I; do not be afraid" - Jesus sought to encourage them
            with His presence
      5. It is interesting that Mark does not record Peter's attempt to
         walk out to Jesus
         a. As recorded by Matthew - Mt 14:28-31
         b. Especially if Mark's gospel was based mostly on Peter's
            testimony
         c. Yet it is consistent with the humility often seen in the
            gospels, where the authors make little or no reference to
            themselves (cf. Matthew, Mark, John)
      6. As Jesus joined them in the boat, the wind ceased and they
         marveled - Mk 6:51-52
         a. Greatly amazed beyond measure, and rightly so!
         b. For they had yet to grasp the significance of His feeding
            the 5000
         c. According to Matthew, they worshiped Jesus and proclaimed
            Him to be the Son of God - Mt 14:33
      -- Jesus' coming had brought great peace and comfort to His
         disciples

   B. JESUS' COMING WILL BRING US PEACE...
      1. For now, we are like the disciples, rowing our way to the
         heavenly shore
      2. At times, the stormy seas in our journey will make us afraid
         and challenge our faith
      3. Remember that He prays for us!
         a. As He did on the mountain
         b. So He now does in heaven
      4. When He does come...
         a. His coming will be with the greatest "storm" ever! - cf.2Pe 3:10-12
         b. But it will bring joy and peace for those who look for Him
            - cf. 2Pe 3:13; Re 21:1-7
      5. How we will gladly proclaim Him to be the Son of God!
      -- Jesus' final coming will bring great peace and comfort to those
         who serve Him

CONCLUSION

1. As described in the Believer's Bible Commentary...

   "The church has seen in this miracle a picture of the present age and
   its close. Jesus on the mountain represents Christ in His present
   ministry in heaven, interceding for His people. The disciples
   represent His servants, buffeted by the storms and trials of life.
   Soon the Savior will return to His own, deliver them from danger and
   distress and guide them safe to the heavenly shore."

2. So while we may struggle at times in our service to the Lord...
   a. We can take comfort, knowing that Jesus is praying for us during
      the storm
   b. We can take courage, knowing that His coming for us will bring us
      great peace

But such comfort and courage will come only to those who are willing to
serve Him now.  Are you in the "boat" and "rowing" in the service of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God...? - cf. Mt 28:18-20


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

eXTReMe Tracker