PerfectLOVE! Gods Kindness

My Dedication: To our Popes-Pope Francis and Pope Benedict, to our Cardinals, to our Arch Bishops, to our Bishops, to our Priests of all orders! (To our present, the past and the future)

I have always wondered what Heaven must feel like! As I walk through lush fields, the feeling of the walk is heavenly, where the grass is the most beautiful, perfect green you have ever seen. There are flowers of all kinds, they are all the prettiest colours and they are everywhere. As they gently sway in with the breeze, I could easily dance with joy in my heart. I am totally amazed at what I see. The feeling this moment is of me running through the fields feeling the flowers around me. And I look and I look and I wander, how can all this beauty be here and around me. It is so beautiful-the words they feel so inadequate. You want to be here with me. Everything is the way God intended. The mountains they are so breathtakingly beautiful and not even our imagination will do any justice to what I see at this moment. One look and you never want to leave. The sky a perfect blue and a perfect background to the majestic mountains. As the breeze gently sways in and I feel it on my face and around me, it brings in me a feeling of wonder and awe. It is the sweetest caress and the fragrance of the flowers is the sweetest Heavenly perfume that I have ever sensed. 
I look at the beauty all around me and wonder if I call this Paradise, what would Heaven look like? 

But such a beauty, if I describe it, I would have to say, God walked this part of the Earth. God walks with me! 

The sound of Peace is the sweetest music to the ears. We live in a world where there is pain, suffering, war, disease and a virus that has no respect for life.

We have offended God by our disrespect to life and our hatred towards our fellow brethren. We have used all of God’s resources for hatred and made a mockery of God’s love. It is our hatred, our selfishness that has kept us far away from the reach of our poorer brother and sisters. When we turned our back on our brethren, we let evil win. If we only understood how cold our hearts can be. 

This is a dark world. We have failed to make it a world, after the heart of God. Let’s start with peace that must be what every man hopes for and works toward. We need to eradicate wars, and save each other and our planet. We need to be able to leave everything and run to the rescue of our wounded brother or sister. And being there, be able to lift them up and be there till they can fly. All the years and we have failed miserably. When a calamity hit, we looked from a distance.

We need to share our resources with our poor fellow brethren. We need to look at it from our heart. But that is making a wish that will just be a wish. 
If this will be, then it will be a world, where everyone is equal and this will set a new credo for equality.

God doesn't see the way we see. He doesn't see sin nor rich or poor. He sees His children, all of us, who have a chance to ask for forgiveness and gain Salvation. The poor, the sick and everyone is welcome.

God watches us from a distance. He sees the good and perfect that we can be. This means that, we must care for one another and help each other, not sit back and wait for things to work themselves out.

It is our job to live in Peace and Love of all. We all hope for a perfect world. Here is the thing, we must all work hard and we must work together with love.

Alone we can do so little. TOGETHER, we can do so much!

This is a song I love. From a distance-Bette Midler

From a distance there is harmony

And it echoes through the land
From a distance we all have enough
And no one is in need
And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease
No hungry mouths to feed 

From a distance you look like my friend

Even though we are at war
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
What all this fighting’s for
From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
And it's the hope of hopes
It's the love of loves
It's the heart of every man
It's the hope of hopes
It's the love of loves
This is the song for every man 

God is watching us

God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance 

God is watching us

God is watching
God is watching us from a distance

Kindness is the fruit of the spirit that holds us together. 

To be gracious means to be kind, courteous and compassionate. 

God deals with His people on the basis of His goodness, kindness and generosity. God is tender hearted and is always ready to forgive. God is good. And Scripture teaches that God’s greatest act of kindness is Jesus. Forgiveness plays a vital part in being kind, without which we fall short. God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance. 
Ephesians 4:32, “and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

God is full of compassion. He sent His only Son to die for the disobedience of all mankind. The Son of God allowed Himself to be mocked-tormented and killed. The God who was silent before His slaughterers. The Almighty God is kind. The Almighty is humble.
We imitate God’s kindness, therefore, by loving our enemies. Jesus said, 
“Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” Luke 6:35. 
Our kindness reflects the heart of our Father. 

WHEN God forgives, He forgets! 
Isaiah 43:25, “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” 
Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” 
When we ask forgiveness, God will remember our sins no more! 

If you want your prayers to be unhindered, then learn to forgive and forget like God does. 
When you love, you will forgive. You will not bring into remembrance the past mistakes of anybody including our loved ones. Don’t entertain the devil’s thoughts. Forgive and forget! 

REMEMBER: 
Mark 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 
Mark 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 
Mark 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Faith only works by love. And when you stand praying, FORGIVE. . . .” Because faith won’t work without love, and love forgives. LOVE is KIND.

Let our hearts be filled with love only love and let our thoughts dwell on God’s kindness. 


REMEMBER-REMEMBER: For all the evil we have done. We need to go down on our knees and plead with God for His forgiveness, kind of like the below paragraph from a country song, 'Back to God' states. This is one of my favourite country singers, Reba McEntire. 

You gotta get down on your knees, believe

Fold your hands and beg and plead
Keep on praying
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
Pound the floor and CALL His name
'Cause we're still worth saving
Can't go on like this and live like this
We can't love like this
You can hope the best
Make a wish
The only answer is 

We give this world back to God

Oh, give it back

This is my request, that if you could, please do continue to read. 
PerfectLOVE! Gods Kindness 2

PerfectLOVE! Gods Kindness 2

LOVE is the most important part of our relationship to God. God loves us and He has given us the spirit of adoption by which we call Him, “Abba, father!”

There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  1 John 4:18  

When I am terrified, I bring 1 John 4:18 to my mind. It calms me down. I leave everything to Jesus.

• Fear is a terrible thing. There is a fear of the unknown.
• Love transforms us, it fills us with courage.
• Believe in God’s love for us; believe in Abba Father. We have nothing to be afraid of.

Think of this, Jesus could sleep through the fury of the storm on that sea because He was so filled with love that He was fearless. It was His love and trust in His Father, that calmed the storm. His love is the power of God that saves, heals, and brings wholeness and peace.

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. 1 John 4:16-17 
Love’s opposite is fear. By faith through grace, Christ sets us free from the powers of sin and death. 
Jesus says, He won’t let sin touch me. 
On my final day in my final hour, Jesus has promised to be here with me. Jesus has promised to hold me in His arms. One day I asked Jesus if I would be terribly sick when I am dying. Jesus said, the final hour does not mean that, it just means that I will be with you, I will hold you, I will take you with me to meet Abba Father. 
So I don’t know when my final hour is. But I know it will be extremely beautiful and I’m excited for my day with Jesus and meeting Abba Father and for everything that Jesus has told me.

Following is a short story. The author's name is unknown. 

During one of the most turbulent of the desert wars in the Middle East, a spy was captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general, a man of intelligence, had adopted an unusual custom. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. The prisoner could either face the firing squad or pass through the Black Door. 

As the moment of the execution drew near, the general ordered the spy to be brought before him for a final interview. The purpose was to receive the answer to the query: “What shall it be–the firing squad or the Black Door?” This was not an easy decision and the prisoner made it known that he preferred the firing squad to the unknown horrors that might await him behind the mysterious door. 

Not long after, a volley of shots announced that the grim sentence had been fulfilled. The general, staring at his boots, said to his aide, “You see how it is with men; they will always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. Yet I gave him his choice.” 

“What lies behind the Black Door?” asked the aide. “Freedom,” replied the general, “and I’ve known only a few brave enough to take it.” 

We often want to know what will happen tomorrow. When David was captured by the Philistines, David did not know what the future held. Fear began to rise from within. But in his fear, he turned to the one constant in his life – GOD. 

Love overcomes all. 

Believe that God’s love for us never fails; that nothing can separate us from God’s love which is found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Fear is overcome when we love God and trust God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 

Keep GOD first place. 

REMEMBER: True love is a long and lasting affection. Love waits to the end of time and it is faithful. When we reach out with love to our brothers and sisters in need, we are immeasurably blessed ourselves. 

• Love is unconditional – No give and take. 
• Love is to eternity - Always and forever. 
• Love is sacrifice – where you focus on the good of the other. Less of me and more of you.

Let Jesus be your still, calm place in the midst of the storm. Let Him be the ground of your being, your life, your reality so that when the world throws its worst your way, you will be able to stand and even thrive. This is MY PRAYER FOR YOU.  

This is my request, that if you could, please do continue to read. 

Storm - Forewarning

Storm - Forewarning

Listening to Pope Francis, late yesterday evening, I realized that I had written on the storm, one of my many topics and I thought since our thoughts coincided, it was the Spirit of God, letting me know this is how I must proceed. So these messages, which I will have posted will be with reference to the storm.

This is something that I would have to share with you, since we are on the topic of the storm. .. 

All through my growing years, I would have this recurring dream of water coming from all angles leaving me no way to escape. 

With each passing year, the dream felt more real and a lot scary. Once I woke up to find myself completely drenched in water. And really there was no reason why I should have got wet. 

When my family would go to the beach, I would just sit back to watch over their stuff. I love being at the beach, but I could make no sense of my dream. I thought someday, the water would take me. 

After my brother Adrian, went to be with the Lord, my dreams stopped. When his time to leave was drawing near – each year, the dream got worse, it became a nightmare. 

But there is this one instance, there was no dream and I woke up fully drenched. I thought it had all stopped. It made no sense at all-because after my brother Adrian, left this world, I realized that the sea had become calm, I could walk freely and the water would stay within its limit in my dreams. 

I told my cousin, who knew of my dreams and though he was amused, but when he saw my condition, he went checking as to how I could possibly get wet. We looked over but there was nothing. Finally he looked at a TV cable and it was just hanging there, looking further, he found water drops in it, which is really a strange thing. 

All those years and the nightmares and this one strange episode. 

A storm is a forewarning of things we sometimes fail to understand. I failed to understand what my dream was telling me. 

I hope you would read this carefully. Perhaps, we will then understand why God says, Do not worry and Do not be afraid!

Hold the hand of Jesus…….

This is my request, that if you could, please do continue to read. 
Storm - Eagles Eye

Storm - Eagles Eye

Is there something we can learn from the Eagle? Are there lessons that God wants us to understand? 

Do you know that a mama eagle will teach the eaglets to fly by lifting them and then dropping them off from a high altitude? 

And daddy eagle circles nearby waiting to catch them if they forget to open their wings.

When the eaglet is falling, it starts flapping its wings. It's not thinking about flying, doesn't know what the wings are for. But when it does, the little eaglet starts flying behind the mother. 

When we face difficulties, God watches us from above and just at that moment, God will glide in and pick us up.  

An eagle knows when a storm is approaching. It will actually fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the eagle flies above the storm, it simply uses the strength of the storm to rise above it.

When the storms of life come upon us, we can, allow God’s power to lift us above them. The storms do not overcome us. We can soar above the storm. 

The storms (or trials) build something in us that will be a part of our lives forever. We need to learn from our experiences and be made better.

CONCLUSION: but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31. 
The eaglets discovered they can fly, when they're falling? In the scariest of times you will discover things you never thought you had-strength and determination. 
In the storms of life, may we all, like the Eagle, discover that we were created to soar, to reach new heights. 

Go with your God instinct. What God has for us is too big to accomplish on our own. 
When the storms rage all around you. Let Jesus be the calm amidst the storm!

This is my request that if you could, please do continue to read. 

Storm 1 - Jesus and Jonah

Storm 1 - Jesus and Jonah

"The Sea" referred to here is the Sea of Galilee.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, increase my faith. 

Mark (4:35-41) & Matthew (8:23-27) & Luke (8:22-25). 

For Bible reference-kindly look at the bottom of the page. 

When all is dark, when troubles come and God seems to be a million miles away, then we are in the midst of a storm.
In the evening, Jesus got into a boat and told the disciples to go the other side.
A great storm arose suddenly and threatened to destroy the boat. The shore was far away, the waves were rising too quickly and the winds were too strong.
With the noise and the water engulfing the boat, Jesus is able to lay on a cushion, in the stern, asleep.
Remember – Peter, James, John, and Andrew were experienced fishermen, so what is it that drives the apostles to wake Jesus with the words, “save we are perishing.” (Matthew 8:25) or Mark 4:38 “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”
Could it be, that none of them had experienced such kind of storm before and secondly their faith consisted in the persuasion that they could be saved by waking Jesus from His sleep as their only hope?
Jesus calms the apostles, before calming the storm. He does so only when His apostles put their faith in Him.
The words: “Peace! Be still!” Mark 4:39 

When we feel abandoned, we need to trust in God and we need to pray, just like the terrified disciples. 

To remember, Jesus is in our boat makes a difference! He is always with us in the storms of life, saying “Peace, be still!” (v39). We need to calm our anxious hearts and trust in Him.

Jesus, rebukes the wind and the sea, and then says to the apostles, Mark 4:40 “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Jesus admonishes the apostles/disciples. Jesus expected them to trust in Him, knowing that nothing would happen to them while He was with them. 

Our Lord’s rebuking the sea, is a sign of His divinity. After He calmed the waves, they were amazed. “And the men marvelled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Matthew 8:27). 

When we are tempted to let fear and worry rage within, we must remember Jesus gives the peace that passes all understanding so that we may walk calmly with Him through every storm we encounter in our lives. 

Peace is trusting God in our circumstances and in the storms of life. 

Scripture defines still as a quiet rest and trust in the Lord. Exodus 14:14, Moses told the Israelites how God would deliver them from the Egyptians: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” And in Psalm 46:10, we are told to “Be still, and know that I am God.” 

Jesus is always in control and He will calm the raging storms within our souls. God has promised to give us peace through any storm if we will trust Him to take care of us.

Through the storm, they recognized Jesus as The One, Who, has power even over the physical laws of the universe.

Only God can make the winds and water obey.

Jesus = Peace!

The similarities between Mark’ Gospel and the book of Jonah. 

This is Jonah, his boat caught in a dreadful storm and it is about to sink. Jonah is fast asleep below decks. And the captain of the boat comes and wakes him up, saying, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call upon your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us that we do not perish.” (Jonah 1:6) 

Jonah was on the ship because he was trying to escape. God had ordered him to go to Nineveh, to call the people of that city to repentance, but Jonah responded by fleeing in the opposite direction, which is why God intervenes by sending the storm. 

Jonah asks the men to throw him into the sea. He tells them, the sea will quieten down once it is done. In the Book of Jonah, it is The Almighty God who calms the storm. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus, rebukes the wind and the waters are calmed instantly. (Mark 4:39) 

No wonder the disciples are truly amazed that all they can say is, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41) 

Jonah like Jesus is able to sleep during the storm. Ability to sleep during trouble was often a sign of faith in God.

For a brief moment, let us with the Israelites cross the Red sea to escape the pursuing Egyptians. 

Before God drives back the waters of the Sea, the Israelites are stricken with fear when they see the approaching Egyptian army. Exodus 14:10. 

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw the great work which the Lord did against the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord; and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. Exodus 14:30-31. 

In the Old Testament, it was God whom the seas obeyed. 

In Exodus, the Lord parts the waters of the Red Sea to redeem Israel and fill them with awe and a holy fear. 

The Psalmist reminds us that only God rules the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, God stills them.

The Truths:

• Jesus, calms our fears. 
• God builds our faith through trying times.
• God entrusts specific tasks to each one of us. 
• Jonah tries to escape his calling. Jesus embraces His death on the Cross. 
• Responding to God's call requires sacrifice. 
• When we surrender our lives to God, He will heal our wounds and make our lives complete. 
• St Augustine: 'You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.'

Paul describes a difficulty he has which he calls "a thorn in the flesh." ‘Three times’ Paul says he prayed to the Lord to free him from it, and the Lord answered him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 

From that day, he even began to glory in his weaknesses: "for when I am weak, then I am strong" 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. 

Remember, the disciples were saved because Jesus was in the boat, with them. 

The lack of faith of the disciples that Jesus reproached was the fact that they doubted that He was concerned about their lives and safety-"Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” Mark 4:38 

This is a story of a man who had a dream saw two pairs of footprints in the sand and understood that one pair of footprints was his and the other pair was that of Jesus, who was walking by his side.
At a certain moment, one pair of footprints disappeared and he understood that this happened exactly at a difficult moment of his life.
He tells Jesus, "There was only one pair of footprint in the sand?"
"They were mine," replied Jesus. "In those moments, I carried you on my shoulders."

This is my request that if you could, please do continue to read. Storm 2 - Jesus walks on water

Bible Passages 

Mark 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 
Mark 4:36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 
Mark 4:37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 
Mark 4:38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” 
Mark 4:39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 
Mark 4:40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”

Mark 4:41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” 

Matthew 8:23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.

Matthew 8:24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.
Matthew 8:25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save, Lord; we are perishing.”
Matthew 8:26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:27 And the men marvelled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” 

Jonah 1:4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 1:5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried to his god; and they threw the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down, and was fast asleep.
Jonah 1:6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call upon your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us that we do not perish.” 

This is my request that if you could, please do continue to read. 
Storm 2 - Jesus walks on water

Storm 2 - Jesus walks on water

We expect our life to be one of comfort. And when the storms come upon us, bringing trouble and heartache, we start wondering why God allows this to happen? 

Storms in our life are opportunities to see the Lord in a new light.     

• The boat, in which Jesus was asleep, was at the point of being swallowed up by the waves. The waves rising in the sea are the daily (struggles/trials) of our life, threatening it with destruction. 
• Jesus could sleep through the storm, for His trust is in God the Father. Jesus is asleep in the boat, but nevertheless Jesus still hears. 

God formed us in His own image and likeness. By the envy of the devil, death entered the world. The devil tries everything he can to destroy humanity. 

Everything that is WRONG-Our thoughts:     

• People want to live lavishly, travel the world and dine in fine restaurants. After work hours people want to go for overnight picnics for the weekend. There is no time for family. There is no time for God. There is nothing wrong in being rich. But the way one lives that is a different thing altogether. To party all the time-that is seriously not right. 
• We have lavish Church’s built in Mangalore. Crores spent on rebuilding Church walls that were already there. All this to suit the rich man’s standard. And the donor names were engraved on marble walls with the amounts besides it.
• We are at war within ourselves. Out of jealousy, envy, we destroyed each other. Turn on the news and you see wars, destruction and people dying either because of hatred or because others are too selfish to help. The devil sows destruction in our hearts.    
• Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins such as bacteria and viruses even insects with the intent to kill humans as an act of war. Millions spend on research and development. Come to think of it, it is the poor countries that often fell prey to such disasters. Could it be that the world considered them not? 
• Countries were making themselves secure, with having the latest technology in warfare. Billions spend on arms-latest gadgets, which cause disruption. The money spend on weapons and waging war could have been used to feed children at risk of dying of hunger or to bring clean water, education and health care to everyone. 
• To space and beyond-the cost again billions.

Syria lost as many as 400,000 people in a war. Most of the people had to flee due to ongoing war.

Famines are the worst, they leave parents feeling helpless, when they are unable to feed their babies. The worst is to watch their baby die in their arms. The snaps clicked, show no empathy towards the helpless parents. 

Sometimes, we can have all the latest technology including artificial intelligence. Maybe in years to come AI will be a whole new chapter. But till then, when it is needed the most, when human life is at stake, nothing makes sense. With all the technology, at our disposal and the money that is in billions-trillion, do you see where i am getting to, we still can't stop a virus. We are helpless. 
We need GOD desperately!

I have mentioned-just a few points, here. This is not what God intended for us. We are meant to love each other as God loves us. We are meant to build one another up. We have failed miserably. The poor are the forgotten ones. Nobody seems to think of them. Nobody wanted them. Their pain always seemed to get worse. And did it bother anyone. NO!

The world has Billions to spend-but we never seem to realize that we are responsible for our fellow human-being. Famines, viruses always seemed to destroy the poor nations, the poor people. People felt sorry, the world helped a bit and then the world moved ahead.

When will we REALIZE?
When we face trials, it seems so much. If we only tried to walk in another man’s shoes. If we only felt his pain? We are lost in the storm of life. We can’t find our way out. 
When we feel abandoned, the feeling of fear over grips us. We rationalize that God will not listen and we see ourselves stuck in the storm. We are exposed to a world of agitation and a lack of Peace. Life gets worrisome. We notice the wicked flourish, we see innocent people suffer and we see the poor, in miserable conditions. We wonder why somethings seem so unfair. We are at unrest within ourselves. 

Now this virus, catches everyone off guard? No distinctions made. We are in the STORM. 
No money, no supreme country power, no position-nothing helps. All the intelligence of the world and yet so many lives lost. 
When we are unable to save a human life, we must come to the realization, that everything we think of ourselves is just futile. The answers are never upto us. 
When we see things go out of control. It is time to go on our knees, it is time to ask for Gods forgiveness, for the number of things we have done wrong. And pray, Save, Lord; we are perishing.      

• At times we wonder is there any justice? And then we are reminded by Luke in chapter 9:23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. We are not told that life will be a bed of roses. A Rose is beautiful but it has its thorns. We are called to be Christ like. As the followers of Christ, we will have our share of storms, but the beauty is, we will also turn out victorious. Beauty for ashes. We must be like the Rose, which perfumes the hand that crushes it. 
  

• If our faith in Jesus has been laid asleep in our hearts, we need to awaken our faith with the words: “Save, Lord; we are perishing.” When our faith is strongest in Jesus, the storm shall no more trouble our heart, the waves shall not fill our boat. And we will be at Peace even amidst the storm. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27.

It is the peace of God that passes all understanding. This kind of peace is not the absence of problems. It is the addition of the power of God in our life.  

There are 2 kinds of storms in life:

Storms we ourselves cause, like Jonah who chose to get himself out of the will of God. That storm that arose, was a correcting storm. 

Storms that come when we are in the will of God that is a perfecting storm. (E.g. below and Matthew 8:22-27)

²² Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴ but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. ²⁷ But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”

²⁸ And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; ³⁰ but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33)

Faith grows in time of trials and tribulations. Jesus Himself told the disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side. Jesus knew the storm was coming. Jesus left the crowd of people and went up to the mountain to pray. Jesus interceded for His disciples.

Remember, the apostles/disciples already have an experience of being caught in the storm. Mark (4:35-41). Only difference is at the time, Jesus was with them.  

He saw them in the boat (already a few miles away) being tossed about by the violent waves in the sea. Though some of them were experts at sea, at the given moment, they were struggling and they were in danger of sinking.

Jesus sets out for the boat, walking across the water, with the intention of passing by for He wishes to draw forth strong faith from Peter and the disciples. When they see a figure walking towards them, they are terrified. And when they show themselves fearful the lord says, take courage, it is I, and they recognize the voice, it is the Lord!

On Peters asking, Jesus permits Peter to walk on water? Peter initially begins to walk toward Jesus, but starts to sink out of fear when he sees the waves, and cries out for Jesus to rescue him.

God comes to us with power to sustain us in our storm. Even though Peter began to sink, he didn't drown.

Other than Peter, no one else dared to walk on water. Peter, far from the boat finds himself, facing the strong gusts of wind and the waves. For a spur of that moment, Peter, lost his focus because he feared. But in that fear, He cried out in belief, “Lord, save me.”

The Lord pulls him out and then gently rebukes him.

Faith means keeping the eyes of our heart fixed on the Lord.

The disciples (were in the will of God) they obeyed Jesus.

We need to recognize Jesus, in our storm. In both instances, ‘the storm in the sea’ or ‘Jesus walks on water’ the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus’ presence, they were afraid and hence had no peace.

Jesus said, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Matthew 14:27 and Mark 6:50

I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.

When you navigate through the dark waters, Remember the Peace of Christ surpasses all understanding.

Whatever and however be the storm, God will keep His Word and see us through! And when you face those storms, Remember, Remember, Jesus is in your boat! Call on Him!

If you’re struggling: 

• Believe! Invite Jesus into your situation. Leave your worries with Jesus. 
• No matter what you fear, have faith and ask Jesus for help. When we pray, we may not get what we want, BUT we will get what we need.
• ALWAYS Remember to have a heart full of gratitude and look onward with HOPE!
• The true treasures in life–LOVE God and our neighbour!
• Following Jesus faithfully, will lead us into Peace, even in the midst of the storms.

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The one who believes, will know peace—his heart and mind are guarded by it.

The peace that passes understanding is a strong, resolute faith that no matter what one encounters, God is faithful! God will keep us, God will provide for us and God will bless us! It’s a faith that looks to God-Who works all things for our good and His glory. 

This is a faith that relies upon God’s unbreakable promises.

The prayer:

“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.”

Lord! Deliver us from all evil!

This is my request that if you could, please do continue to read. 

Storm 3 - HolyWeek