I remember the story of a man with large, empty fish aquarium. The man had some large rocks, smaller pebbles, and some very fine sand to fill this aquarium. In order to get fit everything into the aquarium, the larger rocks had to go in first, followed by the smaller pebbles, and finally the sand. The point of the story is that we need to focus on the big, important things in our lives. Jesus will becomes the biggest rock in your life, if you let Him! It is imperative that you place Him first in everything. There are Christians who fail to do this everyday! They pay dearly for it. How do they pay? Ask them about their marriages, their children, their jobs, their lives, and the troubles that fill up their lives like sand.
If you have been mad at God for a long time, ask yourself "why"? Whatever happened or did not happen, did God really cause it? God so loved this world that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to die on a cross, so that we might be reconciled to Him. Is this the kind of God who puts sickness on a child? Why would God do that? The Bible tells us in Matthew 7: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” How much more does our Heavenly Father know how to give than our earthly parents? When God gave us His son Jesus, there was nothing else comparable with that gift.
Wait you say, I have done t0o many things in the past. I have sinned greatly. How can I start fresh? If you are a child of God, then all things have become new and you are a new creation. If you are not a child of God, why not choose to be one? Do you want to continue living the life of sin that has left you broke, disgusted and down, or do you want to lead a life of greatness following the Way of Jesus? The choice between Heaven and Hell between life and death, between victory and defeat seems easy. Choose life.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is well known for his "I have a Dream Speech", but Dr. King also wrote a famous letter from jail called, "Letter from Birmingham Jail". This letter is in response to white religious leaders criticism of his nonviolent objection to the segregation in Birmingham. After reading the letter, a person of common understanding and common sense would have to agree that even though Dr. King was in jail, jail was not in Dr. King.
What is the greatest fear of most people? Death. What if I told you that you no longer have to fear death? Does it sound to good to be true? What else do I have to sell you maybe some desert land and call it ocean front. I tell you truly that you do not have to fear death or anything else. Jesus through death destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Jesus delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. The Bible tells us, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God". The Bible continues, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father"
Do you ever feel frantic? Are there moments when the pace of life is so demanding that you are unsure whether you can "keep it together". The world has gone crazy. We live in a never ending news cycle that brings bad news. It is easy to fall prey and become absorbed in the daily crisis. News organizations thrive off the latest crisis. Fear is the greatest weapon that nations can wield. President Roosevelt said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Between our jobs, marriages, children, parents and the multitude of other obligations we have, down time seems unrealistic.
The disciples are following Jesus’s instructions and enter a boat to cross to the other side. On their journey suddenly a mighty storm arises and waves begin to beat against the boat. How many times in our own lives as we follow Jesus do sudden storms arise? There are storms that you can see and seek shelter, but this was not that kind of storm. This storm was sudden and serious. Even though the disciples had been with Jesus and seen the miraculous, this storm brought fear. Fear is not the opposite of faith. Fear is faith in the circumstances. In addition remember some of these men were fishermen by trade and were well aware of what this kind of storm. As a side note it is amazing how many people are experts in your storm. These experts can tell you all about the storm, yet they have no answers to address the storm. If you have ever been on the water in a boat, then you can attest to the impact if a storm arises, and you are not close to shore. The waves beat the boat and the rain cuts right through your body. What about the storms of life we go through? You might be going through one right now. Whether a natural storm or a storm of life, your body will take a beating, however, the greatest attack comes against your thoughts.
Finish Strong Never Quit 
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