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.
Taking up our cross daily does not seem fun. We ask ourselves, “What must I give up for this menacing God who created this universe?” Maybe the questions we ask ourselves are scarier than that. “What if there is no God?” we ask ourselves. Who or what can we turn to then? I have seen man treat his fellow man in most horrible ways. I have seen wars and rumors of war. I have seen men riot and destroy property and people. I have seen children mistreated and abused. Did they not even kill Jesus, the Son of God? Yet, I have seen the Amish community come together and raise a barn for their neighbor. I have seen people come from different states to help victims of natural disasters who have lost everything. I have seen people give to telethons to help people attend college. I have seen people who jump into the water to save people who are drowning.
The only answer we have is God's peace. Jesus let us know that He was leaving His peace with us. This peace is offered without strings attached. If we are to live in these perilous times, we must seek someone greater than ourselves. People will let us down. Institutions will let us down. Our faith needs to be in nothing less than the God who made us. Our Father is aware of what is happening, it is no surprise to Him. God loves us all.
Paul was serious about his race. Are we as serious about our race? You might tell me that you have too many things in your life to be serious about anything. You might tell me you are just too busy. Well, let me tell you what Jesus said when summarizing life on this planet Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”(The Message) Jesus was very clear that nothing should take precedence over your relationship with God the Father.
It is easy to start a project, to start a diet, to start a new job, to start a new marriage. However, it is another matter to finish any of those things. It takes a decision to stay the course when the honeymoon is over and reality sets in that marriage is not always easy. Marriage is not always easy but it is always wonderful if you decide it will be wonderful. There is a story of a family in the old west coming to a new town and seeing an older man sitting at the entrance to the town. They ask him about the town and what the people are like. He in turn asks them how the people were of the town they left and they indicated the people were bitter and hard to get along with, so the man tells them it is about the same here. Another couple comes up and asks the man the same question. He asks them the same question he asked the first couple. This couple says the people were great, so the man tells them the people were great here.
Jesus encountered a woman of Samaria to draw water from Jacob's well. Jesus said to her, "give me drink". The woman found that an unusual request because Jesus was a Jew and Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. As the conversation unfolded, Jesus began to tell the woman her life story. Jesus knew of her ex husbands and that she was currently living with a man. The conversation turned "religious" and the woman brought up where different people worshiped. Jesus revealed Himself, as Messiah, and let the woman know that His Father was a Spirit and in the future true believers would worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
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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