Praise you in this storm – Casting Crowns

We all can relate to the longing for a word from God, and the desire for him to take away the storms in our lives. We all know what it feels like to have our hearts torn, and to cry out to God for healing in the midst of suffering.

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Some of life’s storms come upon us suddenly as was the case for the disciples in the ship. (Mark 4:37-38) We suddenly lose someone we love, we have a bitter disappointment, a crushing financial situation, or a physical illness that threatens to change our life forever or even threatens to end it.

Other storms may come slowly as you see the sky darken around you and the visibility of your life become dim until it seems a black cloud has surrounded us.

This song will help you realize that life is full of adventures.  If you have faith, God will get through the storms of life!

Praise You In This Storm lyrics
Songwriters: Mark Hall, Bernie Herms

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say, Amen and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, “I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands
And praise the God who gives and takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry, You raised me up again
But my strength is almost gone
How can I carry on if I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, “I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls I raise my hands
And praise the God who gives and takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

And I’ll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I am second

I am Second small groups are designed to connect people with one another and with God through an authentic, action based discussion group. You are here for a reason. We all have needs and could use some help. I Am Second is designed to help people discover their purpose in life. Have you discovered yours? The stories shared at I Am Second provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment that others have found. Be Second.

Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 (CEV)

Please join St. Mark’s Lutheran Church as we launch the first I Am Second small group meeting today at 6 p.m. at the Java Creek Cafe in the Boyson Road plaza, Cedar Rapids.  We will view a video and then have a discussion about it. Everyone is welcome, you need not be a member of the church, just have a open mind to discover your purpose in life through Jesus Christ.

https://www.facebook.com/events/399936116688949/

The extra mile

The phase “going the second mile” has found its way into our modern jargon. It has its roots in first-century Palestine. The Romans had conquered much of the known world. One of the marvels of their conquest was a vast system of super highways which they had built to and from their conquered territories. There were over 50,000 miles of these Roman roads throughout the empire. At each mile was a stone marker. The New Oxford English Dictionary calls them “guide stones.” These guide stones pointed direction, determined distance, warned of dangers and each one of them had the miles to Rome etched upon them. This is where we get the phrase, “all roads lead to Rome.”

If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. (Matthew 5:41)

A Roman soldier could compel a Jewish man or boy of one of the conquered lands to carry his backpack or burden for a mile. The Jewish boy or man was required by law to carry this soldier’s burden for a mile. The origin of the mile comes from the Latin word for 1000, mille, because originally a mile was the distance a Roman soldier could march in 1000 paces. Most Jews wouldn’t carry the burden one pace  further than the law required them! This law caused terrible resentment among the Jews toward the Roman government

Can you imagine how the Jews felt when Jesus said, “Go the second mile?” No doubt, the audience said, “He must be jesting.” “Does he really expect us to do more than the law requires us to do?” In essence, Jesus was saying that his disciples need to do more than what the law is required of them. No one likes to be made to do the work of others, at the very least; we are apt to complain, argue, or simply refuse to be so used. Being compelled to engage in “community service” by law or by might is demeaning and perhaps unjust. But Jesus tells us to take the sting out of the situation by being willing to carry such a burden an extra mile in a cheerful attitude.

If we call ourselves Christians, then we need to understand that we are required to live in the second mile. when we chooses to carry the burden for a second mile, then we take control of the situation. When we live in the second mile, it moves us from slaves to masters. The first mile is the “have to” mile, but the second mile is the “I want to” mile.

• To love your neighbor is the first mile – to love your enemy is the second mile
• To bless those who bless you is the first mile, – to bless those who curse you is the second mile
• To do good to those who do good to you is the first mile – to do good to those who hate you is the second mile
• Praying for those who pray for you is the first mile – praying for those who despitefully use you is the second mile

The first mile is that which is required of us. It is the mile that is mandated for us. We live in a world where many do not even make it to the first mile marker. That is, they do not even do what is required of them. Jesus went the second mile for all of us. What does it mean Living in the Second Mile? It means to rise above the instinctive desire to strike back, get even, or settle the score and to meet evil with good. It means to swallow pride and abandon self-interest. It means to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.It means to live by grace in the face of the unfair.

Jesus went much farther than the second mile for you, He went as far as anyone could go. He went all the way to the cross to be our sin bearer and died for you and me.

The Impossible

“Unsinkable ships, sink, unbreakable walls, break.
Sometimes the things you think would never happen,
happen just like that.
Unbendable steel, bends, if the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I’ve learned to never underestimate the impossible”
~ Joe Nichols The Impossible (Unsinkable Ship)

On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage, sailing from Southampton, England, to New York City. One of the largest and most luxurious passenger liners at the time, the Titanic was also considered by many to be unsinkable. On April 14, however, the ship struck an iceberg, and early the next day it sank.  On the morning of April 15, 1912, the sinking of the RMS Titanic the previous night shocked the world. The year had dawned bright with promise and the maiden voyage of the Titanic was a symbol of the advances mankind had made in the last few years. When the Titanic embarked on her maiden voyage the world was filled with hope and awe. In just a few short days those emotions turned to horror and grief.

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which  you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

We never know when we might face fear but when we do we must stare it in the face and walk through the fear and do the impossible. Because if you don’t, the fear grows. And it can grow so big that it becomes a gargantuan monster that will require the whole town to band together to destroy it! When something unexpected happens, your belief in yourself can waiver. This is exactly the moment you must not give up. You must face your fear or it will immobilize you.

Joe Tye writes in his book, Never Fear, Never Quit: A Story of Courage and Perseverance that “Fear is the most toxic of emotions. In today’s challenging and uncertain world, Courage and Perseverance are at a premium. Never Fear, Never Quit features a systematic exploration of the cornerstones upon which these values are built”.

Never Fear

Cornerstone 1: Diagnosis
Give fear a name and it becomes just a problem; it’s easier to solve problems than it is to conquer fear.
Cornerstone 2: Transformation
Metaphorical Visualization sparks the alchemy of anxiety, fear, and worry into catalytic energy for constructive change.
Cornerstone 3: Action
The Janitor in Your Attic and other practical action steps for confronting fear of rejection and failure.
Cornerstone 4: Connection
Fear is contagious but so is courage; strategies for cultivating empowering relationships.

Never Quit

Cornerstone 1: Preparation
It’s not if but rather when bad things happen to good people — strategies to be ready when they do happen.
Cornerstone 2: Perspective
How a simple change of perspective can transform apparent disaster into real opportunity.
Cornerstone 3: Toughness
Using the 3-Ps of Perseverance (Purpose, Passion, Patience) to cultivate mental toughness and emotional resilience.
Cornerstone 4: Learning
The 4 cardinal benefits of adversity, and how they combine to make you stronger and wiser.
(http://www.joetye.com/never-fear-never-quit.html)

Never Fear, Never Quit teaches that miracles are worth working for, that we each have the power to create the person we were meant to be and to give that gift of knowledge to others.

Whether in business, your personal life, or even in the pursuit of following your dreams, it is likely you will face fears. It’s a natural human condition. It’s part of every person’s evolution. Every challenge is an opportunity to conquer.

So the next time you feel fear holding you back, breathe, look fear in the face, and step forward with courage.

Believe you are brave, and you will be.

One did and one didn’t

What one are you?  Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left (Luke 23:32-33).  One of the criminals hanging there threw insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The other one, however, rebuked him, saying: “Don’t you fear God? Here we are all under the same sentence. Ours, however, is only right, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” Jesus said to him, “I tell you this: Today you will be in Paradise with me.” (Luke 23:39-43)

When the one criminal ask Jesus to “remember him” he was asking for salvation knowing that his sentence to die on the cross was a just-one.  He never had the chance to know Jesus or worship him but Jesus told him Today you will be in Paradise with me.  One criminal made fun of Jesus and the other wanted to be forgiven, they both had noting to gain and was just hours from death.

No matter what you have done, it’s never too late to seek forgiveness and ask Jesus to come into your heart.  So, what side side of Jesus are you on?  Are you making fun of Him or do you believe He is the Messiah?

The Catcher

Life is a risky enterprise. Sometimes we fly high, enjoying great success. But then suddenly we fall into deep disappointments and the haunting reality of failure, leaving our hearts wondering if there is anything worth looking forward to.

At a funeral recently, the pastor told the story about a trapeze artist. The performer admitted that although he is seen as the star of the show, the real star is the catcher—the teammate who hangs from another trapeze bar to grab him and guarantee a safe landing. The key, he explained, is trust. With outstretched arms, the flyer must trust that the catcher is ready and able to grab him. Dying is like trusting in God as the catcher. After we have flown through life, we can look forward to God reaching out to catch His followers and to pull us safely to Himself forever. I like that thought.

This reminds me of Jesus’ comforting words to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled . . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And . . . I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Life is indeed a risky business, but be encouraged! If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Catcher is waiting at the end to take you safely home.