This post is no longer available—but the seeds are still bearing fruit!
Want to walk through this powerful journey in 1 John again or share it with someone else?
You can pick up the book here and keep sowing the love of Jesus.
Menu
Menu
8 Responses
Get out on the water with Jesus!
Get out of the boat! Let’s overcome!
Thanks J.D.
Faith not Religion!
Jesus Jesus Jesus
Something about that name!
Coming after You today!
Praise God!
Just yesterday I read Acts 14. During a time Paul was preaching he saw a man present who had Faith to be healed. So he spoke and told the man to get up on his feet and he was healed! Instantly the crowd wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul and Barnabas assured them that they were bringing them good news about the God of the universe and preached to turn from these worthless things to the Living God. He went on to preach thr character iand the nature of God. His kindness His mercy Etc. It wasn’t long until the enemy sent others who quickly persuaded the crowd against the truth. They dragged Paul out of the city and stoned him and left him for dead. But the community of Believers gathered around him and he rose up and the very next day him and Barnabas left to continue sowing the seeds of the Gospel. And then it was first 22 that Paul probably knew better than anyone!
22. Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain TRUE to the faith, he said “we must go through MANY hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
It is easy to nap during the storm when you are Jesus. He has the power to rebuke the storm. But wait, we were told that if we have the faith of a mustard seed we could move mountains. It’s all about faith.
Jesus has walked by me through tremendous pain and loss! I’ve lost a son, Matt, through illness and a grandson, Matthew Bailey, by suicide! My marriage has survived even though 80% of marriages end in divorce, when you lose a child! Sins of the father followed Matt’s death and affected his brother, my son, Jody! Anger ruled his life and poured down on his son! BUT GOD has pulled me out of the mirey pit and sat me on a rock and filled me with song! I am surviving and going forward day by day! My Faith is my strength, my Church is my love and support and the Holy Spirit spurs me on one day at a time! But GOD! Thank you, JESUS
JD,
Please consider the song, “Dancing on the Waves” by We The Kingdom as you continue pondering a series for The Wake-Up Call. Jesus has been call me to come dance with him in the storm for several years now. It’s a beautiful thing. He shows me his patience he knows I can’t dance and I’m afraid of many things; yet, still, he asked me to dance.
JD wrote this:
“Trouble affects everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, or wealth. When you think about it, the only real difference between rich people and poor people is that rich people can afford to hold their troubles at bay longer.”
The two sentences are a contradiction. The rich in material wealth can hold trouble at Bay until death. And they can even be Christians. And so they go to heaven.
I believe that Christ Jesus is the son of God that takes away the sins of the world. I believe he died for our sins and Rose from the dead. I believe I have forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
And so we can acknowledge that both rich and poor can believe and go to heaven.
So basically if I’m rich I really don’t deal with trouble in the same way as a poor person. So I would rather be a rich person. What’s wrong with that? In the story fiddler on the roof the main character sings a cute little song where he’s asking God why is he not rich? Of course the song is a bit paradoxical since he wants some sort of a lavish wealth. Or at least a relatively lavish wall.
So if I work really hard and save money, invest it well, and I’m able to keep trouble at Bay for the rest of my life, why should I not want that. Why would God not want that for me?
Some, probably many, will probably have the answer as religious as it is… “well God had a different divine plan for you”. This makes God seem really terrible. If I don’t work hard don’t save, spend whatever I have foolishly, and get into trouble, then I’m pretty sure both the Christian and the Christian would say that I deserve the trouble and or it’s God’s punishment.
In the end sure seems to me that it’s a lot better to do whatever I can to be rich. I mean nothing else really makes that much sense. I could be rich and give plenty to the poor and and not have the trouble.
JD said “…the only real difference between rich people and poor people is that rich people can afford to hold their troubles at bay longer.” I don’t see the rich people that way.
In the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30, we see everyone receiving talents and the lesson is to multiply what you have, no matter how many talents you are given. The rich may have more talents, but they have a great deal of responsibility in handling those talents as as stewards of God’s creation. A Christian business owner is concerned about providing jobs for their employees and their families. That’s a burden poor folks don’t understand.
Jesus promised all of his followers an abundant life…that abundance includes trouble, which he helps us overcome.
Being rich does not shield a person from the troubles of the world. It won’t prevent the mental illness or suicide of a loved one; it won’t keep you from suffering infidelity of a spouse and the heartache that follows; it won’t prevent a natural disaster that destroys your home or kills your family; it won’t keep your or your family from a devastating diagnosis. In fact being rich creates all kinds of temptation that can call you from a life of faith.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.