When Following God Makes No Sense

Ever feel like following God only makes life harder ?

In Mark 4:35, Jesus ask his disciples to take a ride with him on the Sea of Galilee. However, this boat ride with Jesus is anything but  smooth sailing. Mark records that “a great windstorm arose” on the sea. Matthew calls this storm a “great tempest”, or “seismos” in the original Greek- the same root word for the English “seismology”, the study of earthquakes. This storm was not just an ordinary rain shower. Instead, it was such a fierce and powerful storm that the disciples, many of whom were experienced fisherman, started to fear for their lives and begged the sleeping Savior to save them from the storm.  

Sometime we think that reading the Bible more or serving at church guarantee’s that God is going to bless everything we do. We say to ourselves, “surely God see’s how much I’m trying to following him, so I know everything will be great.” While the Lord does ultimately bless our obedience, there may be occasional storms along the way- storms that are so fierce that make us wonder if God is even paying attention.

If you're in a storm right now, know this - Jesus is right alongside you, in the boat, and will make sure you get to the other side. There’s no need to be fearful or doubt whether the Lord knows what is going on - the same Savior who paid your debt on the cross will also prepare a way thru the storm. 

-Dennis J. 

Pray!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“… pray without ceasing… for this is the will of God”

          I wrote this devotion three years ago before going on my first missions trip ever.  It was included in the journals for all the CCA 8th grade students who went on the Bahamas missions trip.  I was just looking back at it and thinking that it was a great reminder (not too well written, but a good reminder) to pray.  I can get so caught up in the busyness of doing ministry and life that I just forget to pray, or convince myself that I don't have time.  So I hope this speaks to you as well and you enjoy it! 

            "Whenever there is someone that I want to talk to, all I do is pick up my phone and call them.  Maybe I had a bad day and just want to talk to my Dad and vent about it; I pick up my phone and call him.  Maybe I’m on a vacation and I miss my Mom and just want to hear her voice.  All I have to do is pick up my phone and call her and I get to talk to her.  But what if I want to speak to God?  I can’t really pick up my phone and call Him; my phone doesn’t have long distance coverage to Heaven.  There is something even easier than using a phone to call Him and that is prayer.  Prayer is one of the most important, essential things we do as Christians.  It’s as important as breathing is to living.  We are told in the Bible to pray without ceasing because this is God’s will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). 

            
             Prayer is the communication we use to hear from and speak to the Almighty God.  In Ephesians 6:18, the Apostle Paul is teaching us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  Paul is telling us that we need to pray at all times, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests for the saints.  This is very similar to when Jesus “spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” (Luke 18:1).  Prayer is not an option in the Christian life.  It’s a privilege, it’s an adventure and most importantly, it’s a commandment.  So instead of spending all that time on the phone talking and texting, why not just call God and have an amazing conversation?"

-Sean Fryer

Stay Close

Lately something that has really been on my mind and heart is the transition the 8th graders in Six78 will be making to high school ministry (Liquid).  I started working in Six78 three years ago, when these same students were making the transition from 5th to 6th grade, and in that time I have developed a love for these students like I never thought I would.  In this time I have been able to see God move in these young men and women's lives in such an incredible way; They've been built up, broken down, challenged and changed.  I've been able to share thousands of laughs, seen many tears, and have witnessed such an amazing transformation from little boys and girls to young men and women.

I say all this because I am excited to see how God will use them while they're in high school and even after in college and post-college.  The Lord has been putting it on my heart to share a few things with them though before they leave.  This is something God has shown me recently, but I think it's something we can apply to our lives at any point; when we're young, old, happy, sad, angry, joyful, etc.  It's not even something profound, but because of it's simplicity, it is profound (I hope that makes sense, haha).  So here it is:

1. Worship and Praise God (even when you don't feel like it)
2. Pray (even when you don't feel like it)
3. Read your Bible (even when you don't feel like it)

  I know, incredibly profound!  Something I've found though is it is so easy to worship and praise when I'm in a good place.  I just got a lot of money!  Praise the Lord!  I just got a girlfriend (one day!!!), Praise God!  It's more difficult though to praise Him when you don't feel His presence, when things are going bad, when you're not in a good place.  This is where He will truly reveal Himself to you.  This is when you need Him most.  In Luke 19:40, Jesus tells us that if we keep quiet "the stones will cry out."  He doesn't need us to cry out His praise, but we need Him so that is why we praise.

Same for prayer and reading the Bible.  It's easy to do when we're on fire for Him, but what about when we're not?  This is when He really wants to talk to you.  It's in the difficult times that He is growing, shaping and perfecting us.  1 Peter 5:10 says God has called us to eternal glory AFTER we have suffered for a while, but He will "perfect, establish, strengthen and settle" us.  He can only do this if we seek Him through these times though.

Not the most amazing message, but I think it's such an important reminder.  I have to remember that no matter what is happening, Jesus died on the cross for me.  And because of that, I will live for Him when I feel like it and when I don't.

- Sean Fryer

Life Changing Vs. Experience

As you remember, this past Wednesday we dedicated the whole service to missions.  Pastor Sean, Len and I each had the opportunity to talk about that time in our lives when we first felt God calling us to go on a missions trip and take our part in fulfilling the Great Commission.  So often, the focus of this can be the calling you have to go and then the experience you have on the trip, but I think the most important part of a missions trip is the aftermath.   Where do you go from there?  Will you let it be just a cool “God-experience” or will you let it truly change your life?

            About a year ago I spent ten days in North Africa in a Muslim country and I pondered this question on the flight home and the Lord led me to the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet.  I wrote some notes down and figured I could share them with you.  The story takes place in John 13:1-17.  Here’s what I wrote:

V. 1- “He loved them to the end”

-Continue loving these people (just because the trip is over, doesn’t mean it has to end)

            -How can I do this?  Prayer!  There is nothing greater you can do than continue in prayer for the people you met.

-Love them with everything (be willing to sacrifice)

            -I believe this goes with prayer, but also fasting.  Fasting and praying is a powerful way to continue loving.

V. 3- “Knowing that the Father…”

-We know God has given us a task. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” – Psalm 8:4-6 

-Stick with this task in all things.  He has made us rulers of this Earth.

-Trust that He knows what He is doing and what He is using you for (Faith).

V. 4-5- “laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself”

-Fully took on the job (took on the form of a slave Philippians 2:7)

- Accepted the responsibility (Matthew 20:28)

-We have to accept the responsibility that God has given us to "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

V. 6-10- “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

-Be humble enough to serve, yes, but to also be served

-Don’t question what God is doing (things can seem out of control or upside down, but God has it in control.  He knows what He is doing)

-Feet washed every day (we are defiled by the world daily, even if we don’t realize it.  Allow the Lord to cleanse you DAILY)

V. 11-17- “…blessed are you IF you do them”

-We know these things

-Don’t let it be an “if”, but a “when”

-Just do it (who cares what the world thinks, we’re serving Christ who served us)

-Everything you DID on the trip, you can also DO at home.  The Holy Spirit doesn’t just stop working because you’re home.  He is everywhere!

In closing, I think the most important thing you can do is to remember the Gospel every day.  If you remember what Christ did on the cross for you and His resurrection, it will be hard to turn back to the world.  Take time each day to “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good” (Psalm 107:1) and you will never forget what the Lord did in and through you.

-Sean Fryer