January 8, 2020
Luke 8:22-25
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
New International Version (NIV)
I pray today for the people in Australia who are facing fierce forest fires.  May God protect them and help them to rebuild.  My life’s journey has taken me to places with different kinds of natural disasters.  We went through earthquakes in Alaska and Missouri, through blizzards in the same places and Illinois, through Tornados in Texas and more recently hurricanes and floods here in Houston.  Our beautiful world created by God sometimes reveals its profound brokenness in these disasters.  The “whole creation groans” for redemption and for God to make all things new.

We read in scripture about people encountering storms while in boats.  Jonah and his companions found themselves in an intense storm.  Even the polytheistic sailors awakened Jonah to cry out to his God.  When Jesus asked his disciples to go with him across the lake or Sea of Galilee, he fell asleep during the storm.  They awakened him as they feared for their lives.  Jesus rebuked the storm causing them to wonder who he really was.  When the storm ran into the Sovereign Lord and Creator it had no choice but to submit and subside. 

We know for sure we will face storms in this life.  Like the disciples we must cry out to the Lord and ask him intervene.  A relatively recent song comes to mind:  “Let go my soul and trust in him, the wind and waves still know his name.”  Whatever we face with fear today is still no match for our Father.  All creation must submit to the Sovereign Lord and Creator of all, including us.
Pray with me:       
Father, we see in your word that sometimes storms attack us precisely while we are with you doing your will.  Help us to cry out to you seeking your help.  Teach us to trust your Sovereign power over all things.  Remind the wind and waves and your people who you really are.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:3-4 
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
About Duane Archives
 Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
555 Tallowood Road
Houston, TX | 77024 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.