Mark 4:35-41Mark 4:35-41• 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said

to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36 to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd, they took Him with them And leaving the crowd, they took Him with them

in the boat, just as He was. And other boats in the boat, just as He was. And other boats were with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, were with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But He was that the boat was already filling. 38 But He was

in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do you not woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 And He awoke care that we are perishing?" 39 And He awoke

and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, there was a great calm. 40 He said to them,

"Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 41 And they were filled with great fear and said 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the to one another, "Who then is this, that even the

wind and the sea obey Him?" wind and the sea obey Him?"

Chippie the Parrot

The recent images of “The Flood of 08’ ”

are a reminder of the surge of troubles we can instantly

undergo

Bible stories

• Hebrew children in the fiery furnace• Daniel in the lions den• Joseph and his adventures• Sampson and his eye gouging• Paul – shipwrecked/beaten/imprisoned• John – exiled to Patmos• James – beheaded• David – fleeing for his life• Peter – imprisoned

II Corinthians 4:8-10II Corinthians 4:8-10

8 We are afflicted in every way, 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 but not driven to despair; 9

persecuted, but not forsaken; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not struck down, but not

destroyed; 10 always carrying destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, in the body the death of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our also be manifested in our

bodies.bodies.

Psalm 34:19Psalm 34:19

19 Many are the afflictions 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,of the righteous,

    but the LORD delivers him     but the LORD delivers him out of them allout of them all

“The road to success is always

under construction. It

seems that those who seem to have it hard always get

more done.”

Story of SteveStory of Steve

“The Storms of Life”

Had a beautiful wife, two wonderful Had a beautiful wife, two wonderful children. Had a nice house on a quiet children. Had a nice house on a quiet

street. Had job most would envy.street. Had job most would envy.

Cutting back at work/managementCutting back at work/management

Lost his jobLost his job

Bills piled upBills piled up

Led to stresses at homeLed to stresses at home

““The Storms of Life”The Storms of Life”

Have you ever experienced those Have you ever experienced those storms?storms?

When you have more problems than faith?When you have more problems than faith?

When you were afraid that you would be When you were afraid that you would be taken over by the storm?taken over by the storm?

When things just don’t make sense When things just don’t make sense anymore?anymore?

To be honest I think we all have To be honest I think we all have experienced those storms…experienced those storms…

even the apostles…even the apostles…

as we read in Mark 4:35-41.as we read in Mark 4:35-41.

Mark 4:35-41Mark 4:35-41• 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said

to them, "Let us go across to the other side." to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other them in the boat, just as he was. And other

boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the arose, and the waves were breaking into the

boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And

they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 And he you not care that we are perishing?" 39 And he

awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and

there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 41And they were filled with great fear and said 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the to one another, "Who then is this, that even the

wind and the sea obey him?" wind and the sea obey him?"

The Storms WILL Come

• Even when things are going great, you Even when things are going great, you need to have faith in Christ…because the need to have faith in Christ…because the

stormsstormswill come.will come.

• Sometimes the storm will be spiritual, Sometimes the storm will be spiritual, other times it may be mental or physical, other times it may be mental or physical,

but they will come.but they will come.• The question is how will you deal with The question is how will you deal with them when they come? (Never give up! them when they come? (Never give up!

Realize it’s a test/trial/temptation.)Realize it’s a test/trial/temptation.)• Keep focused. It’s easy to lose focus Keep focused. It’s easy to lose focus

when Satan distracts uswhen Satan distracts us• Finally we must remember. Remember Finally we must remember. Remember

to have faith in Christ! With faith in to have faith in Christ! With faith in Christ, no matter how bad things get, we Christ, no matter how bad things get, we

know the storm won’t stick around know the storm won’t stick around forever.forever.

The Storms WILL Go

• I’ve never seen a storm that stuck I’ve never seen a storm that stuck around forever. No matter how bad around forever. No matter how bad

things get, the storm will pass.things get, the storm will pass.• The disciples saw the same when The disciples saw the same when

the Son came out and calmed the the Son came out and calmed the sea and the storm.sea and the storm.

• When we get to the point when we When we get to the point when we remember we can’t do it alone and remember we can’t do it alone and turn to Christ, He will strengthen turn to Christ, He will strengthen

us/comfort us and He will calm the us/comfort us and He will calm the storm.storm.

• But the question is, what do we do But the question is, what do we do with Jesus after the storm is gone? with Jesus after the storm is gone? We must put our faith in Him! He is We must put our faith in Him! He is

there to lead us.there to lead us.

Jesus Always Jesus Always RemainsRemains

• Just because He’s there in the Just because He’s there in the storms, doesn’t mean you can’t storms, doesn’t mean you can’t look for Him in the good times.look for Him in the good times.• He wants to be there in the He wants to be there in the

good times and bad.good times and bad.• He wants to share your joys He wants to share your joys

and sorrowsand sorrows• Even the disciples didn’t turn Even the disciples didn’t turn

to Him until things were to Him until things were REALLY REALLY bad,bad, which shows they which shows they

too had a lot to learn.too had a lot to learn.

FootprintsFootprintspoempoem

One night I dreamed I was walking One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, two sets of footprints, other times there were other times there were one set of footprints. one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life, that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, "You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life the most trying periods of my life there have only been one there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand. set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?" you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, The Lord replied,

"The times when you have "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, seen only one set of footprints in the sand,

is when I carried you." is when I carried you." Mary StevensonMary Stevenson

A Closer LookA Closer Look

I don’t think it’s so much I don’t think it’s so much the last verse but the the last verse but the main portion that says main portion that says

that there were two sets that there were two sets of footprints. Jesus was of footprints. Jesus was always there with us and always there with us and

we with Him.we with Him.

Jesus ALWAYS remains!Jesus ALWAYS remains!

Steve revisited

““I thought I could do it on my I thought I could do it on my own. I thought Jesus was own. I thought Jesus was

only there to help in time of only there to help in time of trouble. However when the trouble. However when the

storms hit my life, I began to storms hit my life, I began to read my Bible and I found read my Bible and I found

out that Jesus always out that Jesus always remains. He’s there in the remains. He’s there in the

good times and the bad. And good times and the bad. And all I had to do is remember all I had to do is remember

to put my faith in Him.”to put my faith in Him.”

Ps 34:18-19Ps 34:18-19

1818 The LORD is close to the The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in those who are crushed in

spirit.spirit.

1919 A righteous man may A righteous man may have many troubles, but the have many troubles, but the

LORD delivers him from LORD delivers him from them all;them all;

So if we are going to have storms, So if we are going to have storms, and they will go away, knowing and they will go away, knowing

that Jesus is always there for us…that Jesus is always there for us…

Why is God allowing these storms?Why is God allowing these storms?

Why me?Why me?

What purpose do they serve?What purpose do they serve?

I’ve come up with a few good I’ve come up with a few good reasonsreasons

To Direct Us

Sometimes God must light a fire Sometimes God must light a fire under us to get us moving.under us to get us moving.

Problems often point us in a Problems often point us in a

new direction and motivate us to new direction and motivate us to change.change.

So maybe it’s a way for God to get So maybe it’s a way for God to get our attentionour attention

Proverbs 20:30

Blows and wounds Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and cleanse away evil, and

beatings purge the beatings purge the inmost being.inmost being.

The world deceives us.The world deceives us.

It says, “If there is a God, then why It says, “If there is a God, then why do we have to suffer? Why do we do we have to suffer? Why do we

have to go through this pain?”have to go through this pain?”

God could have kept Daniel from the God could have kept Daniel from the lion’s den, David away from Saul, lion’s den, David away from Saul, Paul and Silas from jail; but it was Paul and Silas from jail; but it was good for them to go through what good for them to go through what

they did.they did.

To mold them into what they would To mold them into what they would become through God.become through God.

To Inspect Us

People are like tea bags…People are like tea bags…

If you want to find out what is If you want to find out what is inside of them,inside of them,

Drop ‘em in hot waterDrop ‘em in hot water

Has God ever tested you?Has God ever tested you?

What did those test reveal What did those test reveal about you?about you?

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you brothers, whenever you

face trials of many kinds, face trials of many kinds, because you know that because you know that the testing of your faith the testing of your faith develops perseverance. develops perseverance.

To Correct Us

Some lessons are learned the hard Some lessons are learned the hard way.way.

Like a child who after being told not Like a child who after being told not to touch something, does anyways to touch something, does anyways

and gets hurt.and gets hurt.

Sometimes we only learn the value of Sometimes we only learn the value of something by losing it.something by losing it.

Psalm 119:71Psalm 119:71

It was good for me to It was good for me to be afflicted so that I be afflicted so that I

might learn your might learn your decreesdecrees

To Connect Us

When someone is sick or dying, When someone is sick or dying, family comes in from all over to be family comes in from all over to be

together during their hard time.together during their hard time.

Trouble brings people together,Trouble brings people together,

It also brings people to the Lord.It also brings people to the Lord.

Then it draws people to the church.Then it draws people to the church.

(families after a funeral)(families after a funeral)

People attend church more, during People attend church more, during troubled times.troubled times.

To Protect Us

A problem can be a blessing when it A problem can be a blessing when it protects you from something more protects you from something more

harmful.harmful.

A man was fired from his job in A man was fired from his job in management when he refused to management when he refused to

act unethically. His unemployment act unethically. His unemployment was a problem but it was better was a problem but it was better

than spending time in jail with his than spending time in jail with his boss who was later convicted of boss who was later convicted of

multiple crimes.multiple crimes.

Genesis 50:20

You intended to harm me, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for but God intended it for

good to accomplish what good to accomplish what is now being done, the is now being done, the saving of many lives. saving of many lives.

To Perfect Us

Problems when handled correctly Problems when handled correctly build character.build character.

God is more interested in your God is more interested in your character than in your comfort.character than in your comfort.

Your relationship with God and your Your relationship with God and your character are the only two things character are the only two things

you are going to take with you into you are going to take with you into eternity.eternity.

Romans 5:3-4Not only so, but we also Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that because we know that

suffering produces suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance; 4

perseverance, character; perseverance, character; and character, hope and character, hope

Psalm 71:19-21Psalm 71:19-21

19 Your righteousness reaches to the 19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, skies, O God,

       you who have done great things.        you who have done great things.        Who, O God, is like you?        Who, O God, is like you?

20 Though you have made me see 20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, troubles, many and bitter,

       you will restore my life again;        you will restore my life again;        from the depths of the earth        from the depths of the earth        you will again bring me up.        you will again bring me up.

21 You will increase my honor 21 You will increase my honor        and comfort me once again.       and comfort me once again.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love

him, who have been called according to his

purpose.

The graduate degree The graduate degree of spirituality comes of spirituality comes

from attending …from attending …

the University of the University of Hard KnocksHard Knocks

To Project Us

Philippians 1:12Philippians 1:12

Now I want you to Now I want you to know, brothers, that know, brothers, that

what has happened to what has happened to me has really served me has really served

to advance the gospel to advance the gospel

When you get it When you get it

you get it!you get it!

It’s not about poor It’s not about poor me,me,

But praise be to GodBut praise be to God

In all situationsIn all situations

A final lesson from the Eagle

The eagle knows the storm is The eagle knows the storm is approaching long before it hits. approaching long before it hits.

The eagle will fly to a high spot and The eagle will fly to a high spot and wait for the storm’s winds to come.wait for the storm’s winds to come.

When the winds hit, the eagle will When the winds hit, the eagle will set it’s wings and allow the wind to set it’s wings and allow the wind to pick it up and allow it to soar above pick it up and allow it to soar above

the storm.the storm.

While the storm rages below the While the storm rages below the eagle soars above.eagle soars above.

The eagle doesn’t escape the storm, The eagle doesn’t escape the storm, it simply uses it to soar higher.it simply uses it to soar higher.

When the storms of life come upon us, When the storms of life come upon us, We can rise above them by setting our We can rise above them by setting our

minds on God. minds on God. Then the storm will not overcome us.Then the storm will not overcome us.

We can allow God to lift us up We can allow God to lift us up by His power.by His power.

It’s not the burdens of this life that weigh It’s not the burdens of this life that weigh us down…but rather how we handle us down…but rather how we handle

them.them.

Isaiah 40:31Isaiah 40:31

““But they that wait upon the Lord shall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount renew their strength; they shall mount

up with wings like eagles; they shall run up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and and not be weary; they shall walk and

not be faint.”not be faint.”