Tuesday's with Jesus #109

#109 "A New Perspective" "'Come', He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Matthew 14: 29-33) Passage Lookup: Matthew 14: 22-33, Parallel Passages:  John 6: 15-21 and  Mark 6: 45-56.      Rosanne Rosanadana used to say, "It's always something". Just when we get over one hurdle, something else gets in our way. We thought we learned our lesson from the last storm. But before we know it, here comes another one. So, here the disciples were again. Somewhere in the fourth watch of the night, between 3 and 6 in the morning, they find themselves in another storm. They had been rowing since sometime after sundown and were nearing exhaustion. Rough sea and head winds were preventing them from making any progress. It seems like they were just in a storm....it was just six chapters ago! There, they had witnessed the power of Jesus over nature (see Matthew 8: 23-27). But this time was different. This time He was not with them. No sleeping Jesus in the stern of the boat. Jesus was up on a mountainside, alone, praying. What the disciples didn't know was that from this mountain Christ could observe them in their boat (Mark 6:48).   Maybe what you need to know today is that Christ can see you in your storm. In your boat being rocked by trouble. No matter how alone and scared you may be....He can see you from where He is. And He wouldn't have prevented this storm in your life for all the tea in China. (Not sure if He likes tea..but oh well, anyway..) He wants to give you a new perspective. A fresh look at Who He is. A new comprehension of His true identity.    During their last encounter with the rough waters, Jesus showed the disciples that He had command over the wind and the waves. He could take the breath right out of nature and calm it back. But this time He wanted to show them a different side to Himself. They knew Him to be a great healer as evidenced by the miracles that they had witnessed. They knew Him as Teacher. But they still didn't fully comprehend who He was. The new lesson for them to learn was that Christ's power would sustain them in every appointed task, regardless of whether He was present bodily. He is not just a healer and a teacher. There is more to learn about Jesus and He now comes to them in a whole new way. A way that they have never seen before. And for this lesson to be learned a whole new dilemma had to be created for Christ to show up and show off.   They were fighting the wind and the waves and as if that weren't bad enough, here comes a ghost walking on the water! Night spirits were thought to be extremely dangerous, especially to night travelers. Many pagans believed that spirits of those drowned at sea never could descend to the realm of the dead, but wandered endlessly above the waters. (Ach.Tat. 5.16.1-2) It didn't even occur to these guys that Jesus could know their plight, walk on water to come to them or catch up to them in a storm! But here He comes in a whole new way. Walking on the water! And aren't they just like us? We always blame the devil for every storm. I think we give the old serpent way too much credit. Yes, some things in our lives are certainly demonic. However, not every circumstance is orchestrated by our enemy. Sometimes Jesus just wants us to get fresh revelation of Who He really is. And He wants to let us know that we need not be afraid.   Don't despise your storms. When David was delivered from the hand of all his enemies in 2 Samuel 22, he wrote this in his song of praise: "He parted the Heavens and came down; dark clouds were under His feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His canopy around him--the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of His presence bolts of lightning blazed forth."  Jesus just may be coming to you today with dark clouds under His feet and dark rain clouds all around Him. But lightening is blazing, His voice is thundering and your enemies are about to be scattered and routed away. He will draw you out of the deep waters and rescue you from that which is too powerful for you. From those who are too strong for you. The Lord will be your support and He will bring you into a spacious place. He will rescue you because He delights in you.     "It is I", He says. "Don't be afraid." Literally He says, "I AM. Don't be afraid."  "I AM the one who you know as Healer. I AM the one you know as Teacher. I AM the one you witnessed perform miracles. I AM the one who calms the sea. And now, I AM the one who saw what you were going through and the One who walks out on the surging waters to rescue you, my beloved! See, I'm showing Myself to you in a whole new way. And without this particular situation, this particular storm, this particular crisis, I would have never been able to show you more of Me." On such a dark, stormy night it was hard for them to see Jesus clearly, but the sound of His familiar voice, saying "I AM", brought reassurance where sight was insufficient. You may not be able to see past the nose of your trouble today, but let His voice bring you the reassurance of His walking as many miles as it takes, on the water, to rescue you.    If you have never been sick, you won't know that He is your Healer. If you've never been broke, you won't know that He is your Provider. If you've never been addicted, you'll never know that He brings complete deliverance. If you've never been abused, rejected or used, you'll never know that He brings beauty for ashes and heals broken hearts. If you've never had some years of your life stolen from you, you'll never know that He will redeem the years that the locust has eaten and give you double portions for your former shame. If you've never felt empty inside, you will never know the joy of feeling rivers of living water flowing from your belly. If you've never had broken relationships you'll never know the joy of restoration. The excitement and delight of seeing broken things put back together in their original, intended position.    Be Christ-aware, not self-aware. Let Him show Himself to you in a whole new way today. In whatever form your personal storm may take. Wait for Him to show you who He is in that place. Don't look at who you are. You can't do it. Again, wait for Him to show you who HE is in that place. And then, next time you're sick you'll know that He's your Healer. Next time you're broke, you'll know that He's your Provider. Next time you have a problem, you'll know that in the same way He brought you out this time, He'll bring you out again. You'll know Him to be what you need Him to be, because you will have seen it with your very own eyes!   The Bible says that when Jesus got into the boat, the wind died down and the disciples worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." They finally got it. They now saw what He wanted them to see. When they recognized the works of Jesus, they learned more of His character, and their appropriate response was to worship Him. It deepened their relationship of faith with the Lord they loved. And when we see Jesus, walking miles on the water to deliver us, we will worship Him. Our relationship with Him will deepen. We will see Him as He truly is. We will have fresh, new perspective!    Donna Schultz www.livingthewordministries.org See www.tuesdayswithjesus.blogspot.com for archives.          If you would prefer to not receive these e-mails, please let me know at savemom@aol.com. Feel free to forward them as the Lord leads you and if others would like to receive it, e- mail savemom@aol.com to be added to the list.   If you are viewing this on Blogger.com and would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail box each Tuesday, please e-mail Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.

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Tuesday's with Jesus

August 14, 2007

"And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it]." (1 Thessalonians 2: 13)

 

The summer of 2005 found me in a strange and unfamiliar place. After being so busy, for so long, being the director of an outreach ministry in Detroit, I suddenly found myself with a whole lot of time on my hands. My life had been all about ministry for years and due to a host of circumstances, the Lord was telling me that it was time to move on. The writing had been on the wall for a long time. There was something else out there for me. I struggled with thoughts that it was the devil trying to get me out of ministry. Or was it God? Or was it me? I just didn't know. I stayed cautious and so prayerful and eventually it was clear that the journey of my life was about to take another turn.

 

So began "Tuesday's with Jesus". As the Lord continued His work in me, I began to pray about what I could do to encourage people that I knew, as well as what I could teach the folks that I did Bible Study with at my church's food pantry. God revealed to me that I was becoming like the Dead Sea. So much impartation from Him going in, and not much coming out. He settled in my spirit that I had to share...be a willing vessel for Him to fill and pour out again to others. I also became so tender to the hurting hearts of those around me. Christian and non-Christian alike. So many people were falling apart at the seams. From hurt, loss, rejection, financial pressures and all of the issues of everyday life. On July 5, 2005, I sent out my first weekly devotional, "Tuesday's with Jesus". (Thanks again, Chuck for the name! ) I wanted to share God's Word and wisdom with some folks that I knew each week. I prayed that it would be encouraging, uplifting, sometimes convicting (from the Holy Spirit, not me) and that it would be a blessing to those who received it. 

 

It is the absolute truth that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are." (1 Corinthians 1:27-28) I would have never believed that over two years and 108 "Tuesday's" later, the journey would still be going on. And what a journey it's been! "Tuesday's" have found themselves in churches, prisons, rehab centers, and are used in men's and women's Bible study classes. They can be found in many states, Central America and Japan. The original mailing list has tripled in size since the onset. The Lord has opened doors for me to preach, teach and share the Gospel. I'll tell you, if you had told me two years ago, that I'd be preaching, well, I would have laughed out loud! I have been lowly and despised in some human eyes. Treated as a thing that is not more than once, and considered foolish and weak in the world's eyes. But God is such an awesome God!

 

The encouraging words and testimonies that I have received from many of you have been such a blessing to me. Those words are my oxygen. They fill me with the spark to keep on keeping on. I never want to do anything for God that doesn't bear any fruit. That's just a waste of time. But when I hear the amazing stories, testimonies and the many thank you's, my spirit swells on the inside of me. And my spirit swells for you when I hear that you've had a breakthrough, an answer to prayer or just received a little more strength to go on for another day.  I rejoice with you in your victories and weep with you in your struggles.

 

All that being said, it is time for me to let you in on the new leg of the journey. To whisper a little secret we've been keeping in your ear. We serve a big God and He has given us a big vision. Sometime in September, my new assignment from God, "Living the Word Ministries" will be born. "Living the Word Ministries" exists only because of God's mercy and grace to do the impossible through the most unlikely people. Our goal is to glorify Him in everything that we say and do. We will let you know when our beautiful, new web site is up, in just a few short weeks. This will be a place to read the weekly "Tuesday's with Jesus", as well as all of the archived materials. There will be information on my speaking engagements and how I can be booked for your conference, church or group meeting. We invite you to sign the guest book and please leave us your prayer requests so that we can go to the throne of grace on your behalf.  We pray that it will be a place that you can check back often and find helpful material and encouragement in your walk with the Lord.

 

You will still be receiving "Tuesday's" in your mail box each week if you are on the weekly "Tuesday's" mailing list. Please be sure that your email filter will allow mail from tuesdays@livingthewordministries.org.

 

I cannot even begin to express to you my excitement about the doors that God is opening for me to serve Him. I have been the recipient of so much forgiveness, grace and deliverance from my Heavenly Father and it's just not enough for me to keep it for myself. I want to glorify His name among people. Using His Word alone, I want to show people how to seek God's face and how to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give all of us. I want to see Him do great and mighty things. I want to see captives set free, broken hearts mended and chains of bondage loosed in Jesus' name. Won't you believe with me that this will be exactly what God does through "Living the Word Ministries"?   

 

Would you please pray for me and all of those involved in this new ministry? Pray that I will be able to labor and pay the price, to see the vision come to pass, that God has put in my spirit. I can see it...and I heard someone say that if you can see it, you can receive it!  I am willing to pay the price and live up to that vision. I am so humbled and grateful for the privilege to serve you.

 

In Christ's name,

 

Donna Schultz

Check it out! www.livingthewordministries.org

 

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Tuesday's with Jesus #108

#108 "Who's In Your Boat?" August 7, 2007 "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." (Mark 4: 39) Passage Lookup: Mark 4: 35-41    I've determined that God has a sense of humor. Usually I go through things in my life, learn some lessons, have some things revealed to me, and then I write or preach messages based on those experiences. Last week was different. I wrote a message based on Mark, Chapter 4. The account of Jesus calming the storm. No real personal revelation inspired me. Just a message. But wouldn't you know it...in the days following the completion of the message, I was faced with a storm. And the Lord spoke to me the very words that I had penned in my writing...."Donna, who's in your boat?" It's a little unsettling to have your own words brought to your attention. Talk about being told to practice what you preach! Talk about hitting me right where I live.   So I ask you today, "Who's in your boat?" The account in Mark 4: 35-41 is found in three of the four gospels. Mark's account is so vivid, probably because he penned it under the apostle Peter's dictation. Peter had been an eyewitness to the events. Mark takes us to the very scene of the action through the eyes of Peter. We can almost smell the rain. We can almost feel the winds blowing against our skin. We can almost see the water rising and filling the boat. We can almost feel the panic.     I submit to you that it's a familiar feeling...the panic I mean. It's the same panic we feel when we lose our job. When we grieve the loss of a loved one. When the shut off notices are piling up on the table. When we sit across the desk and hear the doctor say there's not much time left. When our situations have situations and we just don't know what to do or where to turn. We panic when we are faced with storms of hurricane proportions that threaten to drown us. Just like the disciples, we are faced with Katrinas and Ritas and Andrews. Blowing and beating against our boats...taunting us to fear for our very lives....because we forget who's in our boat.   Jesus didn't say, "Let's set out to the other side so that we can die along the way." He knew there would be a storm and He had every intention of making it over to the other side. He knew the end from the beginning and He will never bid you to go, just to kill you along the way!  Storms will come. That's a promise. Jesus said that "in this world you will have trouble." (John 16: 33) The winds will blow, the waves will crash, but Jesus will be with you the whole way until you get to the other side. Even if it appears that He's sleeping!   It's comforting to see that the apostles, God's generals, those chosen men of God, the inner circle of Jesus, the rocks of our faith, thought that Jesus didn't care. How could He sleep? The storm was raging. They scream, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" How many times have you cried, screamed, ranted and raved? Shook your fists at Heaven and cried, "Lord, don't you care? Can't you see what's happening to me?" He seems to be asleep in the stern of the boat. The Son of Man may have been asleep in that boat, but can I assure you that the glorified Jesus, the Son of God, never sleeps or slumbers. He is wide awake and well aware of your storm. And this is His opportunity to show up and show off in your life. Man's extremities are God's opportunities to show His power and glory. And when He shows up, there's nothing like it!   We have so many things to fear in the natural. Wars and rumors of wars. Famine. Death and disease, lost loved ones. Guns and gangs and addictions and bankruptcies. But we have ONE reason not to fear...the presence of Christ in our circumstances. Jesus is in your boat. And when He wakes up and stands at the top of the boat....imagine His strong arm stretched out over the waters, the wind blowing through His hair and hear His booming voice speak, "Be silent! Be muzzled and remain so!" The tense used here indicates that Jesus said it once and only once. One word from Jesus...that's all it takes. One word brings instant obedience to His command. One word that says, "Be healed." "Provide the money." "Bring that child home." "Protect my precious child from harm." One word from His mouth dispatches His angels, on assignment, to do His bidding. You may be in the middle of a raging storm of hurricane proportions today, right now, but when Jesus wakes up...Hallelujah!..He will calm it back...you are safe in the boat with Him.   The Message says that the wind "ran out of breath and the sea became smooth as glass." This is total, perfect peace. The waves aren't still choppy. It's not a shaky, precarious peace that will only last temporarily. This is the kind of peace that can only come from the One with the power to restore order to any situation. Jesus showed that He has authority over the very forces of nature. Don't you think He has power over any crisis situation that His followers may face? We're safe in the boat with Jesus!    And the same words He spoke to His disciples are the same words He speaks to you, right now..."Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" He calms the storm and now He must calm us. Despite all the answers to prayer that we have seen in the past. Despite the entire testimony of His power given to us in His word. Despite all the other storms we've seen Him calm in our lives....do we still have no faith? If we would have any confidence in God whatsoever, we would know that we have no reason to fear. If God is truly who He says that He is, we would never fear for our lives or our situations ever, ever again!   What does Romans 8: 31 say? "If God is for us, who can be against us?"   Faith will tell you that this Jesus is well able to take you through the terrible storm in your life. Faith in His goodness will allow you to hang tough under the pressure of your situation. Knowing and believing who He is will cause you to know and believe that He is well able to be the Ephesians 3:20 God, who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything you could ask or think today. He is well able!! You're safe in the boat with Jesus! Look away from your condition and look to Him. When we look away at our condition, taking our eyes off of Jesus, we sink and begin to drown. Look at your vision, not your condition!   Finally replace your fear of your circumstances with the fear of the Lord. Have reverential fear or awe for Him. Knowing who He truly is allows you to respond to any situation in faith. And it's only in a storm that we truly understand who Jesus is. The same Jesus we read about in Mark 4 has the power to rule over the surging seas of your life. When the waves mount up, He stills them. He alone parts the Red Sea of your situation where the enemy is at your back, and drowning appears the only option if you go forward. He will lead you through those waters like through a desert. He will still your storm to a whisper. The winds will run out of breath!! Even inanimate objects like the wind and the waves obey Him. Shouldn't we?   Why are you so afraid today? You are precious to God. He cares for you so much. He cares for the sparrows, sold for two pennies...don't you think He cares so much more for you? He knows you so intimately that He knows the number of hairs on your head...even the gray ones. And He tells you, today, "Don't be afraid."  Even when that storm is whirling around you and it looks like you're going to perish, you're not! Jesus is in your boat. It may seem like He's sleeping but He knows exactly what's going on. He will speak to your storm and say, "Peace, Be still!" This storm is nothing...no thing...in the presence of your God. Be patient. Don't give up. Hang tough under pressure. Storms don't last forever. They end in the natural. And when they do, everything looks greener, everything smells fresher and everything is more alive for having been through the storm. You'll be stronger, fresher and more ready to face the next storm in your life. Jesus is in your boat. You're safe. And you WILL make it over to the other side.      As for my storm....I received my answer rather quickly. I think that Jesus wanted to show off. I was able to tell the folks I preach to on Saturdays. I am able to tell you today. He doesn't always answer that quickly. It may be two days, or two weeks or two months or....But He showed me who was in my boat and hopefully He has made you aware that He's in your boat too!   Donna Schultz   See www.tuesdayswithjesus.blogspot.com for archives.          If you would prefer to not receive these e-mails, please let me know at savemom@aol.com. Feel free to forward them as the Lord leads you and if others would like to receive it, e- mail savemom@aol.com to be added to the list.   If you are viewing this on Blogger.com and would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail box each Tuesday, please e-mail Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.

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Tuesday's with Jesus #107

#107 "Picked up Dead" July 31, 2007 "Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead." (Acts 20: 9)   Passage Lookup: Acts 20: 7-12   I try not to get distracted when I'm in the middle of preaching a message and babies start having fits. Or the days when "inebriated at 11:00 in the morning" listeners decide to get a little loud. I really thought it was bad last week, when in the middle of my sermon a man in the back fell out and EMS had to be called. Imagine how Paul must have felt when in the middle of his message, (one that he felt would be the last one before these disciples would be permanently without his presence), he was interrupted by tragedy. Now granted, Paul was going "on and on". But Luke emphasizes the speech's length: it extended from midnight and, then, after the Lord's Supper-fellowship meal, until daybreak.   You know how you feel after eating a good meal? Full, satisfied and ... sleepy? Add to that a crowded upper room. Warm and close. There is a greasy, foul odor in the air from the many oil lamps. It's stuffy and smoky. The lamps are consuming the oxygen in the room and a young boy of about seven to fourteen years old, tries to catch the night air by sitting on a windowsill. Hypnotized by the flickering of the lights and Paul talking on and on, his drowsiness increases until he falls into a deep sleep and worse yet, falls out of the third story window. The Bible tells us that he was "picked up dead". Young's Literal Translation says that "he was lifted up dead." Now just so you don't think he was just unconscious...the word "dead" in the Greek used here means just that..."dead"! It comes from the Greek word "nekus", a corpse. Doctor Luke was there and I imagine he pronounced the lad dead on the spot. It's a rather comical story. Especially when I found that the meaning of the boy's name, Eutychus, means, "fortunate". In Latin, his name is "Fortunatus". Some good fortune to fall out a window!   Comical story...well maybe not. How many of us who are in our pews, in the middle of our Christian service, in our ministry or in our fellowship, are falling out of windows and being picked up dead? Everything looks good on the outside. But, how many of us feel like corpses on the inside?  Right in the middle of church and all of our Godly activity. If anybody really knew...would they be picking you up dead? You may not have fallen out of a window. You may have fallen off the wagon of your sobriety. It may not be the foul odor of oil lamps that you smell. It may be the foul odor of your own personal sin. That one that you just can't stop succumbing to. The lamps aren't consuming your oxygen but every time you think about your crumbling marriage, your child who's in trouble, or your dwindling finances, it's so hard to breathe. Your soul and your spirit, your mind and your emotions, just want to get near a window for a breath of fresh, cool air. You may have been pushed out that window and left for dead by someone else's abuse or rejection. I don't know who this message is for today or what exactly has left you a walking corpse, but this passage of Scripture speaks these words to you today...."Your life is in you. Repeat. There is life in you yet."    Even when the fortunate one appeared utterly dead, the apostle Paul was so convinced of what Christ's power could do that he said, "Don't be alarmed." ["Trouble not yourselves" KJV] "His life is in him. He's alive". There is life in you today, my friend. There are those hopes and dreams that you think are crushed by your circumstances. The devil is a liar. God put those dreams inside of you. No one or no thing can take them away. There is a plan for your life (see Jeremiah 29:11). A plan declared over you by God. And when God declares something, it always come to pass. Be confident. Have faith. Even if that faith is only as small as a mustard seed. Even if the life inside of you is only as small as a mustard seed. It's there. Don't be alarmed. Trouble not yourself. Life is in you. Because Christ is in you. You have life, in abundance, to the full, until it overflows. (John 10: 10)   The apostle Paul may be gone. He won't throw himself on you to bring you back to life. But the Lord is not gone. And He has left tokens of His grace for all who would be encouraged. He left the story of the restored Eutychus. He left His Spirit-enabled grace, and He left His Word. This was a tragic story. Your story may be just as tragic. Your situation may seem as dead as that young boy. But Jesus Christ came back to life. Through Him Eutychus came back to life and so can you. Eutychus really was "fortunate". Don't give up just because you fell. Don't miss the miracle of God in your life by trying to run away from Him. Your situation is not too hard for Jesus. You can be taken home alive like Eutychus.   Maybe this incident inspired Paul to write these words in his letter to his friends in the city of Corinth. He had to put the theology of what had just happened in writing - the church had to hear these words... "Death has been swallowed up in victory."  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Without Eutychus being picked up dead, Paul may never have had the inspiration for these words. Without whatever is happening in your life, you will never see that it has no power over you. You will never see that dead thing come back to life. The victory is yours!  You are not a victim to your circumstance. Your circumstance is a victim to your God! You may be picked up dead, but you will be taken home alive and greatly comforted.     Donna Schultz   See www.tuesdayswithjesus.blogspot.com for archives.          If you would prefer to not receive these e-mails, please let me know at savemom@aol.com. Feel free to forward them as the Lord leads you and if others would like to receive it, e- mail savemom@aol.com to be added to the list.   If you are viewing this on Blogger.com and would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail box each Tuesday, please e-mail Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.

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