“As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”
Psalm 103:13-18 (NIV)
HOPE is stronger than MEMORY!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you
and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
God has a FUTURE for you
stronger than your PAST!
“As a father has COMPASSION
on his children so the Lord has
COMPASSION
on those who fear Him!”
Psalm 103:13
There is a story told about a father and his teenage son. They had a strained relationship, so much so that finally the young son ran away from home. Immediately the father began a journey across Spain in search of his rebellious son. Finally after months and months and months of searching he arrived in Madrid. In a last desperate effort to find his son, the father went down to the newspaper office and put an ad in the paper. It simply said, “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven! I love you. Your father.” The next day at noon in front of the newspaper office 800 Paco’s showed up all seeking forgiveness.
You may remember all the past hurt, sin, and despair, BUT a little HOPE can change your life!
Psalm 103:14
“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”
(KJV)
God looks at us from
TWO perspectives!
1) The HUMAN
(Psalm 103:14-16)
“For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”(14-16)
and
2) The DIVINE (Psalm 103:17-18)
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”
(17-18)
BOTH are summed up in JESUS!
Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin.
(KJV)
Hebrews 7:24-25
“But Jesus lives forever and continues to be a Priest so that no one else is needed.
He is able to save completely all who come to God through Him. Since He will live forever, He will always be there to remind God that He has paid for their sins with His blood.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hope is stronger than MEMORY!
Although you hear nothing, He is speaking. Though you see nothing, He is acting.
With God there are no accidents.
Every incident is intended
to bring us closer to Him!
Two master musicians attended a concert to hear a promising young soprano. One commented on the purity of her voice. The other responded, “Yes, but she will sing better once her heart is broken!”
Some passions are only acquired by pain!
There are times when God allows us to endure the pain for the sake of the song!
WHEN YOUR COOKIE CRUMBLES, GOD UNDERSTANDS!!! He allowed the disciples to go through an event where their cookie crumbled all the way to outstanding faith. They went from picking up crumbs to planting their faith in the One who can but the pieces back together. The story is told in Matthew 14:22-33:
Verse 22: "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd."
Jesus MADE the disciples get into the boat. KJV uses the word ”CONSTRAINED”. Jesus forced them to get in the boat and leave Him.
PRINCIPLE I. IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIND YOURSELF IN THE WORST STORM YOU’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED AND BE RIGHT WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE!
Verse 23: "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone."
What does Jesus do while we are enduring the pain? What does He do while we are in the storm? HE PRAYS FOR US!!! Jesus wasn’t in the boat because He had gone to the hills to pray. He still prays for us!
Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin.
(KJV)
Verse 24: "But the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it."
PRINCIPLE II. THERE WILL COME A STORM INTO YOUR LIFE THAT YOU CANNOT HANDLE. IT IS BEYOND YOUR ABILITY!
GOD IS IN THAT STORM!!!
REMEMBER, GOD NEVER SAYS,”UH OH”! No surprises! He Knoweth our frame!
Verses 25 & 26: "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It’s a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear."
PRINCIPLE III. GOD WILL OFTEN COME TO YOU IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY!!!
When Your Cookie Crumbles, God may put it back together in a way you had not planned!
Verse 27: "But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." “It is I” is a bit weak. What Jesus really said was “I AM”! When Jesus said "I AM" to the disciples in the midst of the storm they could not handle, He was saying, "I AM the One Who made Heaven and Earth; I AM the One Who made the wind and the waves; I AM the One Who "gathers the waters of the sea into jars...(and) puts the deep into storehouses." Ps 33:7(NIV)
Don’t worry: I AM is in control.
Then the question arises...
Verses 28 & 29: "Lord, if it’s you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
PRINCIPLE IV. THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN YOUR VERBALIZED FAITH MUST BECOME EXERCISED FAITH!
If you really beleive that "He is and He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him", you must get out of your boat. Peter took Jesus at His Word. Jesus said, "Come." Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus. I am sure that as Peter was hanging onto the side of the boat, lightning flashing all around, the boat surging in the waves, Peter must have thought: "You’d better be "I AM" or I will be "I was!"
Verse 30: "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
PRINCIPLE V. YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY NOT CHANGE IMMEDIATELY! DON’T QUIT!No storm lasts forever!!!!
Verse 31: "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
PRINCIPLE VI. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, YOU ARE ONLY ONE ARM’S LENGTH FROM THE MASTER! No matter how badly your cookie has crumbled, God still understands and you are only one arm’s length away from help, from hope, from safety!
