Sucked In, Washed Up And Blown Over

For Those not familiar with an Anglican Service; we have four readings before the message is shared. The readings for this day were Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10,22-22:5 and John 14:23-29

You can trust me ... Go ahead and Jump!

I do not think there is a parent ... or a grandparent ... that has not said those exact words ... at one time ... to their children ... or grandchildren.

Be it by a pool side, ... or at the playground.

We would repeat those words .... All the while patiently or impatiently ...standing there ready to catch them, .... with arms ... open wide! (Pause)

It is the same way with God .... with the wonderful, Grace and Peace .... that He extends ... to each of us! (Pause)

I remember ... on more than one occasion, ... having to convince our daughter Kristin ... or our son Justin... to let me throw them up in the air, ...... out in the open water .... of the pool.

And only after they felt both the thrill of the moment ... and the safety of my presence...... did they say these three words repeatedly for the rest of the day, "Do it again .... Do it again ... Do it again daddy"

Until the point came ......when I was fully exhausted. (Pause)

Beloved .... our Father in heaven ... has his arms open wide...... He is always there ... he is always available.

(Slow) He never grows tired of hearing his children, asking Him ....... To do it again, ... do it again ...... forgive me ... again.

Yet so many in this world ... do not trust him.

And If we are honest ... there are times ... when we too ...... really ... do not trust him.

For If we did ... Why would we let our hearts be troubled? (Slow)...... Why would we worry?

Indeed .... If We Fully Trust Him.... Why would we ever worry?

If we constantly lived in that trust, .... we would have confidence ... that He will be right there ....to catch us, .... That he would be right there ....to provide for us.!

Hear our Lords words:

BIBLE "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not Let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." END (John 14:27)

Do not let your hearts be troubled .... Do not let your hearts be filled with worry.... do not be afraid.

When you rely on the Grace that Jesus freely gives, ......Then there is ... a peace.

A peace that the world cannot give... a peace that passes all human ... understanding.

It is truly... an amazing grace!

Beloved ... an amazing peace ...... Amen!

And It comes by trusting in God's word ... by trusting in God's grace.

Trusting that his grace is ... sufficient.

And Once you have experienced that peace .... the stress of the world ... will begin .... to melt from your very soul.

One thing is certain, (Slow) once you have tasted this peace, .... you will seek to ... mature in it.

To let it permeate (Slow) every aspect of your life.

Beloved .... In the end "Peace" .... Peace of the soul ... is what this flesh ... is truly seeking.

Peace is what the world ... is also seeking.

Yet they cannot ... find it.

Why? ... because it is spiritual .... it cannot be found ... in what the world offers!

It is a peace ... that the world cannot give. (Pause)

There is an old adage ... "Do not sweat the small stuff,".

Well Beloved .... God wants you to know, ......It is all small stuff .... when you place it ... in His hands.

We are called to give our burdens to God .... to lay our burdens down.

Jesus reminds us of this ... "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30)

Yet far too often ... after we lay our burdens down ... we return ... to take them up again and again.

And when we take that burden back......when we pick that burden up .... Our yoke again becomes heavy ... (Slow) ... and there is .... no peace.

If we are honest .......We do not allow him to be Lord ... of every aspect ... of our lives.

The key, ... is to not only lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, ......but to walk away ......and to leave them there!

To trust him completely.

God is the constant .... that sustains us ... through the roller coaster of life, ...... whether we are up or weather we are down, .... He remains the same.