The Right Anchor

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT

Friends and family alike are SO ready for this New Year and all the promise it holds. While the world tosses and turns around us, we need a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

Unless you own a boat, you probably haven't given much thought to anchors of any kind. History tells us they started out as large rocks or a net full of rocks tethered to the boat. Through the years they have evolved into certain shapes for certain types of boats - fluke, plow or scoop, mushroom, claw - and obviously different weights. You also have to take into account the surface you're dropping it into - sand, mud, marshy grasses, etc - and the wind conditions. Sometimes you need to set more than one to keep the boat from swinging or dragging. There's so much you must consider.

Life is like that - often compared to the storms of life and being tossed about. How we navigate through the storms of life depends on our anchor. There are some things we need to consider such as whether the storm has come to trouble us or to clear out the debris of life, but as Christians, we need only to hold to the hope that lies before us. Either way, we need an anchor that is strong and trustworthy - Jesus! He is the One who holds us steady in every situation, every storm, and every circumstance. 

It is said, "The roughest storms prove the strength of our anchor."  Psalm 93:4 NLT tells us, But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore— the Lord above is mightier than these!  Thank You, Father!

Prayer:

Father,

           You are our Light in the darkness, our Shelter, our Rock, our Sure Foundation. We cling to You in all things, giving thanks for even the storms that strengthen our faith or clear a way for us. Help us to see Your hand of protection and provision in everything that touches our lives. Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance, Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV, The Lord our God in our midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over us with gladness, He will quiet us with His love, He will rejoice over us with singing.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Passing By

Note: Thank you for all the prayer cover and loving support and words of encouragement you have provided in the last 10 days or so with Hurricane Harvey. The battle is hard, but we are victorious! We have much to be thankful for - and we are!! God is good! And the Internet has finally been restored - Hallelujah! It's good to be back together.
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Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.
Mark 6:47-51a NIV

I know I've read this passage many times, but tonight, it stuck out to me that Jesus was going to pass by them. The Message bible reads, "He intended to go right by them." And it reminded me of the old hymn, Pass Me Not, written by Fanny Crosby. Part of the lyrics - Pass me not, O gentle Savior. Hear my humble cry. While on others Thou are calling, do not pass me by...

Why would He do that? He saw them fighting the wind that was against them. He saw them straining at the oars. These were seasoned fishermen who knew their way around in a boat, plus they were His followers and they were struggling. Why wouldn't He just run to them and save them? But notice, it wasn't until they cried out in fear that He acknowledged them and turned to them.

How often do we do that? We're going about life, doing what we know to do. And there are those times when life gets really hard, and we just keep trying to do life in our own strength... All the while wondering why God doesn't do something. Can't He see what we're up against? Doesn't He see us struggling and straining? Is He really going to ignore our plight?

Have we called on Him or are we still trying to do everything in our own strength? Have we acknowledged and confessed our need for Him or are we too busy indicting Him? Are we passing HIM by?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for thinking that we can do anything apart from You. Thank You for loving us enough to correct us and to turn our hearts. Thank You for Your protection and provision. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePPOaX6HTPI