GuineaField

Who is this Jesus!? His disciples cried as Jesus awoke in a life threatening storm and rebuked the wild waves of the sea. They obeyed. He moves on to tame the demon possessed man by commanding the demons from him. This is our great God, Jesus Christ. And He is still with us to calm our seas and conquer satan's mightiest spirits. With one Word of Christ they cease and are still. So we trust Him and we obey Him. We trust His strength in the storms of life. And we follow the storm tossed sea to follow HIs every word in obedience. What a joy to know that Jesus controls it all! "And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Hush, be still.' And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. ...

It's so encouraging to hear how the Lord gave Peter strength to walk on water. He called him, and Peter came. And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29). Of course, he sank too... as he got his eyes off of Jesus. But the calling our Lord had for him was able to be carried out as he kept his eyes on Jesus. In a very similar way, we have no business walking the Christian walk without Christ strengthening us every step of the way. We can't live that way on our own. We need Him! Do you feel like your sinking? Pause now and ask the Lord for strength to follow Him! JANUARY 23 SCRIPTURE READINGS: Genesis 44:1-45:28 Matthew 14:13-36 Psalm 18:37-50 Proverbs 4:11-13

This time of year the sunflowers are feeling the weight of their lot in life... Their seeds far outweigh their flower... but its God's design to re-populate the earth with more beautiful sunflowers next year. Often we feel weighed down with the obligations of life - what Psalm 55:22 states as our cares - our lot or what is given to us to cary. We are encouraged to cast that burden on the Lord because He will sustain - or carry us. He will not let the righteous person be shaken. They will stand firm as they throw those burdened and responsibilities on Him to carry for us. He gives them to you to entrust back to Him. Psalm 55:22 (NASB95) 22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

I'm sure that I’m not alone in saying that we’re all ready to turn a page on this past year. But before we do, let’s honor the biblical command to give thanks in all things. Consider 20 reasons to be thankful to God in 2020. (And add a few of your own reasons in the comments below!) 1. You are alive! Begin with the basics. We can’t take life for granted. Each time your heart beats or your protons and neutrons continue to swing around each one of your atom’s nucleuses (sp?), you can thank the Lord Jesus for holding you together by the Word of His power. Each heart beat, each thought is a new gift from above. I’m reminded of a friend who has had an extremely difficult seven years who recently shared this thought with me from Ecclesiastes: “For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion” (Ecclesiastes 9:4). Ok, so you don’t feel like your strength was like a lion this year. But at least you are alive. If you are alive you have ho...

     Have you faced something distressing recently? I know many in our church family have faced some extremely difficult life circumstances. Some have lost a close family member or found out about cancer. Most of us have been enduring this difficult period of time for an extended period of time as a church community, city and as a Country.      I realize these sentences are not news to you. And yet, I bring them up because I’ve been encouraged lately by similar sentences penned by the Apostle Paul in the Bible.  I’ve been reading 2 Corinthians in my time with the Lord and wanted to share with you some of Paul’s difficulties as well as how he found comfort and “did not lose heart.”       Paul describes difficulties that outweigh most of our life’s weights. Listen to these words, and perhaps you will identify with a handful of them: He faced affliction (1:4, 6, 8). He faced sufferings (1:5, 6, 7) He was burdened excessively, beyond ou...

I’m tempted too, believe me! I’m tempted to complain about all that has happened this year. “Misery loves company.” And there’s something about griping with co-workers about working conditions at the water-cooler that is cathartic. But there’s something else about it - its wrong.  Yes, I said it. We need to stop complaining about all that has gone wrong in 2020. Instead, we need to be thankful. Consider below 7 reasons to be thankful this year, and consequently, why it's wrong to complain about your circumstances. An Odd-Ball in A Thanksgiving-Cancelation Culture Before I get to reason number one, let me say that I feel a push against Thanksgiving this year. Not an organized push by governments to limit our gatherings. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about looking down on someone who focuses on the positive. When I focus on the Lord’s blessings this year, or even just try to accomplish normal activities I fear to appear insensitive. But thankfulness is not that. Perh...

Are you perfectly loving? Do you perfectly fulfill Christ's command to love God and others? As you read the principles of a loving Christian outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, you will have to agree with me that we all fall short of the perfect Law of love.   "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:3-7, ESV). Every time I go over those principles, I’m reminded again of yet another way that I have been unloving.  What do we do then?  That is what this lesson is about.  We will all do things that displease our spouse, friend, co-worker, or family member, so we must learn the art of forgiveness and reconciliation.   The opposite of forgiveness in your heart is bitterness, and there a...