Brown's Daily Word 10-2-07

Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this glorious day. It is going to be another brilliant and beautiful day. It is Autumn in New York. Wish you were here. The autumn colors are magnificent and as my friends in England say " Fantastic". I was asked by a dear family to go and pray for a dear brother , who has found out last Friday that he has cancer. Some other friends of the family came and we joined in prayer for healing by anointing with oil. We are trusting and claiming the great healing from the Great and Winsome physician our Lord Jesus who was wounded for our transgressions and by His stripes we are healed, I was asked by another friend to pray for a young woman in the State of Washington, who is undergoing chemo and radiation treatment, for cancer.

Storms came in the life of our Lord's disciples. The disciples found themselves in the middle of a ferocious squall out in the sea of Galilee. This was nothing unusual on the Sea of Galilee; it is in a basin surrounded by mountains and notorious for furious storms. Rising just to the North over the lake is beautiful Mount Hermon. Mount Hermon is capped with snow, and sometimes the cold air from the top of Hermon rushes down the mountain and blows across the lake. The force of the cold air meeting the hot moist air around Galilee can be explosive, as it was on the day. Jesus and his friends are in the middle of the lake when the storm hits. It is terrifying and it looks as though they will not survive the storm. Storms will come. The apostle Peter reminds us: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). There are many who do not seem to understand this. The disciples seemed to be shocked that they were in this position. After all, wasn’t Jesus with them? Wouldn’t God protect his Messiah, and therefore protect his followers? How then could this happen? I sometimes meet people who have the same feeling of shock when some storm comes into their lives. Didn’t I do all the right things? Isn’t God supposed to watch out for his own? Doesn’t he protect those he loves? How can this be happening to me? I am sure those are the questions which were marching through the heads of the disciples.

I was reading in the book of Hebrews this past week and I came across a fascinating passage. It was talking about Abraham and the wonderful promises God made to him, but then this verse popped out at me that says, “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised” (Hebrews 6:15). I was reading it in the original language which puts it much stronger. It uses the word macrothumia which can be translated “longsuffering.” That would make it say, “And so after longsuffering, Abraham received what was promised.” God made a great promise to Abraham, but in order to receive it, Abraham had to go through longsuffering. This is life, even with the promises of God. Endurance and faith are the keys, and these things are only possible because of the promises and faithfulness of God. The Bible says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).

There are some people who will read this devotion today, in whose life a storm is raging. For some of you it is financial. For others it is a health issue. Still others are being swamped in the area of relationships. You have tried to be a good person and do the right thing, and yet you feel like you are sinking, and you want to know the same thing the disciples wanted to know: “Jesus, don’t you care if I drown? Are you aware of what I am going through?” What is interesting is that when Matthew and Luke tell this story in their gospels, they leave out this question about whether Jesus cared about them and their perilous situation. Matthew and Luke simply record the words of the disciples as, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25, Luke 8:24). I’m sure that these words, and many others, were said as they shouted in fear for their lives. They were frightened, and they could not understand how or why this was happening.

Here is what a storm in your life does not mean. It does not mean that God does not love you. It does not mean that God is angry with you, or that he is paying you back for something. God is not toying with you. Sometimes the storms that happen in our lives are self-made. But many times it is just that storms happen, and trying to analyze what happened or assign blame is a fruitless activity. We live in a fallen world. And as Jesus said, “[God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). In other words, good and bad happen to all. The important thing is whether or not we are prepared for them.

Jesus is with us in the storm. It you are going to be in a storm, the one person you want your boat is Jesus. Jesus could have stayed on the shore and let them take all the chances by themselves, but he did not do that. Where they went, he went.

The problem for the disciples was that he was with them, but he was asleep. It is interesting that this is the only place in all the Bible that we read of Jesus sleeping. Several times we read of him staying awake all night and praying, and we wonder how he did that. He obviously had to sleep, but this is the only recorded incident of him sleeping. It is ironic because this is a time when you would think it was impossible to sleep. The disciples wondered how he could sleep through the storm, and how he could sleep when they were in danger. They expected him to be attentive to their needs even in his sleep.

We have all been there, haven’t we? You are in the middle of a crisis and it seems like God is off somewhere taking a nap. He doesn’t seem very responsive to your need. At least we know that we are in the same boat as the disciples. But what is Jesus’ response when he is awakened? After he rebukes the storm, he rebukes his disciples. He asks them two questions: “Why are you so afraid?”, and “Do you still have no faith?”. Fear and faith are incompatible. You might expect that Jesus would be compassionate here. “Why are we so afraid?” the disciples might say. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe it was the raging storm around us, the violent pitching of the boat, the water swamping the boat so that it was starting to sink. Maybe it was that we thought we were about to drown. Just stuff like that. Don’t you think we had a right to be anxious?”

But Jesus was hoping that what they had seen him do in the past would provide a stronger faith in the future, but that was not the case. So first Jesus had to calm the storm, and then he had to calm his disciples. Has God ever done anything for you in the past? Has he solved any problems or answered any prayers? He is hoping that his faithfulness in the past will cause you to trust him in the future.

Jesus will calm the storm. At the perfect time, during the perfect storm he exercises his power over the storms of life. God is never in a hurry, and the reason he is never in a hurry is because he knows exactly what to do at exactly the right time. He does not go by our time. At just the right time, not the right time as far as the disciples were concerned, but just at right time, Jesus stood up and calmed the storm. Don’t worry, God has you in mind. He knows and understands you and your situation. He cares for you. His timing is perfect. The Bible says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). He is always watching out for us. Peter wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12).
It is only in the storm that we truly understand who Jesus is. I think the most amazing part of the story is the disciple’s reaction to Jesus. When Jesus asks them why they are afraid, it is the Greek word meaning fearful in the moderate sense. But when Jesus calms the storm, the Bible says, “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (Mark 4:41). The Greek literally says ephobethesan phobon megan: “they feared with great fear.” They just thought they were afraid before. They were afraid of the storm, but they were terrified of Jesus. Their fear of the storm was nothing compared with the fear they had when they realized who it really was who was with them in the boat. It is one thing to be in the boat with someone you believe was sent from God to be a great teacher and spiritual leader. It is quite another thing to be confined in a small space with One whom you suddenly realize is the Lord of the universe. Your knees give way and you begin to tremble. You find it difficult to breathe. Your insides are shaking and you cannot stop.

It is interesting that this is the second time in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus has rebuked something and said, “Be still.” The first time was in the first chapter where Mark says, “Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!’ ‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. Come out of him!’” (Mark 1:23-25). And the people respond in a similar way to the disciples. They say, “What is this? . . . He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him” (Mark 1:26-27). Throughout Mark’s gospel the disciples, as well as others, keep coming to new understandings of who Jesus is, and it is always in the context of some crisis.

This is true for us as well. We keep meeting Jesus in new ways as we meet him in new crises. We don’t really understand who he is or the power he has until we see him in action. This is what Peter meant when he said, “Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

It was terrible to be blind, but the blind man could not see who Jesus was until he was healed. The deaf man could not hear Jesus until his ears were opened. The affliction of the lame man brought Jesus to his side and he was able to leap and dance so that he loved the Master and wanted to follow him. Sin had ruined Mary until Jesus delivered her and she was able to understand who he was. Doubting Thomas was devastated by the events that led to the death of Jesus. Everything seemed futile and depressing after that. But Thomas experienced Jesus in a whole new way when he saw him after the resurrection and placed his finger in Jesus’ hands and side. He fell down crying, “My Lord and my God!” It is in those crisis moments that we really understand who Jesus is. If you place your complete faith and trust in Jesus, you will have a greater understanding of him, a deeper relationship with him, and a new love for him when the storm is over. You will see his power over darkness and the depth of his love for you. Jesus is telling us to live by faith, not by fear.

In his book The Unnecessary Pastor, Eugene Peterson writes: “My two sons are both rock climbers, and I have listened to them plan their ascents [up a mountain]. They spend as much or more time planning their climbs as in the actual climbing. They meticulously plot their route and then, as they climb, put in what they call ‘protection’— pitons hammered into small crevices in the rock face, with attached ropes that will arrest a quick descent to death. Rock climbers who fail to put in protection have short climbing careers. Our pitons or ‘protection’ come as we remember and hold on to those times when we have experienced God’s faithfulness in our lives. Every answered prayer, every victory, every storm that has been calmed by his presence is a piton which keeps us from falling, losing hope, or worse yet, losing our faith. Every piton in our life is an example of God’s faithfulness to us. . . . As we ascend in the kingdom of God, we also realize that each experience, each victory is only a piton — a stepping stone toward our ultimate goal of finishing the race and receiving the crown of glory.”


Dear friends,
The Mercy Me concert is going to be held on Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Broome County Veterans arena. We have special tickets for the youth to attend this event. Those who would like to attend, please let us know so we can secure the tickets for our young people.


Please lift up the following needs and concerns before the Lord in prayer, for whom nothing is impossible.

Praise and prayer update:
Patsy Carmon who had a stroke has been moved to General hospital for rehabilitation.

Eleanor Skinner who has been hospitalized General hospital.

Rosemary Bowen who had surgery is home recovering.

Ryan Kerr,who is in hospice care, he is the nephew of Dr. Douglas Kerr.

Trudy Wesner who had complete knee replacement surgery. She is receiving physical therapy at home and she is doing well.

Please pray for George and Irene Dunham who are going down to Virginia to attend Irene's nephew's funeral.

Please continue to pray for Bud Lee.

Justin Brown.

Linda Ayer

Jack Black.

Rich McPherson and the prison ministry team.

Grant DeGaramo.

Don Harbecke, 52 years old is had a quadruple heart bypass in Illinois, he recovering from heart surgery. Praise the Lord.

Leslie Broughton, is going for chemo treatment.

Larry, Jane, and family.

Geraldine Okes (Betty DuBois’s sister) who is hospitalized, she had a heart attack and a stroke in Columbia, SC.

Jovita who is a recent college graduate, looking for a job.

Janice, our oldest daughter, who is going back to work today, after the birth of Simeon. She works for Healthcare for the Homeless in Boston.

Our youngest daughter Jessica, who will be finishing her assignment with the Americorps in Philadelphia in few weeks.

Pray for Cameron Tyler, (Lee and Eunice Sanford’s grandson) born 8 weeks prematurely, weighing 4 pounds, in neonatal ICU in Boston. He is doing well and becoming stronger everyday.

Pray for Kristin, Becky, Shannan - our young expecting moms.

Jane Loeffler, she is doing well now but she is still at Wilson hospital. Andy Morse, (Mary Lou Horn’s grandson). Andy is waiting for the biopsy results. He is still at Sloane Kettering in New York City.

Kim, a young mom had an emergency appendectomy yesterday. Kim is home now recovering.

Brolin Parker... As he recovers from surgery in Albany last week.

Burt Sweet (Retired Pastor) is still recovering from lung surgery in Watertown, NY. Please pray for Burt and his family as his health continues to be fragile.

Geno DeAngelo, Binghamton Police officer, father of four children, battling lung cancer.

Pray for Jack Hoppes who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Jack had open heart surgery nine years ago.

Pray for Jim Haas who is working with FEMA in Ohio.

Pray for Eloise Tewksbury for continued healing.

Pray for Sarah Deuel who is going for back surgery next week.

Pray for Carol Crossly who is going for back surgery tomorrow morning, October 2.

Pray for Bethany Monaco, a young college student who is going for surgery today.

Pray for Dave and Linda Barton and the team that are going to Uruguay on a short term mission trip in October.


Pray for Dr. Doug Kerr and Dr. Carpenter who are going to Kenya on a short term medical mission.





The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

Psalm 145:18,19

In Christ,

Brown

Hi Pastor Brown, Thank you so much for praying for us and for adding us to your church prayer list. That means a lot to us. Every day I get up and look for an encouraging word from you. Several I save to reread. Your words are such a blessing. We just keep reminding ourselves of how faithful God has been to us in the past. Everyday Larry comes home and still has a job, we are grateful.

Jane.




Hi Brown

I am Jan ~ a very close friend of Senie and Allans.
Will you put Andrea from Washington State on the prayer list.

She is young & has been diagnosed with breast Cancer and will start radiation and possibly chemo soon.

Love In Christ
Jan
For John Hoppes Jr

This is an update to my fathers scan that is to be done on Tuesday, 10/2/2007 at 7:45am. He likes to go by the name Jack but if you say John I know God will know who you're praying for. We ask that all stand in prayer and be saying the Name above all Names. The only Name that holds the power to Heal and Restore. God Bless You All and may God be glorified.
The following is what my Heavenly Father spoke to me today. He so delights in His children that believe Him at His word.

10/1/2007
Heavenly Father, I do love you so much. You know right now where we are all at and you meet each of us at the point of our need. You alone know what You want each of us to learn thru what is happening. You are so awesome, comforting, Mighty in power. Father, there are no words in the human language to describe You.
Lord, I need to tell You that I trust You, I believe Your word and I know You are faithful. It is I Lord that can do nothing but cling to Your promises. Father, I do believe that my faith is bigger than a mustard seed but I also want to not have doubt the size of a mustard seed, not even the size of a grain of sand. So I come to You Father and ask that You would replace any question of doubt with Your gift of supernatural faith. Lord, it is easy to see You even when it is cloudy. During the storm it is harder. I can sense Your presence but cannot always see where you are at. Help me Father to see You ever so clearly with my heart and not just my eyes. For I know when I see thru my eyes Your blessings, my faith grows and my spirit is lifted. Help us all now to believe, to stand on Your word and grow our faith so that you may say of us "blessed are you who believed before seeing". I praise You Father for Who You are, for You alone are the great I AM. May You alone be glorifed.