PEACE, Be Still!

Today we sailed away on the Sea of Galilee but luckily we had Jesus sleeping in the back of the boat to wake and calm the stormy sea! During our Seeds of Jesus Children's Church time the lesson was about Mark 4:35-41 and how the disciples were learning to trust in Jesus. For 13-weeks we are working our way through the Journey with Jesus program from Gospel Light (http://www.gospellight.com/) visiting a town that Jesus ministered in each week. We kick off each Sunday with a drama. This week instead of having the workers present the drama, the kids were the drama, as discliples that loaded on the boat to "cross to the other side" as Jesus directed. The room was dark the lights flashed and the sounds of a sea storm filled the room. The kids of course screamed in terror and delight as the storm raged on. Run to the back of the boat and wake Jesus up I yelled to one of the children, or surely we shall perish! Jesus rose calmed the sea and scolded us for having such little faith. "Again, again!" the children chanted. So we did the drama again, then Jesus prayed for our time together and we continued with our lessons.

Reflection of this drama compared with the transitions in my own life made me realize that I am at a time to let Him calm my stormy sea. There is no peace in all my busyness. Overseeing so many different things has made me a boat on unstable waters. In addition to having the children enter school I have the compulsion to NOT BE IN CHARGE of, or coordinate anything for 1-year. I am not to lead anything only to follow and seek HIS directing. Simplicity is the key.

35 On the same day, when evening had come,

He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.

And other little boats were also with Him.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.

And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,

“Peace, be still!”

And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another,

“Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV)