SCRIPTURE: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”[John 14:27]
What a promise those words give us. It takes one's breath away, but the trick is to remember that promise no matter what life brings to us. When incidents happen suddenly, we may get flustered and often don't think clearly. In verses 25 and 26, Jesus promises his disciples that "God will send the Holy Spirit (when Jesus is no longer with them) . . . to teach . . . andbring to your remembrance all I have said to you."
To help me remember the words in verse 27, I not only visualize once again the following highlight of my experience in the Holy Land, but also Gloria Gaither's description** about being on a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee on a clear sunny morning. Visitors are taken away from the shore out into the deeper water and all motors are shut off. It is quiet and serene except for the gulls and the lapping of the lake water against the boat. Such a feeling of peace overwhelmed us.
Our group, like the group with Gloria lifted voices in praise and words of gratitude to God. The songs were beautiful and inspiring. Gloria's group, being professional gospel singers, searched their memories for a song to sing to express exactly what visitors experience. But they weren't entirely satisfied.
We were reminded also that this body of water has two faces: winds and storms can come up quickly and the smooth waters can turn rough and turbulent with little notice. We recalled the disciples' experience when Jesus was asleep on the boat while the storm raged. Mark 4:35-41
[Mark 4: The Wind Ran Out of Breath
35-38 Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”
39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?”
41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”]
While I went home to relive this episode on the Sea of Galilee in my mind, Gloria and Bill Gaither went home to write a song to recapture the beautiful peace we felt that day and to know that Jesus is Lord, whether the sea is calm or churning.
Let the chorus of Peace be Still be your prayer and your reminder:
He says, "Peace, peace be still!"
Lifts His hand . . . "Peace, be still."
And like a child, my heart obeys Him,
When He says, "Peace be still."
To listen to the words and music sung by the Gaither Group on a return visit to the Sea of Galillee go to:
or Candy Hemphill Christmas:
** Because He Lives, the Stories and Inspiration Behind the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither by Gloria Gaither,1997.
To participate every week in a worshipful experience, visit a praise service led by Rev. Clifford Patrick in the Chapel Friday evening at 7 p.m. With inspiring music by Kevin and Cliff's words, I am transported to a time of peace and the world seems to melt out of my mind and off my shoulders.
PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for supportive experiences and communities. Amen
Grace TeSelle
Join in our photo-a-day devotional to show us what makes your light shine and/or how you share your light with others. Just use #trinitylightshine to be part of the celebration.
--
Dan Johnson. 352-317-4409
-- Welcome to the new Trinity United Methodist Church's Daily Scripture Email system.____________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment