Miracles

Hey all you Jesus is the Way Way'ers.... this week I read about the miracles that Jesus performed in the gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Here are some of my favs!

Mark 4:37-41 "Peace be still"

     37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

     38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say                         unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

     39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, aPeace, be still. And the wind                           ceased, and there was a great bcalm.

     40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so afearful? how is it that ye have no bfaith?

     41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even                       the wind and the sea obey him?

First off, let’s appreciate the fact that Jesus was sleeping on a wet pillow in a fishing boat that seemed like it was about to sink. You better believe that in him you can find rest, He’s a pro at it!!

Why do you think He says “ye have no faith"? The storm is raging, boat is filled to the brim with water, and they ask Jesus for help instead of drowning…. Sounds reasonable, and what I would probably do in a similar circumstance. But can you imagine this in the Jerusalem newspaper the next day:

“Son of God Drowns in Boating Accident”

Subtitle: “He didn’t even get to do the atonement yet”

Subtitle: “we are all doomed”

Maybe He said “ye have no faith” because they feared the world more than they feared God. I can picture Jesus after the storm had calmed, saying “really... you thought this ship was going down?? With me on it???” That was the safest ship to be on in the whole world!

I think we do similar things today. We freak out about our job, dating, our kids doing this or that…. meanwhile Jesus is over there sleeping. Lesson: if He’s not freaking out, you shouldn’t either. If he's sleeping, you can sleep.

Don't look outside the ship, focusing on what the world is trying to throw at you. Look inside. Listen for that still small voice... “Peace, be still, and know that I am God.”

"Peace be still".... Sometimes I wonder who was he talking to.. The sea or the sailors? Maybe both. Next time you find yourself asking God calm your sea of troubles, maybe ask Him to calm you instead.

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
― Victor Hugo

Matthew 8: 1-4.  Healing the Leper

A couple of interesting things here. First, the leper says “if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Compare this to the man who asks Jesus to heal his son, “If thou canst, wilt thou?”

The first is saying "I believe you can do this, will you?" The second, "if you can do this... (i'm not sure that you can), will you?"

Second, Jesus touched the man and healed him. There are so many ways that people are healed in the scriptures: washing themselves in the river, anointing with oil, spitting in dirt and rubbing mud on their eyes, or just commanding them to be healed in the name of Jesus Christ. I think it’s pretty cool that He made a point to give this man some personal affection by putting a hand on him, something I’m sure the man had not felt in a long, long time.

The topic of healing can be a tough one for many of us. Life is such a balancing act. There are times to have the faith to be healed, and times to have the faith not to be healed. It's okay to struggle with why we are sometimes healed and sometimes we are not, and I think God understands that struggle. "Lord I believe. Help thou mine unbelief". I've heard it said that God knows how hard to blow on the embers. Not too hard that your fire will go out, but just enough to let the fire grow inside you.

If you're struggling with mental or physical health and are wishing that God would deliver you from your trial... all I can say is first and foremost - BELIEVE. Just as sure as you are that the sun will rise up tomorrow, believe that miracles are real and that God can and will heal you. Believe in the immediate goodness of God. If the blessing of health does not come immediately, the immediate blessing of peace and hope will. Wear God down with prayers and righteous actions if you have to. And until that day comes, just keep walking forward. Jewish tradition has it that Moses walked into the water up past his eyes before the red sea parted in two. We provide momentum, he provides direction.

Lastly, I overheard an interesting conversation at the temple between a temple worker and a grandmother who’s grand daughter was getting sealed that day.

The grandma was upset at why she could not attend her grand daughter's wedding. If she were talking to me, I think my first response would have been, “well, you need a worthy temple recommend". But what’s wrong with saying that to someone who’s not a member of the church? It makes them feel unworthy, which, could be totally untrue. She could be 10 times more worthy than half the people in that sealing room. (Not that you can put a number on how worthy you are.) A better question, the question this temple worker asked…

"Do you believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?”

“No.”

“Do you believe that the keys of the Priesthood of God have been restored through modern day prophets, allowing a man and a woman to be sealed together for all time and throughout all eternity?”

“…….no…..”

“Well then, unfortunately we cannot let you in, and you’re not missing anything anyways. We are not here as spectators. We are not watching someone make vows to another that will dissolve at death do us part. Everyone in that room is here to be a part of something.. to stand together and say I believe that marriage can last through death. I believe the impossible, is possible."

This last story may have been a little off topic... but I just love this mans answer. The seemingly impossible, is possible through Jesus Christ.

BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.

PS. maybe I'll start adding songs related to each blog??
- Miracle, by Stephanie Smith
- Miracle of the Moment, by Stephen Curtis Chapman
- Miracle, by Blackmill  (not spiritual per say... just a chill dubstep track to study to)