Rough seas....

Rough seas....

We have been sailing in the open sea outside of the inland passage for the last day and a half...the ship going up and down, side to side,.... Barf bags stored at conspicuous places around the ship in their plastic containers.....sunny, cloudy, windy variable,weather....just up and down, up and down......rail holding ride....not quite as bad as the Tasmanian sea, but close....

It was a reminder of Jonah or Paul on their ships.  Not any sailors coming through saying, "why is the sea so rough?...let's lighten the load."  Fortunately not....they just get out  more food....more entertainment...appeasing, satisfying the various appetites..... And we haven't seen the promised whales yet...

Both Jonah,Paul, were caught in the storms at sea...Jonah in disobedience, running from God, miraculously swallowed by a whale for three miserable days before being coughed up on shore.  He was having a near death experience, before finally obeying, reluctantly  going to tell people about their coming judgement...to which they listened and turned from their wicked ways, while he moped under a vine.....

Paul, on the other hand.....knew where he was going in the rough seas, saved the crew, encouraged the rescuers, was saved from the snake bite...all the while knowing that he was obedient...not running from God but with HIm...

In Another storm at sea, Jesus, the creator of the sea, calmed the sea with a word, not having to be thrown overboard  or jumping overboard , just saying the word..."don't be afraid"....

All crews were amazed, saved,.....

Which boat would I rather be on???   The one with the disgruntled runner, the apostle going to preach the gospel wherever he was...or the creator of the sea???

I want the "calmer of the sea". The Creator by my side...living in me through his Holy Spirit...keeping me calm through the storms...I don't want to be disobedient, nor washed ashore with a broken boat...

Each historical stormy story have their adventures and outcomes recorded for readers through the ages to absorb....God is our captain, our savior, if we so choose...thank YOU... For being our guide through the storms of life...sending a Saviour , the comforter , the truth teller-the Holy Spirit.....


The book of Jonah

Acts 27

Luke 8:
Jesus Calms the Storm

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”