Greetings on this windy, rainy, but milder-temperature January day. I smile as I describe the weather today. Let me explain.

As we hear an increasing number of reports of a “world gone mad”, I become more aware of my need to keep my mind on the “Good News” so that I don’t go with them. 😊 Calmness and peace reside in Him and His Kingdom. Yes, we live in His Kingdom while still on this earth. Jesus said in His prayer in John 17:16, “They are not of this world, just as I am not of this world.” Meaning believers in Christ are simply in the world, physically present, but not part of its values. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the vapid, corrupt mind that the world creates.

The world (cosmos) belongs to Satan. Through Christ, we become His children, adopted into His family in His Kingdom, and are no longer of the world system ruled by Satan. Rather, we are to commit to following Romans 12:2 NKJV, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” “The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (The Word), so I don’t go with the world gone mad!” Thank You Jesus!

I must add that reports of the struggles, trials, and pain that we Christians are experiencing are also on the rise. Daily, I hear Christians who are experiencing sickness, loss of jobs, unsaved children, and trials of all kinds, my husband and I included. How do we, as children of God in His Kingdom, deal with this? That is what I’d like for us to find answers to. I hope you will continue on to explore this together.

As we read about people of faith, from Biblical times to the present, we see it is not an easy road. I see no scripture that says we will not have trials. As a matter of fact, I am reminded of one scripture in particular, John 16:33 NKJV: “ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Now you may say, “ But we are not of this world, so why does Jesus say we will have tribulation in this world?” That is why Jesus has already told us in previous verses that we, as His children, are no longer of the world system ruled by Satan. He has overcome the world system so we can have peace and “be of good cheer”. Why did He give us the fruit of the Spirit that lives within us if we are to live as the world lives (the world gone mad)?

Wow, my friends, this is proof positive of our need to stay in His Word. Yes, we Christians experience tribulations, but we are not overcome by them. Which brings me to my time with Him this morning and the title for this blog…

I had some of the words to a song playing in my mind, “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Repeatedly, I was singing, “You give me everything, You give me everything, You give me everything I need.”  Then I was on to reading the first chapter of Romans as our pastor had requested. We are now beginning a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of Romans on Wednesday evenings. I do believe we are off to a great start for this new year!

After reading the chapter, I grabbed a notebook to write the verses we are to memorize. The notebook I chose was one already filled with notes.  Therefore, I flipped through the pages to find a blank one. I know my organizational skills need to be honed. 😊 But sometimes, as in this case, my disorganization leads to what I need.

The next blank page came after my notes on a study titled “Laborers With God.”

Revelation 22:17 is the last scripture referenced in my notes, which says, NKJV “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Note: Bride is the Church, Body of Believers.

Next in my notes was a quote believed to be attributed to St Augustine. Quote “God provides the wind, but we must set the sails.” Next, I wrote my thoughts on this: “I will see my destiny. Sovereign Captain at the Helm.”  I finished with a quote by John Wesley, “God does nothing in the earth without prayer first.”

The meaning of the quote by St Augustine suggests that God gives the power and direction (wind), but we need to position ourselves to receive it and act on it ( raise the sail). Combined with John Wesley’s quote, we must raise our prayers first and see God move.

Interestingly, I had asked for the right opportunity to share my poem with those who haven’t read it, “Sovereign Captain at the Helm”. Through the process, today is the day. It is in my first book, Inspire Me.

Sovereign Captain at the Helm

                                          January 13, 2017

Sail on my shipmate, in this raging storm

Where faith and strength become the norm.

Our sovereign Captain is at the helm

Storms won’t overtake, or you overwhelm.

Our sails set full, surrendered to the Captain of the sea

With Him in control, we become carefree.

Allow Him to be the Captain of your life vessel

Storms, remember, are not yours to wrestle,

When LOVE, GRACE, AND PEACE in your ship reside

Your voyage successful, calmly into destiny you glide,

Till your sailing is over, Eternity on the other side.

Talk about giving us everything! The way to reside in His Kingdom, the way to enter into His presence through songs of praise, worship, and prayers of thanksgiving, the way to live life with the Sovereign Captain at the Helm, and so much more!

There it is… the stormy weather in this physical world this morning as I sat down to write. By the way, as I wrote, the storms passed. But we got much-needed rain!

 The storms (tribulations) of life, while in this world but not of it, PEACE (be of good cheer).

How we can be laborers with God, where faith and strength become the norm

How we, as the Church with the SPIRIT, can say Come! Take the water of life freely to those who hear, thirst, and desire.

God gives us the power and direction (wind) we need to position ourselves to act on it (set sails)!

Let me ask you, do you hear, thirst, and desire life in His Kingdom with your sails set full? If not, He has given you everything you need and more than you can even ask for.

Which brings me to finalize this blog and save the rest of what He gave me for my next blog, more than I asked for. I do hope you will join me…

Our voyage successful, calmly into destiny we glide,

Till our sailing is over, Eternity on the other side.

Love and prayers for you,

Reba

PS Remember we are all fellows in this ship together. That’s why our time together is called fellowship.