Orchard City Notes: Feb 19th at OCC

Dave was guiding the lesson study time and it is always so nice to see a good group of people joining in the discussion.

Come at 10 a.m. and you can be part of this time too.

This week was week 8 and was...

Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant

Just before 11 a.m. the Praise Team starts singing and all who wish too join in.

Thank you three for having the Praise Time.

Offering Time during the service.

The story for us by Jerrie Lou... who ever tells what the story was about might get to tell the story next time!!!

We sure enjoy the story time.

It is really beautiful to listen to Todd share the special music. Who can tell us what song he played???

Rich read the Bible verse to go with the sermon and then invited us to kneel in prayer. He remembered Joe T in the prayer and his family as he has been in hospital the last while. Please pray for Joe and Shirley and their family.

Lori shared the sermon for the morning and it was such a timely message.

One of Peace and Reassurance.

It was Titled Peace, Be Still

The story of Jesus calming the storm on Galilee is found in three gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke with a little variation in each.

Some of the statements used come as direct quotes from Desire of Ages by Ellen G White. I have been studying the book which is an amazing and inspiring narrative on the life of Christ. I have drawn closer to Jesus by studying it.

I am also following along what is called DA with DA challenge... or Desire of Ages with David Asscherick. It is taken chapter by chapter with David's insights and sometimes a guest like Ty Gibson.

It has been a great blessing to me to study Jesus' Ministry on earth in great detail.

I highly recommend it if you want to study in this way too.

My talk today is taken largely from Matthew 8: 23 and 24 and the chapter "Peace, Be Still" in Desire of Ages.

Jesus used lessons from nature... The Pearl of Great Price... The Tiny Mustard Seed.. it is internal, not forced on you.

Jesus had been teaching for several days on the mountainside. He was constantly criticized. He was so weary He needed to have solitude and rest. Rest is very important to all of us.

Jesus was sleeping in boat as the disciples steered it. Other boats had gone out with them hoping to hear more of Jesus.

As Jesus slept a mighty storm rose up on the Galilee. The disciples must have been used to storms on this lake as they we on the lake often and storms happened often but this storm was different and they grew very scared.

Jesus slept, His head on a cushion.

The men were no match for this storm. They were trying so hard to save themselves they had forgotten Jesus was on board. In their despair they cried out Master! Master! Had He forsaken them??

The lightening flashed and they then see Him sleeping peacefully.

They call out to Him to save them.

He stands up in the boat and raises His arms out and calls Peace, Be Still.

Mark 4:40

The other boats that were on the sea had been tossed near each other.

Jesus woke up in perfect peace.

He used His Father's power not His own to still the storm, because Jesus had laid that down when He came to earth. He humbled himself and died the death of the cross. He had to learn obedience. We just studied in the SS lesson and it says in Hebrews 5:8 that Jesus had to learn obedience through what He suffered. Obedience was new to Jesus as a human, not because He was disobedient but because He was Sovereign God over the universe. He had to put His trust fully in His Father.

He slept in peace and in His Father's care.

If the disciples had put their trust in the Father they too could have had peace in this storm.

If we call out to Jesus He will be there to help us as we need.
HE IS ALWAYS ON BOARD!

As Jesus was in the vessel on the sea He is with us in our personal troubles.

Isaiah 57: 20and 21

"The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest. There is no peace," says my God, " to the wicked. "

Is that like saying, " I don't care if God wants me to be peaceful, I am going to be afraid. I want to have a pounding heart, frazzled nerves

and trembling knees and an upset digestive tract. Bring on the anxiety?

Do you know how many times it says in the Bible to Fear Not?

365 times... one for each day of the year.

Why do not not obey these commands? -- because we are sinful.

How can we obey?

"While self is unsubdued, we can find no rest. " We must turn to Jesus and cry "Lord, help me!" And then remember that Jesus is ALWAYS in the boat with us.

We can practice the presence of God.

Make divine appointments with Him daily.

Speak to Him and listen for Him.

Keep your eyes open for Him in your life.

Any time you begin to feel fear and anxiety come on you, ask Him to remind you of His peace.

Ask Him to embolden your faith.

Worship your way through it.

Ask Him for His peace.

Tell God what you are concerned about.

Peace is not a feeling.

Peace is a person!

He will never leave you!!

God has given us many promises:

John 16:33

John 14:27

Colossians 3:15

Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 55: 3 and 4

Matthew 5:9

Philippians 4: 6 and 7

Isaiah 26:3

Vicki sent me this photo she took from her home yesterday. Immediately it reminded me of Jesus in the storm. These peaceful deer laying calmly while around us there is commotion and strive.

Then the song words came too... And He walks with me and He talks to me and He tells me I am His own....

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your photo, Vicki.

And Thank you, Lori for the meaningful lesson you shared.